AP Gov executive and legislative

seats in the house of representatives are decided based on what?

State population

Why did the framers create a bicameral body of congress?

to settle the conflict between the Virginia and new jersey plan at Philadelphia in 1787

why did the framers favor bicameralism?

It allowed for fair and equal representation of the states at the national level.

What are the qualifications to be a member of the House?

• at least 25 yrs old

• been a citizen for at least 7 years

• live in the state you represent

• don't need to live in the district they represent

How often does article 1 of the constitution ask congress to reapportion the seats in the house?

Each decennial census - which is a census taken once every ten years

What does the reapportionment act of 1929 provide?

The permanent size of the House is 435 members

How often are members of the house elected?

they serve 2 year terms

What is the minimum representation a state can have from the house?

1 member

What system do states with only one member in the house use when electing their representative?

the at-large system

what is the single-member district system?

candidates running for house can only run for one district

who is responsible for drawing the congressional district lines?

state legislature

What is it called when congressional districts have been drawn in odd shapes to the advantage of the political party that control's the state legislature?

gerrymandering

What does gerrymandering do?

it creates districts that favor one political party over another

what did the supreme court case of wesberry vs sanders do?

congressional districts in a state must have about the same number of people so that one persons vote is equal to anothers

Describe the love/hate paradox of congress.

• Americans don't like congress but we like our congressmen

• we especially love pork barrel financing (extra money we get from our government)

What are the number of seats in the senate based on?

equal representation

what are the qualifications for the senate?

• 30 years old

• citizen for at least 9 years

• live in the state from which they are chosen

The senate is a continuous body. What does this mean?

Only a fraction of its seats are up for election at one time

How long of terms do senators serve?

6 years

What majority vote does a treaty need from senate?

2/3

If the vice president is absent, the presiding officer of the senate is who?

the president pro tempore

what is "the whip"

the person who determines how many votes can be counted on when senate party members vote for a bill

Who do registered voters directly elect for?

members of the senate and house

What is the significance of incumbency?

it is the single most important factor in prediction whether a candidate will be elected. The incumbent wins the majority of the time.

What is a benefit of being an incumbent in an election?

They receive the most money in campaign contribution

What are the three specific powers the constitution grants congress.

expressed, implied and inherent

what are the implied powers?

based on the necessary and proper clause, give congress the ability to carry out its expressed powers.

What doctrine upheld the implied powers?

McCulloch vs Maryland

What does the commerce power authorize?

Congress to regulate all commercial interactions between states.

what does congress have the sole power to do?

declare war

congress also holds power to propose?

constitutional amendments

Congress is given investigatory powers which let them?

examine matters related to lawmaking powers

What war power is congress granted?

call fort the militia, raise and support an army, and declare war

What is bankruptcy?

the legal proceeding for distributing to creditors the assets of those unable to pay their debts

The federal government relies on deficit financing to do what?

pay for wars or social programs

What does the house have the sole power to do?

impeach the president

What is impeachment?

the power to bring charges against the president for any crimes and misdemeanors committed while in office

What steps must congress go through to impeach the president?

• first the house votes for impeachment with a majority vote

• then the senate conducts a trial and reaches a guilty verdict (2/3 majority vote needed)

what is eminent domain?

the inherent power (of the federal government) to take private property for public use

What is the rule of naturalization?

• established by congress

• the process by which citizens of one country become citizens of another

What is the franking privilege?

a right reserved for members of congress to send mail to their constituents at the government's expense

What is a joint resolution?

how congress proposes a constitutional amendment

screening bills for floor consideration is a major duty of who?

committee members

What is the main reason congress created committees?

to divide the workload

Who decides when bills reach the floor of the house?

Rules Committee

Members of congress that want to be very influential work hard to get onto what committee?

The rules committee

The role of the house rules committee is played in the senate by who?

the majority floor leader

What can the house rules committee do with a bill?

set conditions fro considering a bill, prevent consideration of a bill, and speed up consideration of a bill

Committee chairpersons are usually chosen on the basis of what?

seniority

how are bills introduced in the senate?

by individual senators

what is the first thing that happens when a bill is introduced in the house?

it is given a number and title

where do most measures introduced in the house die?

in the committee

What is the purpose of a filibuster?

to prevent action on a bill

how do you end a filibuster?

with the cloture rule

What are iron triangles?

strong network of congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups that strongly influence the policy process

What do the voting patterns for members of congress most strongly correlate with?

political party affiliation

What is the winner-take-all system?

a candidate who wins the preference vote in a primary automatically wins the support of all the delegates chosen in the pirmary

How do presidential candidates choose a running mate?

They choose one that can balance-the-ticket by virtue of certain characteristics

During the nomination process, where are political battles most likely to occur?

In the presidential primaries in the party out of power

Why is the national convention held?

• to unify the party behind its candidates

• pick its presidential candidate

-adopt the party's platform

What is the electoral college?

the group of people chosen from each state and the District of Columbia to formally select the president and vice president

What is one of the major flaws in the electoral college?

the winner of the popular vote is not guaranteed the presidency

Why did the electoral system break down in the election of 1800?

the rise of political parties

What is the least number of presidential electors a state can have?

3

What are the qualifications for president?

• 35 years old

• lived in the US for at least 14 years

• natural born citizen of the US

What happened to presidential terms when the 22nd amendment was passed?

a president can serve no more than 10 year offices

Who broke the no third term limit?

Franklin D Roosevelt who was elected to four terms

what does the 25th amendment say about disability during a term?

if the president is disabled, the vice president becomes president

Who determines presidential disability?

the vice president and a majority of the cabinet inform congress in writing

What are the two important jobs of the vice president?

determine presidential disability and preside over the senate

according to the presidential succession act of 1947, who follows the vice president?

the speaker of the house

What was the major importance of the 12th amendment?

that it eliminated the possibility of a tie for the presidency

If there is an emergency, what can the president call?

a special session of congress

what is an executive order?

a directive, rule or regulation made by the president that has the effect of law. This power falls under the ordinance powers

since the 1970s, presidents have made use of executive orders at an increasing rate. Why?

because executive orders do not need to be passed by congress

the president can accept another country as equal in the family of nations under what power?

power of recognition

What can the president do with a bill he receives from congress?

• sign the bill within 10 days

• veto the bill by attaching a veto

• not sign or veto the bill, allowing it to become a law

• pocket veto

What is the line-item veto?

the ability to cancel specific dollar amounts in spending bills enacted by congress.

what happens if the president hasn't done anything with a bill within 10 days?

it becomes a law without the president's signature

how often is a presidential veto overridden by congress?

rarely

What does the constitution give the president power to do?

• command the armed forces

• veto acts of congress

• grant pardons and reprieves

What is the difference between a treaty and an executive agreement?

the president needs senate approval for a treaty but not for an executive agreement

when president Andrew Johnson fired his secretary of war in 1867, what unwritten rule was he following?

the president may remove whomever he appoints