legislative brach and powers of both houses

Article and percent of constitution

Article 1 and is 52% of the constitution.

Bicameral

2 part legislature. Each part can be called either a chamber or house. Upper house is the senate and the lower house is the House of Representatives.

Incumbent

A person running for the position they already hold. “Incumbency effect” is the theory that incumbents have an advantage in elections.

HoR facts

435 congressmen based on population. There are 750,000-800,000 citizens in each district. Each state has at least one representative.

Senate facts

100 congressmen (senators) with 2 per state.

HoR qualifications

• 25 years old

• Citizen of US for at least 7 years

• Inhabitant of the state they’re representing

• They also live in the district they’re representing but not required in some states

Senate qualifications

• 30 years old

• Citizen of the US for at least 9 years

• Inhabitant of the state they’re representing

Terms and sessions of congress

2 year terms of congress

• each term is divided into two sessions: Jan 3-Jan 3 and Jan 3-Jan 3.

We are on the 119th term of congress (started in 2025 and will end in 2027)

Starting business in the chambers

Only 2/3 of the chamber needs to be present to conduct business. Most congressmen only show up for the business that they care about.

Term limits house of reps

2 year terms and no term limit

Term limits for senate

6 year terms and no limit of terms

Classes

There are three classes for senators and it ensures that no two senators from the same state are up for election at the same time.

Gridlock

A political condition in government that occurs when the legislative process is stalled or there is great difficulty passing laws and making policy decisions due to political comflict

Divided government

When one political party controls the presidency and the opposing party controls one or both houses of congress. This institutional arrangement creates opposing veto players who can block the agenda of the other branch.

Partisan polarization

When the two major political parties are ideologically far apart, leading to an unwillingness to compromise or cooperate on legislation.

Reapportionment

National government does this every ten years to inform the states how many districts they will have for the next 10 years.

Redistricting

Each state redraws there maps to adjust for different amounts of districts.

Gerrymandering

Corrupt changing of districts based off of political parties or demographics so when that population is more likely to vote for that party’s candidates, and therefore more of that party will go to the House of Representatives

Legislature

Proposing and drafting new bills

Deliberating and voting on bills, resolutions, and amendments

Agent of constituents

The legislator’s primary goal is to determine and vote in favor of what a majority of their constituents want, regardless of their own personal beliefs.

Committee member

Becoming an expert in the policy area covered by the committee

Servant of constituents

Performing casework—helping constituents navigate the bureaucracy of the federal government

Politician

A politician acts as a loyal member of their political party, voting along party lines and supporting the party’s platform to advance its goals.

Standing committee

Permanent example: education committee, agricultural committee, foreign relations etc.

Select/temporary committee

Temporary topics that need to be addressed.

Joint committee

Both House of Representatives members, and senate members work together to come up with a bill they think will pass through both chambers.

Conference Committee

After a bill is marked up by both houses, it is finally completed by this committee that has members of both chambers and parties in it (perfected), then is sent back to both chambers to vote on it again.

Delegate voting option

Suppress own views, one’s political party, and one’s colleagues. Votes based on constituents wants and needs.

Trustee voting option

Votes based on one’s own beliefs about the situation/bill/question. Using one’s own morals, beliefs, and experiences.

Partisan voting option

Votes and makes decisions based on what one’s political party wants/needs one to do.

Politico voting option

Votes considering all of the above populations/groups.

Franking privilege

Free mailing to constituents (not for campaigning)

Pigeonholing

The practice by a congressional committee chairperson of killing a bill by setting it aside without review. This allows the committee to avoid taking action on legislation, thereby preventing it from moving forward to a floor vote.

Oversight power

Ensuring the executive branch acts in accordance with laws and operates efficiently- especially when created in a specific committee/ that fields committee.

pork barrel spending

Legislation that directs specific funds to projects in certain districts and/or states

Logrolling

2 or more members of congress trade votes to get their respective bills passed.

Earmarks

A congressional directive that funds should be spent on a specific project.

Annual budget

An annual budget is a financial plan that outlines the governments expected revenues (income, primarily from taxes) and expenditures (spending) for a fiscal year. This plan, which is submitted by the president and then legislated by Congress, serves as a roadmap for how the government will allocate its resources. This process is a key part of congress’s “power of the purse” and involves both authorization and appropriation.

