AP Gov 2.3

What are the factors that affect how well Congress is able to do their job is what?

1. Ideological Division/Alignment

2. The perspective reps. understanding of their role

3. Redistricting

What is ideological division?

when liberals & conservatives hold two different ideologies

What happens to the two most prominent political groups?

they have a greater divide over time

what is a gridlock?

when Congress struggles to pass laws or implement polices

what is the best way to solve gridlock?

to have the majority party govern both the house & the senate

• Ex: FDR & his new deal passes in the first 100 days

what is a divided government?

opposing parties hold majorities in both houses

aka when the president is one party & congress is the other

What is a lame duck president?

when an elected official is nearing the end of their term

What are the three models’ reps go by?

1. Delegate Model: he or she believes they vote to the will of the people, not their own

2. Trustee Model: he or she believes due to the people entrusting them with their faith, they vote with their own conscience

3. Politico Model: a hybrid of the other two models

what is redistricting?

when the district is redrawn every 10 years due to the census

what is gerrymandering?

when districts are redrawn to a person/parti’s benefit

what is racial gerrymandering?

when district lines are drawn based on race