Congressmen And Their Influences Essay Research Paper

Congressmen And Their Influences Essay, Research Paper

Congressmen and Their Influences

The notion that a Congressman ran for office for unselfish goals and went away

to Washington to serve his country and represent his neighbors seems quaint and

luaghable compared to the way that we currently regard members of congress.

Recent views have suggested that most people felt that while the institution on

the whole was corrupt, but that their representative was a good person and

servant of the electorate. More and more each member is scrutinized and judged

harsher by their constituencies, the media, their own party and the numerous

interest groups and cuacuses that make it possible for them to act as Senators

and Representatives. The Congress and President work together through their own

institutions in the common goal of running the worlds most powerful nation. The

legilative powers were divided this way to ensure that all new laws would be

debated and decided not by a few but through a heirarchy that gives every

citizen a part to play in our collective decision making.

Each of the individuals in the House has an equitable voting relationship with

the others, 1=1=1, when it come to passing legislation, but in the earlier

phases of formulating policy some relationships are dominant over others. The

only ones that would be lower than a freshman Democrat in the 105th Congress

from a rural, low industry district are probably those that represent our

protectorates Guam, Puerto Rico, etc. Many levels within the parties and the

institution afford some members leadership roles and positions that they can use

to sway the other members. The Whips, Majority and Minority leaders and the

Speaker of the House are looking for party cohesion and also bi-partisan support

for a bill. Coalitions are forged or broken depending on the issue at hand.

Individual committee positions are another point were some are more powerful

than others. The committees are major superintendents of some agencies and

members not on that particular committee may be ignored or relegated to other

tasks while the major decisions are being made. Since much of policy direction

is dominated by the two party system they are able to use the majority selected

rules and procedures of the House to their advantage. In the more collegial and

congenial Senate power is more diffused and shared between the members and

minority rights are protected.

In the parties the leaders are able to use their personalities and power to

influence the agenda that is agreed upon. The way the House is run leaves a

great deal of discretion to the leaders of the parties and committee members

regarding which specific measures will be debated and concentrated on. The

comeupance of Newt has shown how a member of the House can predominate a

political agenda th4at has broad support. The boisterous Newt has brought to the

House a new sense of power and prestige for the Republican party and also to the

office of Speaker of the House. Newt has lost some of his political steam in the

midst of ethics investigations and the friction caused by his abrasive

personality. Starting the 104th congress as a revolutionary leader bent on a

smaller more efficient government his power has been diminished as his corps of

freshmen have become increasingly independent. The democrats chipped away at him

and his support by casting a shadow over each of the Republicans in the house as

cronies of Newt. During the recent campaigns Newt tried to lay low except for in

his home district as thousands of ads linked the Republicans to Newt. As he has

down in the last congress he will continue to be a force in the shaping and

direction of any new policies.

Since the retirement from the Senate of Bob Dole, Trent Lott has taken over

leadership duties for the Republican party in the Senate and has personally

become more prominent as a Republican player while Newt has been forced to

defend his policy agenda and his personal conduct from all sides. As a powerful

personality like Gingrich, Lott will have a great influence. Almost every piece

of legislation is going to have hiss blessing or input within it. Lott has

brought to the position experience that makes as a good requisite foe the job.

He has served in the House as party whip and made many improvements in the

position that he later used as a whip in the Senate. These changes streamlined

many operations that made party coordination and cohesion easier. Now as Senate

Majority Leader he is in a great position to influence the President and to

persuade the public to help advance his parties goals.

The president is also a major player in shaping what comes out of congress. He

is able to use various tactics that blur party lines in the rhetorical war of

words. Congress and the President work together daily, but not in harmony. Many

of their efforts are contradictory because they represent different

constituencies and are faced with different pressures. Party lines are not the

only ones that dived when it come to policy making. Carter and Clinton both saw

the difficulty incurred, even in unified government, to formulate policy. These

separation of powers forces the burden of policy making to be done even though

many competing individuals fight for their agendas to be fulfilled. Sometimes

Presidential priorities and congressional desires coincide to create a win-win

situation. Reagan was able to do it for a while when his agenda of cutting taxes