Chapter Overview

Congress: Representing the American People

• How does Congress represent the United States as a whole? In what ways is it not representative?
• In what specific ways do members of Congress act as agents for their constituencies?
• In what ways does the electoral system determine who is elected to Congress?

The Organization of Congress

• What are the basic building blocks of congressional organization? What is the role of each in forming legislation?

Rules of Lawmaking: How a Bill Becomes a Law

• How do the rules of congressional procedure influence the fate of legislation and determine the distribution of power in Congress?
• How does a bill become a law?

How Congress Decides

• What sorts of influences inside and outside of government determine how members of Congress vote on legislation? How do these influences vary according to the type of issue?

Beyond Legislation: Other Congressional Powers

• Besides the power to legislate, what other powers allow Congress to influence the process of government?

Congress and Democracy

• How do the institutional features of Congress affect meaningful representation?