AP Gov. Chapter 12

Lawmaking

Write bills and send to president for approval

Bicameral Legislature

Two Chambers (House + Senate)

Caucusing Groups

Grouping of supporters of a political party or movement

Speaker of the House

the leader of HoR/PO; Currently Mike Johnson

Whips

keep vote tally, discipline, promise political favors

Role of VP in the Senate

Presiding Officer

President Pro Tempore

Senate; acts as chair in the absence of the vice president

Majority and Minority Floor Leaders

-steer floor action to their party's benefit

- John Thune currently Senate Majority Leader (the person really leading the Senate)

Congressional Powers

1. Power of the Purse

2. Regulating Commerce (interstate)

3. Foreign/Military Affairs (oversee military)

4. Implied Powers

Power of the Purse

Power to raise revenue

War Powers Act of 1973

gives the president 48 hours to engage in urgent combat without informing Congress

Franking privileges

Send mail to constituents free of charge

Standing Committee

permanent, subject-matter committees that handle bills in different policy areas

Joint Committee

members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate

Conference Committee

resolves differences in House and Senate versions of bills

Select Committee

temporary; established for a special purpose, usually investigative

Committee Chairs

most important influencer of congressional agenda, elected via seniority system

House Rules Committee

sets guidelines for floor debate

House Committee on Ways and Mean

jurisdiction on all taxation, tariffs, and other revenue-raising measures

How many bills go committees go through per session?

10000, 90% of which die in committee

Legislative Oversight

legislative branch monitoring executive branch and its administration through committee hearings

Reapportionment

redistribution of congressional seats based on census data; redrawn by party in power

Gerrymandering

districts redrawn to maximize the number of legislative seats that can be won by majority party

Earmark

funds directed to a specific purpose in a specific district

Logrolling

trading votes

Trustee Model

members believe they are trusted by their people to use their best judgement when voting

Delegate Model

members try to reflect the will of their constituents

Politico Model

blend delegate and trustee model

Filibuster

killing debate to prevent action on a bill

pocket veto

when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president who makes no decision on the bill

markup

process where committees edit, amend, and rewrite a bill before sending it to the floor

Cloture

procedure for terminating debate in the Senate; requires 60 votes