The Logic of American Politics
Video and Multimedia
Multimedia
Learning Objective: 6.2 Identify the factors that create advantages and disadvantages in congressional electoral politics
America’s Most Gerrymandered Congressional Districts
Learning Objective: 6.2 Identify the factors that create advantages and disadvantages in congressional electoral politics
What is Congressional Dysfunction?
Learning Objective: 6.2 Identify the factors that create advantages and disadvantages in congressional electoral politics; 6.4 Explain six basic problems of legislative organization; 6.5 Relate the institutional structures in the House and Senate that help members overcome barriers to collective action
Video
Learning Objective: 6.1 Describe the requirements and powers of Congress and how the congressional electoral system works
Questions to Consider:
- What are the historical reasons that the Founding fathers settled on a bicameral legislature?
- What are the practical reasons the Founding fathers settled on a bicameral legislature?
Learning Objective: 6.1 Describe the requirements and powers of Congress and how the congressional electoral system works
Learning Objective: 6.1 Describe the requirements and powers of Congress and how the congressional electoral system works
Questions to Consider:
- Describe the important role that lobbyists play in the legislative process?
- Why is lobbying reform difficult to pass?
Learning Objective: 6.2 Identify the factors that create advantages and disadvantages in congressional electoral politics
Lawmakers? Lobbyists? Or Too Close to Call?
Learning Objective: 6.2 Identify the factors that create advantages and disadvantages in congressional electoral politics
Year of the Woman in Congress? Not So Fast
Learning Objective: 6.3 Discuss the racial and ethnic makeup of Congress
50 Richest Members of Congress for 2014
Learning Objective: 6.3 Discuss the racial and ethnic makeup of Congress
Questions to Consider:
- What does the statement “that’s not the voters choosing their representatives, that’s the representatives choosing their voters” refer to?
- Explain the redistricting technique called “scorpions in the bottle.”
- Why do partisan gerrymanders encourage ideological extremism?
Learning Objective: 6.5 Relate the institutional structures in the House and Senate that help members overcome barriers to collective action; 6.6 Describe what influences public opinion about Congress and its performance
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Takes on ALEC
Learning Objective: 6.5 Relate the institutional structures in the House and Senate that help members overcome barriers to collective action; 6.6 Describe what influences public opinion about Congress and its performances
NBC News Taking the Hill: Inside Congress
Learning Objective: 6.5 Relate the institutional structures in the House and Senate that help members overcome barriers to collective action; 6.6 Describe what influences public opinion about Congress and its performances
Web Resources
Learning Objective: 6.1 Describe the requirements and powers of Congress and how the congressional electoral system works
Demographics of the 114th Congress
Learning Objective: 6.3 Discuss the racial and ethnic makeup of Congress
Learning Objective: 6.6 Describe what influences public opinion about Congress and its performance
Help! We’re living in Hell and Don’t Know How to Get Out
Learning Objective: 6.6 Describe what influences public opinion about Congress and its performances