Congressmen And Their Influences :: essays research papers

Congressmen and Their InfluencesThe notion that a Congressman ran for office for unselfish goals and went awayto Washington to serve his country and intend his neighbors seems quaint andluaghable compared to the way that we currently regard members of congress.Recent views have suggested that most people felt that while the institution onthe whole was corrupt, but that their phonation was a good person andservant of the electorate. More and more each member is scrutinized and judgedharsher by their constituencies, the media, their own party and the numerousinterest groups and cuac engages that make it manageable for them to act as Senatorsand Representatives. The Congress and President work together through their owninstitutions in the common goal of running the worlds most powerful nation. Thelegilative powers were carve up this way to ensure that all new laws would bedebated and decided not by a few but through a heirarchy that gives everycitizen a part to play in our collecti ve decision making.Each of the individuals in the House has an equitable voting relationship withthe former(a)s, 1=1=1, when it come to casual legislation, but in the earlierphases of formulating policy somewhat relationships are dominant over others. Theonly ones that would be lower than a freshman Democrat in the 105th Congressfrom a rural, low industry district are probably those that represent ourprotectorates Guam, Puerto Rico, etc. Many levels within the parties and theinstitution afford some members leadinghip roles and positions that they can useto sway the other members. The Whips, Majority and Minority leaders and theSpeaker of the House are looking for party cohesion and in like manner bi-partisan supportfor a bill. Coalitions are forged or broken depending on the issue at hand.Individual committee positions are another point were some are more powerfulthan others. The committees are major superintendents of some agencies andmembers not on that particular committee m ay be ignored or relegated to othertasks while the major decisions are being made. Since much of policy directionis dominated by the two party system they are able to use the majority selectedrules and procedures of the House to their advantage. In the more collegial andcongenial Senate power is more diffused and shared between the members andminority rights are protected.In the parties the leaders are able to use their personalities and power toinfluence the agenda that is agreed upon. The way the House is run leaves agreat deal of discretion to the leaders of the parties and committee members