Politics Discussion Questions Daylight Main Similar Tips

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Review the video on Congress, analyze the text, and respond to the questions regarding the activities and behavior of Congress members, particularly focusing on former Senator Robert Byrd. Your initial post should be at least 8 lines long, written in complete sentences, and submitted by Friday at 11:59 pm. After posting, respond to two classmates' initial posts before Sunday at 11:59 pm with thoughtful comments of at least 4 lines each. Address questions related to congressional service types, behaviors, organizational principles underlying Byrd’s success, additional service activities performed by legislators, and the role of seniority in Congress, including its advantages and disadvantages.

Paper For Above instruction

Congressional activities and behaviors are central to understanding the legislative process and politicians' relationships with their constituents. The video on Congress highlights key aspects of legislative work, particularly focusing on service activities and institutional behaviors that influence policy outcomes and constituent satisfaction. Former Senator Robert Byrd of West Virginia exemplifies a legislator whose long tenure and understanding of congressional dynamics have enabled him to secure substantial funding and resources for his state, illustrating the importance of seniority and institutional authority within Congress.

The first question concerns the type of service Senator Byrd was discussing in his speech. The options include casework, patronage, pork-barrel legislation, and franking. Byrd was primarily engaged in casework, which involves assisting individual constituents with problems related to federal agencies, a common activity for senators dedicated to serving their state's needs. This form of service enhances legislators’ reputations and bolsters their relationships with voters, fostering electoral success and political influence.

The second question examines which feature of congressional behavior is most evident in Byrd’s remarks. The choices include distributive tendency, party discipline, logrolling, and agency loss. Byrd’s focus on securing funding manifests the distributive tendency, where members seek to distribute benefits, such as federal funds, to their districts to maintain support and influence. This behavior underscores the nature of Congress as a distributive institution, emphasizing resource allocation to serve constituents’ interests.

The third question relates to the organizational principle that underpins Byrd’s success. The options are jurisdiction, gatekeeping authority, oversight, and seniority. Byrd’s success is best explained by the principle of seniority, which historically granted long-serving members greater influence, committee chairmanships, and access to resources. Byrd's extensive tenure allowed him to leverage seniority to benefit West Virginia through targeted funding and legislative initiatives.

Beyond the specific service activities highlighted in the video, legislators undertake various other roles. These include advocacy for constituents' interests, framing and influencing legislation, participating in oversight functions, and engaging in public outreach to maintain political support. The text discusses these aspects as essential components of a legislator’s duties, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of congressional service beyond casework.

Finally, the discussion on seniority indicates that experience in Congress can significantly impact a member's ability to perform service activities effectively. Seniority often correlates with committee leadership, better access to informational resources, and influential positions that facilitate resource allocation, as evidenced by Byrd’s success. However, debates surrounding the seniority system are nuanced. It can provide stability, reward experience, and promote expertise, but may also entrench power among long-serving members, potentially reducing turnover and responsiveness to changing constituent needs. Whether this system is positive depends on weighing the benefits of institutional knowledge against the risks of complacency and lack of renewal.

References

• Cox, G. W. (2018). The Federal Legislative Process. Routledge.
• Fenster, M. J. (2015). Congress at Work. CQ Press.
• Mayhew, D. R. (2005). Congress: The Electoral Connection. Yale University Press.
• Smith, S. S. (2017). The American Congress. Cambridge University Press.
• Wilentz, S. (2017). The Age of Jackson. HarperCollins.
• Mayhew, D. R. (2005). Congress: The Electoral Connection. Yale University Press.
• Viedo, "Congress: The People’s Institution." (Year). [Include full citation based on actual video source].
• Bianco, W. T. (2013). Congressional Elections. CQ Press.
• Rohde, D. (2014). Run for Office: Honest Elections, Political Power, and the Gain Action. Princeton University Press.
• Fenster, M. J. (2015). Congress at Work. CQ Press.