Filibuster on Parks and Recreation

Senate Subcommittee Hearing

One responsibility of subcommittees is to hold hearings and hear testimony related to issues under their consideration. Seth Rogen recently testified before a Senate hearing on Alzheimer's Research. The fact that this video has been viewed nearly 50,000 times shows the usefulness of having a celebrity spokesperson. There is a great House of Cards moment too.

Unorthodox Lawmaking

Filibuster and Cloture



The D'Amato Filibuster

The Rand Paul Filibuster



Restrictive rules in the House

Rule XIV of the Senate

Polarization:

• Differences between the parties over time (see Sinclair, p. 141).
• Party Unity

Divided government has been common. Split-party control of Congress has not.

Legislative productivity
Another view of productivity

But is the country suffering as a result?

Updated Simulation Roles

TENTATIVE AS OF FEBRUARY 25

President Barack Obama  Sam Stone
Vice President Joe Biden Claire Goodrich
Attorney General Eric Holder Jack Houghteling

Finance Committee

Democrats

Ron Wyden (Oregon), chair  Julian Mackie
Harry Reid (Nevada), majority leader* Sean McKaveney
Debbie Stabenow (Michigan) Julian Buckner
Maria Cantwell (Washington) Josh Cohen
Bill Nelson (Florida) Zhenya Pereverzin
Robert Menendez (New Jersey) Denys Reyes
Mark Warner (Virginia) Katie Rodihan

Republicans

Orrin Hatch (Utah), RMM Steve Gilbert
Pat Roberts (Kansas) Cameron Ridley
Michael Enzi (Wyoming) Gavin Landgraf
Rob Portman (Ohio) William Mitchell
Patrick Toomey (Pennsylvania) Morgan Beltz
John Cornyn (Texas) Nick Herzeca
John Thune (South Dakota) Ana Kakkar
Mike Crapo (Idaho), Christina Brandt/Laura Epstein

Judiciary Committee

Democrats

Patrick Leahy (Vermont), chair Abby Michaelsen
Chuck Schumer (New York) Katie Trettenero
Dianne Feinstein (California) Jennifer Sitton
Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota) Tracy Yao
Al Franken (Minnesota) Lindsey Davidson
Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut) Hillary Lundberg
Mazie Hirono (Hawaii) Adrian Vallens
Dick Durbin (Illinois) Noah Jay

Republicans

Chuck Grassley (Iowa), RMM Kate Ruston
Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), minority leader* Michelle Saipe
Lindsey Graham (South Carolina) Alexandra Cooke
Mike Lee (Utah) Kyle Gosselin
Ted Cruz (Texas) Maddie Davidson
Jeff Flake (Arizona) Frances Kyl
----------------
*Not actually on the committee:  added for simulation purposes.

But lots of good simulation roles remain!   We need Secretary of Treasury Lew.  And these Senate roles are available:

Judiciary

• Jeff Sessions R-Alabama
•  Sheldon Whitehouse D-Rhode Island
•  Lindsey Graham R-South Carolina
•  Christopher A. Coons D-Delaware

Finance

• Tom Carper D-Delaware 
• Ben Cardin D-Maryland 
• Sherrod Brown D-Ohio 
• Michael Bennet D-CO 
• Robert Casey D-PA
• Richard Burr R-NC  
• Johnny Isakson R-GA

Fact-Checking ‘House of Cards’ and Its ‘Senate of Cards’ Sequence

In case you haven't read enough news articles on House of Cards yet, Roll Call published an article Friday describing a situation in 1988 when missing Senators were arrested and escorted to the Capitol by Sergeant-at-Arms Henry Giugni, proving this situation happens not only in House of Cards and Claremont Congress class simulations, but also in the real Senate!

An excerpt from the article: "After Giugni, a former Honolulu police officer, arrested Packwood and escorted him to the Capitol, Packwood told Giugni that he refused to enter the chamber under his own power. Giugni responded by ordering the officers to lift Packwood and carry him through the chamber doors, which he entered feet first at 1:19 a.m."

http://hoh.rollcall.com/house-of-cards-or-senate-of-cards/

U.S. territory of Saipan birth tourism: $27,000 to have an American baby

http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/americas/198078-lawmakers-concerned-about-chinas-promotion-of-birth-tourism-in

If You Weren't Cynical Before This Class, You Will be By the End

• Senate Procedure and Rule XIV
• Switching sides on the filibuster: Reid and McConnell
• Martial Law (confusion about the term in 2013)
• Vote-a-Rama (2013 example)
• Hotlining
• Phonemarking
• Ping-ponging
• BTU'd

Simulation Roles

Finance Committee

Democrats

Ron Wyden (Oregon), chair  Julian Mackie
Harry Reid (Nevada), majority leader* Sean McKaveney
Debbie Stabenow (Michigan) Julian Buckner
Maria Cantwell (Washington) Josh Cohen
Bill Nelson (Florida) Zhenya Pereverzin
Robert Menendez (New Jersey) Denys Reyes

