gov unit 6

Franking privilege

Franking privilege

Members of congress can mail newsletters and documents to constituents for free using their signature instead of having to pay for a postage stamp

Delegate model of representation

Value reelection over every other consideration and do what their district/constituents want

Trustee model of representation

Use their best judgment on issues without regard to their district’s preferences, focusing on big issues

Politico model of representation

Representatives first put their own judgment on an issue (trustee) until their constituents become vocal, then they turn delegate

Senate majority/minority whips

A senator who helps the majority or minority leader stay informed about what party members are thinking and rounds members up for important votes

Steering committee/ Committee on committees

Steering committee (democrat) and the committee on committees (republican) are groups that assign senators to the standing committee

Standing committee

responsible for legislation within a certain subject area, are permanent

Senate majority leader powers

Schedules the business of the senate and is recognized first on the debate floor

Speaker of the house powers

Decides who will be recognized to speak on the floor

Influences what bills are brought up to vote

Rules whether a motion is germane

Appoints members to committees

Nominates majority-party members

Congressional Caucus

An association created under a common issue/goal to advocate a political ideology or a regional, ethnic, or economic interest. Used to show their constituents they care about certain issues and are a leader. (ex: black caucus, conservative caucus, midwest caucus)

Select/Special committee

Appointed for a limited time and purpose, example Watergate committee and January 6 committee

Joint committee

Both senators and representatives are members

Conference committee

Representatives and senators appointed to resolve differences in the senate and house versions of the same bill

Descriptive representation

Idea an elected body should mirror demographically the people they represent

Substantive representation

Ability of a legislator to represent the interest of a demographic group they don’t belong to

Gerrymandering

Drawing of district boundaries in bizarre shapes in order to make it easier for one party to win an election in the house. This leads to more safe districts. Districts are drawn by majority party in state legislature.

Malapportionment

Representation in each district is no longer proportionate to it’s population due to population shifts and the redrawing of district boundaries, causing the value of individual votes to be unequal

Reapportionment

Redistributing of house seats among the districts to reflect population changes, happens every 10 years after a census

Filibuster

Any attempt by a senator to delay or block action on a bill

Cloture motion

Breaks a filibuster in the senate and ends discussion on a bill if 60 people (supermajority) vote for cloture

Congressional agencies

Organizations of congressional staffers who provide members with specialized knowledge or necessary services, benefiting congress as a whole (ex: GAO, CBO)

Discharge petition

A petition only in the house, that a bill in a committee may be brought to the floor after 30 days (requires 218 votes, a majority)

Open rules in house

Permits amendments on the floor of the house

Closed rules in house

Sets a time limit on debate and forbids a bill from being amended on the floor

Riders

A provision added to legislation in the senate not relevant to its purpose to make a president veto a bill, sign an objectionable bill, or to add something that the chief executive really wants done

Affirmative action

A program designed to increase minority participation in some institution

Baker v Carr

Tennessee had not redrawn its legislative district lines since 1901, despite a large shift of people moving from rural areas to urban areas.

Court ruled that congressional districts must have equivalent populations to avoid malapportionment. Created the principle of one person one vote.

Shaw v Reno

Geographically disparate districts that are drawn solely on the basis of race resemble racial segregation, violating the equal protection clause. This case gave courts power to shut down racial gerrymandering

Federalist 51

Ambition must counteract ambition and men aren’t angels

The constitution sets up a system of checks and balances, federalism, and separation of powers making sure power is split between branches and levels, and no one branch or level gets too powerful.

large republic= more factions= preventing tyranny of the majority

Committee chairs

Determines the committee’s agenda, schedules all votes of the committee, preside over all committee proceedings. Selected by senoirty or secret ballot always from the MAJORITY party.

Marginal v Safe districts

Marginal: candidates win in close elections, less than 55% of the vote

Safe: incumbents win by margins of 55% or more

Party polarization

A vote in Congress in which a majority of voting Democrats vote one way and the majority of Republicans vote the other way

Government shutdown

When Congress and the President cannot agree on a budget to fund the federal government. There is no money appropriated to continue running parts of the federal government