2.1 Congress- Learning Objectives and Chapter Summary

Congress

Learning Objectives

1  Trace the roots of the legislative branch outlined by the U.S. Constitution 


2  Characterize the demographic attributes of members of Congress, and identify factors that 
affect their chances for reelection 


3  Assess the role of the committee system, political parties, and congressional leadership in 
organizing Congress 


4  Identify three of the most significant powers of Congress 


5  Analyze the factors that influence how members of Congress make decisions 


6  Evaluate the strategic interactions between Congress, the President, and the courts 


 

Chapter Summary

Members of Congress serve dual roles. On the one hand, they are law and policy makers, and on the other, they represent the needs and best interests of their particular constituents. These duties are often at odds. Public cynicism about the institution is also nudged along by negative media coverage and the fact that people are often uninformed about what Congress does, how it does it, and the constraints under which it operates. Citizens also tend to hold Congress to very high standards and that further contributes to cynicism about the institution when they do not live up to those expectations.