Republicans

Orrin Hatch (Utah), RMM Steve Gilbert
Pat Roberts (Kansas) Cameron Ridley
Michael Enzi (Wyoming) Gavin Landgraf
Rob Portman (Ohio) William Mitchell
Patrick Toomey (Pennsylvania) Morgan Beltz

Judiciary Committee

Democrats

Patrick Leahy (Vermont), chair Abby Michaelsen
Chuck Schumer (New York) Katie Trettenero
Dianne Feinstein (California) Jennifer Sitton
Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota) Tracy Yao
Al Franken (Minnesota) Lindsey Davidson
Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut) Hillary Lundberg

Republicans

Chuck Grassley (Iowa), RMM Kate Ruston
Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), minority leader* Michelle Saipe
Lindsey Graham (South Carolina) Alexandra Cooke
Mike Lee (Utah) Kyle Gosselin
Ted Cruz (Texas) Maddie Davidson

*Not actually on the committee:  added for simulation purposes.

Poems Are Made By Fools Like Me, But Only Congress Can Make an Amendment Tree

Motion to recommit

Role Selection Resources

Since character selection is today, here's a few resources to figure out where your would-be member stands on the issues. Are you a maverick or a party man/woman?

• National Journal's 2012 Senate Vote Ratings 
• OpenCongress' Head-to-Head Voting Comparisons 
• GovTrack's Sponsorship Analysis

A First Look at Procedure

Online petitions are one source of ideas, though not always good ones.

Legislative Research

• Congress.gov and THOMAS
• GovTrack
• ProQuest Congressional 
• CQ Electronic Library
• Other sources
• US Code
• Citing US Code

Bill Drafting

• Types of measures
• Drafting manual
• An example of legislative language: gun show bill
• Senate Legislative Counsel
• House Legislative Counsel

The Name Game




A very recent example: The QUIET Act

Rules

• House Rules
• Senate Rules

Do They Read The Bills? No.  John Conyers:



The fiscal cliff -- search for "algae"
The committee system

Tentative List of Roles

Here is a tentative list of roles for the simulation.  If there are other senators on the committees that you believe should instead be on the roster, I may be able to make revisions.  Also note that we shall fill out the list with volunteers from my parties class and from past simulations.

Start thinking about Claremont friends whom you would like to draft as members of the administration and as hearing witnesses.

Finance Committee

Democrats

Ron Wyden (Oregon), chair
Harry Reid (Nevada), majority leader*
Debbie Stabenow (Michigan)
Maria Cantwell (Washington)
Bill Nelson (Florida)
Robert Menendez (New Jersey)

Republicans

Orrin Hatch (Utah), RMM
Pat Roberts (Kansas)
Michael Enzi (Wyoming)
Rob Portman (Ohio)
Patrick Toomey (Pennsylvania)

Judiciary Committee

Democrats

Patrick Leahy (Vermont), chair
Chuck Schumer (New York)
Dianne Feinstein (California)
Amy Klobuchar (Minnesota)
Al Franken (Minnesota)

Republicans

Chuck Grassley (Iowa), RMM
Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), minority leader*
Lindsey Graham (South Carolina)
Mike Lee (Utah)
Ted Cruz (Texas)

*Not actually on the committee:  added for simulation purposes.

House of Cards and Senate Procedure

The third episode of season 2 of House of Cards bears a striking resemblance to past simulations.  If you do not care about possible spoilers (albeit for secondary storylines), see this post at US News. (h/t Wendy Qian, who played Al Franken in 2012)

And see real members do lines from the show:

For those of you who need a break from binging through House of Cards (if you haven't already, that is), here's a couple of interesting reads.

If you're thinking about who you'll play in the Congress Simulation, here's some things to give you a few ideas about potential characters. The Washingtonian's Best and Worst of Congress 2012, and Who Are the Best and Worst Bosses on the Hill? 

And for those of you with political careers in mind, remember that opposition researchers will be watching. Politico: Confessions of a Political Private Eye. 

Second Essay

Pick one:

• Answer any of the "Questions for Discussion" for chapter 5 of the Haskell book (pp. 164-165).
• Read the final lines of the Sinclair book (p. 276).  Do the congressional events of 2013 confirm or contradict her conclusion? 
• Evaluate a current proposal for reforming congressional procedure. Carefully explain arguments for and against the proposal. Consider: even if it sounds good in principle, would it work in practice? If you were a member of the relevant chamber, would you vote for it? Explain. In your answer, account for any procedural changes that have taken place since January.  You may find "options for reform" in Reclamation of the US Congress or choose a measure such as one of the following:
• S Res 4 – filibuster reform 
• H Con Res 9 – “Govern before going home” 
• H Res 14 – permitting nonvoting delegates to vote in the Committee of the Whole 
• H Res 16 – single-subject rule
• Pick any episode of House of Cards.  Explain how it both resembles and differs from the real world of Congress.  In your answer, do not dwell on the obvious point that most lawmakers are not murderers.  Rather, consider such matters as the role of congressional leaders, the process of passing legislation, and the contrast between home style and Hill style.
• You may also write on any relevant topic, subject to my approval.

