How a Member Decides

Announcements:

READING: 331-339 in Edwards 
QUIZ on Tuesday: Legislative Branch

UNIT TWO IDENTIFICATION TERMS
________________________________________________

Today's Essential Question: What factors influence how a member of Congress may vote on policy?

Learning Standards:

CON-3.C: Explain how congressional behavior is influenced by election processes, partisanship, and divided government.

CON-3.C.1: Congressional behavior and governing effectiveness are influenced by:

• Ideological divisions within Congress that can lead to gridlock or create the need for negotiation and compromise
• Gerrymandering, redistricting, and unequal representation of constituencies have been partially addressed by such Court decisions as Baker v. Carr (1961), which opened the door to equal protection challenges to redistricting and stated the “one person, one vote” doctrine, and the no-racial gerrymandering decision in Shaw v. Reno (1993)
• Elections that have led to a divided government, including partisan votes against presidential initiatives and congressional refusal to confirm appointments of “lame-duck” presidents of the opposite party
• Different role conceptions of “trustee,” “delegate,” and “politico” as related to constituent accountability in each chamber

________________________________________________

How a Member Decides

Members of Congress are faced with the dilemma of how to decide on proposed legislation. Should they vote according to their own beliefs (trustee) or represent the views of their constituents (delegate) if they differ? Or, should it be some combination of the two (politico)? Are most members of Congress simply partisans, voting along with their political party? How much of a role does the influence of political parties, interest groups, personal staff, Congressional leaders, and the president have in their decision making? Should you vote in the best interest of the country, or what is in the best interest of your state or district? Today we will discuss the various factors that impact their votes.

1. Read this brief explainer on the various influences on voting behavior for members of Congress:

2. Role Play Activity: Each of you will be assigned a role and try to influence the Congressional representative's vote on an upcoming policy decision. Think about your role and how you can convince the member of Congress to vote in your favor.

3. Next, read this excerpt below on the various models of representation. What is the difference between delegate and trustee? Politico?

Source: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/amgovernment/chapter/congressional-representation/


4.  Watch this Video (begin play at 9:07 mark, wear earbuds)
2. Standing Up for a Cause You Don't Support

This story contrasts the efforts of Oregon's two U.S. senators on the so-called Death With Dignity law, which allows doctors to prescribe lethal doses of controlled substances to terminally ill adults who request them. Through two direct ballot initiatives, one to create the law and one to decide whether or not to repeal it, Oregonians twice voted in favor of assisted suicide. Both Republican Senator Gordon Smith and Democratic Senator Ron Wyden personally opposed the assisted suicide law. But once Congress challenged Oregon's law as a violation of the U.S. Controlled Substances Act, the senators had to decide where they stood on Congress's challenge, and how much they should let the views of Oregonians sway their position. In the end, each had to decide if he was a delegate or a trustee.



5. Fill out this exit ticket before you leave class today.

Center on Congress E-Module:
How a Member of Congress Decides

Members of Congress have many influences to draw upon when deciding how to vote for a bill: their conscience, input from constituents, party loyalty, and perhaps, pressure from the administration. In this module, you are a Member of Congress who will soon have to vote on a proposed Constitutional amendment to ban flag desecration. You will meet with all of the types of people who typically try to influence your thinking on a bill, including Members of your party, constituents, special interests, and the administration.


How a Member Decides Role Play Activity:

1. Representative 

You serve as the representative for the 6^th District of Missouri, a largely rural area in northern Missouri. You won a close election the previous year in an open election and are anticipating another tough fight this November as you try to retain your seat. The reauthorization of the Clean Water Act is up for a vote this week. You must listen to the concerns of your constituents, fellow party members, the President, the bureaucracy, and interest groups, considering all of the various factors before casting your vote. It is expected to be a very close vote and the media is focusing its attention on undecided members of Congress such as yourself.

2. Sierra Club 

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential environmental interest group. It has hundreds of thousands of members, including a Missouri chapter. The Sierra Club is in favor of the reauthorization of the Clean Water Act as it will protect wildlife and drinking water for the people of the 6^th district. You must convince the representative of the importance of a “yes” vote on this matter.

3. Monsanto 

Monsanto is one of the world’s largest commercial producers of herbicides and is headquartered in Missouri. The reauthorization of the Clean Water Act would have a negative impact on your company as some of your products would be limited or banned for use. You contributed $5000 directly to the representative’s last campaign and an undisclosed sum to various PACs and Super-PACs in the last election cycle.

4. Hog Farmer

As a hog farmer in northwest Missouri with a large-scale operation, you have deep concerns about the Clean Water Act. As proposed, it would limit the size of hog farms due to the hazards of waste run-off and contamination of the water supply. You know there are other farmers in the area who are also concerned about the limitations placed upon the use of certain herbicides and pesticides that may threaten their yield.

5. Concerned Parent

As a resident of the 6^th District and parent of three young children, you are supportive of the reauthorization of the Clean Water Act. There has been an increase in the number of health problems in your county and many citizens speculate that it could be a result of water contamination from agricultural interests. Contaminated drinking water may lead to tumors, cancer, and other health problems, especially in younger children.  You voted for the representative in the last election and are the president of the school PTA.

6. Party Leader

This vote on the reauthorization is a test of political wills. While generally in favor of protecting the environment, the legislation as currently written is not acceptable and you are encouraging your fellow party members to vote no on this proposal. You know that it will be a very close vote and every vote will matter. The representative from Missouri’s Sixth District is currently on the fence.

7. The President

The reauthorization and strengthening of the Clean Water Act was one of your campaign promises in the last election. You have had a successful first two years in office and your approval rating stands at 71%. With midterm elections coming up, many eyes will be on which representatives are supportive of your policies. The upcoming vote on the Clean Water Act is important to you, but is being hotly debated in Congress. It may come down to a couple of key votes, including the representative from Missouri’s Sixth District. Although the representative is not a member of your party, you believe that safe drinking water is not a partisan issue and are looking for support from both parties. A defeat on this bill would be a blow to your presidency.




Additional Readings & Videos
A Growing Cancer on Congress: The Curse of Party-line Voting.