Political Science-C1000 Exam-2

What are the differences between the House and the Senate when it comes to lawmaking?

The House has power over Tax & Revenue.

The Senate has power over Treaties & Nominations.

What are the unique lawmaking powers of the House Of Representatives?

Revenue and Tax Bills have to originate here, reflecting the principle that voters should control public spending.

What are the debate rules of the House?

Strict time-limits, controlled by the speaker of the House & Rules committee.

What are the unique lawmaking powers of the U.S Senate?

Treaties and Nominations originate here, only does this branch of congress have the power to confirm presidential nominations or ratify treaties.

What are the debate rules of the Senate?

Much more flexible, individuals have a right to unlimited debate. Allows for “filibuster” to block a vote (unless 3/5ths vote for closure).

What are the different types of committees in Congress?

Standing, Special/Select, Joint, Conference.

What is the purpose of the Standing committee?

Permanent committee to manage proposed laws and policies.

What is the purpose of the Special / Select committee?

Temporary committees that rule upon specific issues that fall outside normal jurisdiction of perm standing committees.

What is the purpose of the Joint committee?

Committees of members from both chambers to facilitate cooperation and collaboration on issues of mutual interest.

(Conference Committee)

What is the purpose of the Conference committee?

If two similar bills are passed in both chambers this committee comes together to make a new single bill.

What are some Powerful Committees?

Committees that deal with money or a significant issue tend to be more powerful. Such as:

House / Senate Appropriations, House Rules, House Ways & Means / State Finance, Foreign Affairs, Armed Services, Foreign Relations, Senate Judiciary.

What are some Weak Committees?

Joint Library, Joint Printing, House Transportations & Infrastructure, Senate Health, Edu, Labor & Pensions.

What are the rules for passing legislation in Congress?

Legislation is drafted, Submitted to a official clerk who drafts the “bill”, Referred to the proper committee for deliberation, Referred to sub committee, > Full committee markup (80% of bills die) > Rules committee, Debate, Voting.

Then referred to the other chamber and repeated.

How have the rules of passing legislation in congress changed over time?

Many different pieces of legislation covering many different items are passed through the budgeting process rather than through traditional means.

Furthermore the increasing filibuster threats have changed the process too.

What is the filibuster?

A process in which senators are able to infinitely debate in order to prevent a vote on a certain bill.

Longest in history (75 hrs. - Civil Rights Act)

How has the filibuster impacted lawmaking in the senate?

Most major legislation must clear the 60-vote threshold to advance or else the debate will continue. (Much harder to pass bills w/o bi-partisan support)

How has the filibuster changed in recent years?

2013: Dems lowered threshold to end a filibuster to 51 rather than 60.

2017: Reps extended this 51 vote to Supreme Court nominations.

What rules has the House adopted to pass legislation through a polarized chamber?

Party leader control / Majority control can:

Closed rules to immediately end debates and pass legislation.

Multiple referrals to get around committees shutting bills down.

What is the relationship between members of Congress and their constituents?

Delegate model: Acting on expressed wishes of constituents.

Trustee model: acting on what they believe is in the constituents best interests.

Most combine both approaches in the politico model.

What is a congressional constituent?

Anyone that lives in the specific legislative district for a Representative (District) for a Senator (State).

What is the top goal for members of Congress?

To be re-elected.

What are the oversight powers of Congress?

To oversee the president, executive branch, and federal nominations.

To see into investigations of people, such as Hillary Clinton emails, Trump collusion W Russians.

What is an enumerated power

A power explicitly stated in the Constitution.

What is a implied power

One not specifically detailed in the Constitution but inferred as necessary to achieve the objectives of the national government.

What is a inherent power

Not enumerated or implied, must be assumed to exist as a direct result of the country’s existence.

What is redistricting?

Process of redrawing maps to reflect changing demographics.

What problems can arise due to partisan redistricting?

Democracy is threatened as the vote is skewed to match that of the representatives that redistricted the zone.

Gerrymandering.

What are the implied powers of Congress?

“The Necessary and Proper Clause”.

Connection to Expressed Powers.

McCulloch v. Maryland (1819): Power to create national bank.

What do constituents care about?

Representation in their district.

Voices heard, changes made, etc.

How does leadership differ in the House and the Senate?

What are the four types of presidential power?

What are the president’s powers in the realm of diplomacy and foreign policy? (Pos break into 2)

How are the president’s diplomatic and foreign policy shared with congress?

What is the Executive Office of the Presidency?

What important agencies are housed within the EOP?

What is the White House staff?

What is the purpose of White House staff?

What are the nation’s foreign policy goals?

What are the limits to the president’s war powers?

What is the importance of the federal bureaucracy?

How is a president elected?

The electoral college 51% of the vote.

How do major parties select their nominees?

What is executive privilege?

What are the limits of executive privilege?

What is the role of the vice president?

What is an executive order?

What are the upsides and downsides of governing by executive order?

What is the definition of Stare Decisis?

What is The Rule of Four?

What are the Amicus Curiae briefs

How does the appeals process work?

What can and cannot be considered in an appeal?

How does an appeal move up the ladder?

What are the constitutional requirements regarding the size of the Supreme Court?

What are the constitutional requirements to serve on the Supreme Court?

Where does the Supreme Court’s power come from?

The constitution.

What are the limits on judicial power?

What kinds of opinions can a Supreme Court Justice write?

What is the difference between the kinds of opinions that a Supreme Court Justice can write?

What positions are a part of the plural executive?

What are the powers of the Governor?

What is the leadership structure of the bureaucracy?

How does the leadership structure of bureaucracy differ from the federal

bureaucracy?

What is the process to pass a budget?

What is Proposition 13?

What does Prop 13 do?

What has been the impact of Prop 13?

What is Proposition 98?

What types of direct democracy do we have in California?

How do direct democracies work?