Essays should reflect an understanding of class readings and discussions. Many resources, including CQ Weekly and Politics in America are at Honnold Library/Databases/CQ Library. Also go to the library and see The Almanac of American Politics. You should check other sources as well. See: http://www.claremontmckenna.edu/pages/faculty/JPitney/congress.html

The specifications:

• Essays should be typed (12-point), double-spaced, and no more than three pages long. I will not read past the third page. 
• Cite your sources. Please use endnotes in the format of Chicago Manual of Style.  Endnotes do not count against the page limit. Please do not use footnotes, which take up too much page space.
• Watch your spelling, grammar, diction, and punctuation. Errors will count against you. Return essays to the Sakai dropbox for this class by 5 PM, Friday, February 28. THIS REVISED DUE DATE IS THREE DAYS LATER THAN THE SYLLABUS INDICATES. Papers will drop one gradepoint for one day’s lateness, a full letter grade after that.

CMC Alum Kicks Harry Reid's Butt

The Hill reports on one of my thesis advisees:

Montana Gov. Steve Bullock (D) told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in December to stay out of his decision to nominate a replacement for former Sen. Max Baucus (D).

Bullock said Reid called him to offer a suggestion before the news of the senator’s ambassadorship to China was made public.

“He wanted to weigh in on who I should choose, and this was before it was even public,” Bullock said, according to the Helena Independent Record. “And I said it was none of your damn business.”

Bullock eventually tapped his Lt. Gov. John Walsh (D) to the position — a decision many expected since Walsh was already running to replace Baucus.

Baucus was set to retire at the end of this year before making an early departure to fill the diplomatic post.

“I said, ‘You know what. Stay out of my decision-making. This is a decision I make and no one else. This is one of those decisions that voters have entrusted me with,’" Bullock said.

Elections and Congressional Home Style

• You gotta love a candidate named Ted Yoho
• Senate coattails in 2012?
• Demographics of the vote

Some ads

• Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and local accents
• Allen West (R-FL) and contrast
• Kristi Noem (R-SD) and her grandmother
• Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) and constituent service

Hill Style:  John McCain takes on his former friend in 2013:




Home Style:  John McCain and little old ladies in 1993:

Gun Raffles and Senate Races

Sign up to win an AR-15

Representative Broun & his AR-15

Gun Raffles, A New Campaign Trend?

Leadership and Congressional Elections

Party campaign committees:

Republican... RNC NRCC NRSC 

Democratic.. DNC DCCC* DSCC*

*Chair appointed by party leader



Reelection rates in the House and Senate

Gerrymandering

But it's not just gerrymandering

The peculiar cycle of Senate races

The Chasm on the HIll

From National Journal:

Leadership and LBJ

HOW TO USE BLOGGER

HOW TO USE LEXIS NEXIS ACADEMIC

MY CONGRESS LINKS

VOTE STUDIES

Hill leadership

• House
• Senate

Caucuses

LBJ:



LYNDON JOHNSON AND FRANK UNDERWOOD 

LBJ and Senator Theodore Green (D-RI)

Gingrich on the difference between majority and minority:

In short, overnight I found myself in a job far bigger than most people, even Washingtonians, understand to this day. The Speaker is the third-ranking constitutional officer. That in itself might seem weighty enough. In addition, the day-to-day job requires him not only to preside over, but to attempt to lead, 435 strong-willed, competitive, and independent-minded people. (Some wag has likened this to an attempt to herd cats.) After all, if these people had not in the first place been heavily endowed with all three of these characteristics—will, competitiveness, and independence of mind—they would never have been able to get through the process of winning a primary, followed by a general election, followed by the requirement that they represent 600,000 of their fellow Americans in the nation's capital. So if they sometimes made difficulties for one another, and for me, that was one of the great strengths of the system.

All of this added up to the fact that, politically experienced as I was, everything seemed a little unfamiliar to me. I hadn't shifted from my old job to my new job fast enough. I hadn't shaken off some of the habits I had acquired being the minority whip. I'll give you an example. As the minority party, we were in the position of having to fight every day just to get some media attention. We tended to say and do things that were far more strident and dramatic than are prudent to do and say as the leaders of the majority who find themselves in front of the microphone every day. If you are seldom covered by the press, which was the case with House Republicans for forty years, you have a lot of leeway to make mistakes. But when you are in people's living rooms every evening, your mistakes are magnified.

Leaders and Parties

Parties:  

• Party in the electorate (PIE)
• Party organization (PO)
• Partisan outside groups (POG)
• Party in government (PIG)

Party campaign committees:

Republican... RNC NRCC NRSC 

Democratic.. DNC DCCC* DSCC*

*Chair appointed by party leader

Four strategic postures

...............................................Majority.............................Minority

President's Party..........GOP 04, Dems 08...............GOP 06....Dems 10
Out Party.....................GOP 10, Dems 06...............GOP 08....Dems 04

Note:  even majorities of the president's party may split with the administration agenda.  See Democrats on trade in 1993 and 2014.

Hill leadership

• House
• Senate

Caucuses

A Scene with Philip Seymour Hoffman

Among the best movies about a member of Congress is Charlie Wilson's War.

Here is a scene showing Aaron Sorkin's skill at dialogue -- and Philip Seymour Hoffman's brilliance as an actor: