Learning Objectives

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After reading this chapter, you should be able to:

Explain why Congress passed the Farm Security Act of 2002, noting how private interests triumphed over the public interest.
Summarize the organizational structure of Congress, including the relationship between the two houses.
Delineate and explain the function of congressional staffers and congressional support agencies.
Explain the difference between the trustee and delegate styles of representation.
Explain how congressional parties and the committee system contribute to the operation, organization, and legislative flow in Congress.
Review the various stages in how a bill becomes a law.
Explain why Americans do not have a high opinion of Congress as an institution, but do have a positive view of their own members of Congress.
Summarize the respective criticisms of Congress, noting what Americans do and don't like about the institution and/or its members.
Understand the respective arguments that comprise the controversial issue of term limits.

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