AP GOV Unit 2

4 perks of being a congressman

-$174,000 salary

-generous retirement

-health benefits

-have a voice in Congress

Why is it often stated that a Congressperson does not "represent" a cross section of America. Provide three examples

-white

-male

-over 40 years old

What is the difference between descriptive and substantive representation?

Descriptive: representing constituents by mirroring personal, politically prevalent changes

Substantive: representing the interest groups of which they themselves are the member

What are five advantages incumbents have over their opponents in congressional elections?

weak opponents

campaign spending

advertising

credit claiming

position taking

What is the difference between casework and pork barreling?

-Casework is helping constituents as individuals - cutting through some bureaucratic red tape to give people what they think they have a right to get

-Whereas pork barrel is taking credit of service provided by federal funds eg highway, sewage treatment

Describe an advantage and a disadvantage to term limits?

Advantages - no limits create a roadblock to change and encourage ethnic abuses

Disadvantages - loss of experienced legislators

Why did the Framers of the Constitution establish a bicameral system?

To set another check and balance. Not bill can be passed unless both house and Senate agree on it; each body can thus veto the policies of the other

Describe six major differences between the House and the Senate

House

Senate

Membership

435

100

Seniority

More important in determining power

Less important in determining power

Agenda Setting

set their own

set their own

Constitutional Powers

Initiates all revenue bills and impeachment

Gives Advice and consent; tries impeached officals

Policy Making

More influential on budget; more specialized

More influential on foreign affairs; less specialized

Procedures

Limited debate; limits on floor amendments allowed

Unlimited debate

What is the main function of the House Rules Committee. What legislative area is it NOT responsible?

Reviews most bills coming from a House committee before they go to the full House; performs a traffic cop function. Not responsible for the speaker of the house

How is partisanship (parties) a major factor in Congress. Cite three examples

determining senators using agenda

majority serves as the strength of priority

similar jobs as seen in the committees

Who is the most powerful person in the House? List four powers

Speaker of the House

presides over the house when it is in session

plays a major role in making committee assignments, which are coveted by all members to ensure their electoral advantage

appoints or plays a key role in appointing the party's legislative leaders and the party leadership staff

exercises substantial control over which bills get assigned to which committees

Describe the four types of Congressional committees and determine their functions.

-Standing - separate subject-matter committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas

-Joint - Congressional committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership drawn from both houses

-Conference - Congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms. Party leadership appoints members from each house to iron out the differences and bring back a single bill

-Select - Congressional committees appointed for a specific purpose, such as the Watergate investigation

What are four sources of Federal revenue?

personal and corporate income tax

social insurance taxes

borrowing

taxes and public policy

Why do politicians have a difficult time balancing the budget?

It is difficult to pay for everything. Not taking away from popular programs such as Social Security while funding the necessary ones that might not be popular such as Defense.

What is the difference between income taxes and social insurance taxes?

Social insurance taxes are money deducted from employees' paychecks dedicated to fund Social Security trust funds.

Income taxes is a portion of the money that an individual earns to fuel the federal government.

What is the difference between a progressive tax and a "flat tax"?

Progressive tax is a tax proportional to the amount of money that an individual makes.

Flat tax is a tax instigated at the same level.

Describe four "tax" loopholes.

Capital gains tax rate

home mortgage interest deduction

second home mortgage interest deduction

tax break for offshoring US jobs

How do tax cuts impact the federal budget. Which political party has traditionally been in favor of tax cuts?

The more tax cuts, the less revenue that the federal government receives, thus increasing the deficit. Tax cuts can also increase aggregate demand in the economy and raise the value of the money being taxed, sometimes offsetting the cut. Republicans.

8. What is incremental budgeting?

budget prepared using a previous period's budget or actual performance as a basis with incremental amounts added for the new budget period

What are the top three expenditures for the federal government?

Social Security, Medicare, Defense

Why are many components of social service spending considered to be "uncontrollable expenditures"?

Expenditures that are determined by how many eligible beneficiaries there are for a program or by previous obligations of the government and that Congress therefore cannot easily control

Describe five of the ten major players in the annual budgetary battle?

1. Interest groups

2. Agencies

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

the president

tax committees in Congress

How did the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 impact the budgetary process?

advises Congress on the probable consequences of its decisions

forecasts revenues

counterweights the president's Office of Management and Budget

What is the difference between an "entitlement" program and a Means-tested" or public assistance program?

Entitlement program provide benefits to individuals regardless of need.

Means-tested programs provide benefits to people with specific needs.

Is the income distribution across America, even or unequal? Why?

Unequal, inherent in a free market

What is the "poverty line"?

the income threshold below which an individual is considered impoverished.

What is the feminization of poverty?

The poverty rate for female-headed families is almost 30 percent, as opposed to less than 10 percent for families with 2 parents.

What is an Earned Income Tax Credit?

EITC is a special tax benefit for working people who earn low incomes

What was the purpose of the Welfare Reform Act of 1996? Why did the Democrats approve such legislation even though it ran counter to its platform?

End welfare by providing welfare recipients with two years of support - training, child care, and health care

feared "tax and spend" Republicans

What is the difference between AFDC and TANF?

ADFC provides money to destitutes

TANF helps needy parents by promoting marriage, reducing out-of-wedlock births, and promoting work