HOW CONGRESS WORKS

>> TRANSFER OF POWER TO REPUBLICANS IN HOUSE (JAN. 5, 2010)


>> TRANSFER OF SPEAKERSHIP (JAN. 5, 2010)


>> THE NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE (JAN. 5, 2010)


>> 112TH CONGRESS OPENING (JAN. 5, 2010)


>> 2010 REAPPORTIONMENT (CNN, DEC. 2010)


>> HOUSE GOP MAY USE RESOLUTION PROCESS TO STOP EXECUTIVE BRANCH (CNN DEC. 2010)


>> MORE EARMARKS (DEC. 2010)


>> SENATE BLOCKS DONT ASK DONT TELL (USA TODAY POLITICS)

>> GOP FRESHMAN ALREADY HAVING AN IMPACT (NOV. 15, 2010 CBSNEWS)


>> SENATE PARLIMENTARIAN (MARCH, 2010)
Senate Parlimentarian is top powerbroker, See Story


>> GERRYMANDERING (March 2010):


MORE ON GERRYMANDERING (MARCH 2010)


GERRRYMANDERING IN FLORIDA (March 2010:


FRESHMAN YEAR IN CONGRESS:


VOTERS FUMING AT CONGRESS:


ANTI INCUMBENT MOOD:
(FEB 2010)

CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT
(FEB 2010)Senator John McCain puts Secretary of Defense Robert Gates on the hot seat over the issue of dealing with suspected terrorists. This is a good example of congressional OVERSIGHT.


EXAMPLE OF A RIDER
One of the odd features of congress is the use of RIDERS. This is the process where certain members congress (usually backed by one of the two parties) can try to sneak in legislation by attaching their bill to another,usually more popular, bill. Hence the term "rider". Interesttly, riders usually have nothing to do with the subject of the bill it is being attached to! Both Republicans and Democrats have done this. The idea is get policy put in place that would otherwise not get support. So the unpopular bill is placed onto a bill that most members of congress would otherwise support.

A recent example is the attempt by Democrats to get a hate-crimes bill passed by attaching it to the defense spending bill which, not suprisingly, is supported by Republicans. Read the article for more information