Entitlement programs and mandatory spending

Entitlement programs are government-sponsored programs that provide mandated benefits to a specific group of people who meet eligibility requirements, such as age, income, or disability. The government is legally obligated to provide these benefits to everyone who qualifies, regardless of the annual budget. Because of this, spending on these programs is considered mandatory spending and is not subject to the annual appropriations process. Examples include social security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Congress can only change the amount of mandatory spending by changing the law that created the program, which can be a difficult political process.

Discretionary spending

the portion of the federal budget that Congress can decide to spend or not spend each year through the annual appropriations process. This spending is optional and includes funding for a wide range of government activities, such as national defense, education, transportation, scientific research, and foreign aid. It is distinct from mandatory spending in that Congress must pass new laws each year to authorize this funding.

Budget surplus

Occurs when the governments revenues (money collected, primarily through taxes) exceed its expenditures (money spent) in a given fiscal year. When a surplus happens, the government has excess funds that can be used to pay down the national debt or for other purposes.

Budget deficit

occurs when the governments expenditures (money spent) exceed its revenues (money collected) in a given fiscal year. When the government has a deficit, it must borrow money to cover the shortfall. This borrowing contributes to the national debt

National debt

The total amount of money the federal government owes to its creditors, which includes individuals, corporations, and other governments that have bought US treasury securities. It is the cumulative total of all past budget deficits minus and surpluses. Unlike a deficit, which is a single year measure, the national debt is an accumulation of all borrowing over the nations history.

Suspension of the rules

This is the most common way to bypass committee review in the House. It is typically used for less controversial measures with broad support.

• procedure: the bill is brought to the floor. Debate is limited to 40 mins, no amendments are allowed, and a 2/3 vote of the House is required for passage.

Discharge petition

A more forceful, and rarely successful, tactic that can be used by the House to bypass a committee that is intentionally blocking a bill.

• procedure: a motion is filed to discharge a bill from committee after it has been stuck for 30 legislative days. If a majority of House members (218) sign the petition, the bill can be brought to the floor for a vote.

Privileged bills

Certain measures, such as appropriations or budget resolutions, are considered “privileged” and can be brought to the floor without a special rule from the rules committee

Rules committee maneuver

The powerful House Rules Committee can report a special rule that, if adopted by the full House, brings a bill directly to the floor without any committee consideration

Unanimous consent

The senates most common method for fast-tracking noncontroversial legislation. A single senator can block the process by objecting.

procedure: the majority leader requests unanimous consent from the full senate to consider a bill directly on the floor. If no senator objects, debate can begin immediately.

Rule XIV

The senate can place a bill directly on the senate calendar, bypassing committee review, under rule xiv of its standing rules.

Offering a bill as an amendment

Unlike in the house, senate rules often allow amendments that are not germane to the original bill. A senator can offer the text of an entire bill as an amendment to a measure already being considered on the floor.

Discharge motion

The senate can also use a discharge motion to extract a bill from a committee. The procedure is simpler than in the house, requiring a simple majority vote to bring the bill directly to the floor.

Expediency

Some non controversial or technical bills, such as renaming a post office, can be passed quickly and efficiently.

Overcoming partisan opposition.

When a committee is controlled by the opposing party or a chair is “pigeonholing” a bill, bypass procedures can be used to force a floor vote.

Avoiding difficult negotiations

Skipping committee review avoids the potential for amendments or compromises that could change the bills intent.

H.J. Res. House Joint Resolution

This form of legislation is used for limited or specific matters, like a continuing or emergency appropriation. It is similar to a bill and becomes law if approved in identical form by both the house and senate and is signed but the president.

H. Con. Res. House Concurrent Resolution

They are often used for setting adjournment dates or making budget resolutions. These resolutions address matters that require the approval of both the house and the senate, but they do not require the presidents signature and do not have the force of law.

H. Res. House Simple Resolution

A simple resolution concerns matters that affect only the House of Representatives, such as its internal rules or expressing the opinion of the chamber. It does not require action from the senate or the president.

S.J.Res. Senate Joint Resolution

This is used for specific matters and generally becomes law in the same manner as a bill. The notable exception is a resolution proposing a constitutional amendment, which doesn’t require the presidents signature

S. Con. Res. Senate Concurrent Resolution

This requires approval from both chambers but doesn’t have the force of law and is not sent to the president for a signature.