AP government midterm review

Reasons for incumbents to get reelected are easier

Incumbency advantage

Name recognition 

Franking-The privilege of sending mail without payment of postage, often used by incumbents to communicate with constituents.

Credit Claiming

Party help

Pork Barrel spending

Pork barrel spending

Government spending for localized projects secured primarily to bring money to a representative's district

Difference between house and the Senate

Membership numbers- house has a larger number and stricter rules (435)

-senate has fewer members and more flexible debate rules

Rules Committee (House)

determines the terms and conditions of debate when a bill goes to the House floor

Most important committee in the House--  If you are on this committee, it shows power/influence

Constrains legislative activity on the floor  

Bills With Money (House)

Speaker of the House (House)

Filibuster

Senate) - a tactic used in the senate to delay or block legislation by extending debate

Cloture

Senate)-  procedure used to end a filibuster and bring a debate to a close, requiring a supermajority vote.

How a Bill Becomes a Law-

The process includes introduction, committee review, debate, and approval by both chambers of Congress before being signed by the President.

Committees

Bills dying in Committee

Party representation on Committees -

The allocation of committee seats based on the proportion of party members in the legislature.

Chairman

Highest Memberon a committee  from the party in Charge)

Ranking Member

The highest member of the committee from the minority party)

Conference Committee

House and Senate)

Partisan vs Bipartisan

Partisan refers to actions or policies supported by one political party, while bipartisan involves cooperation between two parties.

Reapportionment (Federal)

The process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives based on changes in population. - Sets how many representatives each state has

Redistricting (states)

Divides the state up into districts for the number of representatives

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party over another

Baker V Carr-

Established one person one vote

Shaw v Reno

racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional 

Enumerated Powers-

Specific powers granted to Congress by the Constitution.

Implied Powers-

Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but inferred from the enumerated powers.

Concurrent Powers

Powers that are shared by both the federal and state governments.

Exclusive Powers

Powers that are reserved solely for the federal government.

10th Amendment

Reserved Powers

State Powers

-The amendment that reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people.

14th Amendment-

Due process clause, equal protections clause

DUE Process Clause-

No state may deprive any person of life liberty or property without process of law 

Equal Protection Clause

An amendment that addresses citizenship rights and equal protection under the law.

Federal Grants in Aid

Categorical Grants

Federal funds provided for a specific purpose, often with strict regulations.

Block Grants

Federal funds provided to states with fewer restrictions on how the money can be spent.

-Funds provided by the federal government to state or local governments for specific projects or programs.

Judicial review-

The power of courts to assess whether a law is in compliance with the Constitution.

Brutus 1-

anti-federalist who wanted small strong governments

Federalist 10-

factions are dangerous but can be controlled

Federalist 51

Separation of powers prevents tyranny

Federalist 70

strong executive needed

United States v Lopez-

Limited congress's Commerce Clause power 

Commerce Clause-

A clause in the Constitution that gives Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states.

Federalism

system of government in which power is divided between a central authority and constituent political units.

Necessary and proper clause

 clause that allows Congress to make laws required to execute its enumerated powers

4th Amendment

protects against unwarranted searches and supports the idea that individual liberties should be prioritized.)

1st Amendment

freedom of expression for all citizens, supporting the idea that individual liberties should be prioritized.)

DOMA

Past in 1996, defined marriage for federal purposes between one man and one woman

5th Amendment

Due process, self incrimination

Floor debate in the House vs Senate- 

 house - 

debate is limited and controlled

 governed by the rules committee

 strict time limits

 no filibusters

 amendments must be approved in advance

- moves quickly and efficiency

 Senate

 debate is unlimited

 Senators can speak as long as they want

 allows filibusters

 the only way to end debate is cloture which is 60 votes 

Powers of the Rules Committee in the House -

Most powerful Committee in the house

 determines when a bill reaches the house floor

 sets time limits for debates

 decides which amendments are allowed

 makes the house more efficient but less flexible 

Separation of powers

The division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to limit any one branch from exercising the core functions of another.

Representative republic

Citizens elect representatives

Unicameral

one government

Bicameral

2 chambers

Tax and spend

Congress's power to Levy taxes and allocate money for public purposes

Power of the purse-

congress's authority to control government spending and Taxation

Divided Government-

when the presidency and Congress are controlled by different political parties

Unitary government-

is system in which all powers held by central government

Reapportionment Act of 1929-

a law that fixed the House of Representatives at 435 members in reallocate seats after each census

independent commissions-

nonpartisan groups that draw voting district boundaries to reduce gerrymandering

Census

an official population count conducted every 10 years

Logrolling/Reciprocity-

-  in agreement between lawmakers to trade votes to pass legislation

Gridlock

political stalemate where little or no legislation is passed

Fiscal policies(tax and spend)-

government decisions involving Taxation and spending to influence the economY

Voting rights act

a federal law that protects minority voting rights and prevents discrimination in elections

Racial gerrymandering

drawing voting districts primarily based on race, often ruled unconstitutional

Majority leader

The head of the majority party in a legislative body.

Minority leader

The head of the minority party in a legislative body.

Majority whip

party leader who ensures that members of majority party vote together

Minority whip

the party leader who assists the minority leader and counts votes

Speaker of the house

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, responsible for maintaining order and overseeing proceedings.

President Pro Tempore of the Senate

A high-ranking senator of the majority party who presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President.

President of the Senate- The Vice President of the United States, who presides over the Senate.

Veto

The power of the president to reject a bill passed by Congress

Pocket veto

special type of veto that occurs when the President does not sign a bill into law within ten days and Congress adjourns.

Supremacy clause

clause in the Constitution stating that federal law takes precedence over state laws.

Legislative branch

the branch of government that makes laws – Congress

Executive branch

The branch that enforces laws by the president

Judicial branch

The branch that interprets laws and determines constitutionality

Mandatory spending

Federal spending is required by law such as Social Security and Medicare

Discretionary spending

Spending decided each year by Congress through the budget process

Federalism

A system in which power is shared between national and state governments

Factions

Natural but controllable by institutions

Large republic

large Nation with many factions reducing the chance that one group dominates

Limited government

A political system where the legalized force is restricted through delegated and enumerated powers.

Social contract theory

The theory that individuals consent to form a government that will protect their rights and welfare.

Elite democracy

theory that Society is ruled by a small group of wealthy individuals

Pluralist democracy

democracy Works through competition among many interests

Participate democracy

Broad and active citizen participation in government

Commander in chief

the president's role as head of the military

Checks and balances

this is between branches of Government)- A system that ensures that no one branch of government becomes too powerful by providing each branch with the means to limit the powers of the others.

Majoritarian democracy

A form of democracy in which the majority's preferences dominate decision-making.

Regularly interstate commerce

the majority of most frequently contested court cases in the federal court system)

Connecticut compromise

created a bicameral legislator with equal representation in the Senate and population based on representation in the house

New Jersey plan

Proposed equal representation for each state in Congress

Virginia plan

propose representation based on population 

Popular sovereignty

The principle that the authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of its people.

ADA

Americans With Disabilities Act