AP Government 1.7 - Congress

Important Congressional Powers

- Collect taxes
- Regulate commerce
- Coin money
- Raise and maintain armed forces
- Establish federal courts

Filibuster

A political procedure in which one or members prolong debates.

Only the Senate can use it. It is used to delay or stop a bill from passing. Filibusters require a 3/5 vote; tactic used by the minority.

Enumerated Powers of the House of Representatives

- Impeachment of government officials, including the President
- Elect the President in the case of an Electoral College tie
- Initiate revenue bills

Powers Delegated to the Senate

- Confirming or rejecting treaties
- Confirming or rejecting presidential appointments to office: Cabinet, Supreme Court justices, and ambassadors
- Trying a government official who commits a crime against the United States (next step after impeachment)

Redistricting

The process of drawing the lines of districts from which public officials are elected - happens every 10 years.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of the map=making process for personal party gain.

Cracking is...

The practice of dividing a group's supporters among multiple districts.

Packing

The practice of concentrating a group's supporters heavily in a few districts.

Partisan Gerrymandering

Drawing of district boundaries into strange shapes to benefit a party.

Pork Barrel Spending

The use of government funds by a representative to bring more money to local projects in their districts (commonly public works projects and agricultural subsidies).

Logrolling

Vote-trading by lawmakers to ensure that each legislature's favored provisions have a higher chance of passing.