Key Concepts in U.S. Congress and Judiciary

What is the minimum age to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives?

25 years of age.

What is the minimum age to serve in the U.S. Senate?

30 years of age.

Which profession is more likely to have majority representation in Congress?

Lawyers.

Who can formally introduce bills in Congress?

Members of Congress only.

Why are senators generally less likely to take directions from their leaders?

Because they think of themselves as equals and expect more autonomy.

What committee reconciles differences between bills passed in the House and Senate?

Conference committee.

How often does redistricting occur following the census?

Every 10 years.

How many voting members are in the U.S. House of Representatives?

435 voting members.

How many voting members are in the U.S. Senate?

100 voting members.

What percentage of the time can members of the House of Representatives expect to be reelected?

92 percent.

Where is most of the work on legislation in Congress done?

By committees and their respective subcommittees.

What is the purpose of cloture in the Senate?

To end a filibuster.

What procedural tactic is employed in the Senate to prevent a bill from coming to a vote?

Filibuster.

Which institution was viewed by the framers of the Constitution as the most powerful?

Congress.

Who is considered the second-most powerful elected national official after the president?

Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

What is required to overturn a presidential veto in Congress?

A three-fifths majority vote in each chamber.

What is legislation that benefits a specific legislator's constituency often criticized as?

Pork.

Who conducts redistricting?

State legislatures.

What is one of the three major functions of Congress's policymaking role?

Lawmaking.

What problem are Senate incumbents more likely to face than House incumbents when facing reelection?

A strong challenger.

What is expected to happen to the president's party during midterm elections?

The president's party usually loses seats in Congress.

What do congressional staffers spend most of their time on?

Legislative matters and constituency service.

Which department was founded in 1889?

Department of Agriculture.

True or False: About two of every three Senior Executive Service positions in the federal bureaucracy are held by women.

False.

True or False: The chief way administrative agencies exercise control over policy is by rule-making for legislation.

True.

How many employees are there approximately in the federal bureaucracy?

More than 2.8 million.

Like no other branch of the federal government, the bureaucracy has what kind of impact?

A more direct impact on the daily lives of Americans.

How does Congress oversee the bureaucracy?

Through sunset provisions, oversight hearings, and the Government Accountability Office.

What is the expected voter behavior during midterm elections?

Voters are more likely to have weaker ties to political parties.

What is the significance of a two-thirds majority in Congress?

It is often required for certain types of legislation to pass.

What is the role of oversight hearings in Congress?

To monitor the actions of the bureaucracy.

What is the impact of pork-barrel legislation on congressional elections?

It can influence the reelection prospects of incumbents.

What does the term 'sunset provisions' refer to in the context of congressional oversight?

Clauses that set an expiration date for a law unless renewed.

What is the relationship between congressional incumbents and name recognition?

Incumbents often benefit from higher name recognition than challengers.

What is the primary function of the Government Accountability Office?

To provide oversight of federal spending and operations.

What is a common criticism of the federal bureaucracy?

That it is inefficient and unresponsive to the public.

What is the significance of the term 'constituent service' in Congress?

It refers to the assistance provided by members of Congress to their constituents.

What initiates the annual federal budget process?

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) distributes budget limits to each agency based on the president's directives.

What distinguishes the merit system from the patronage system in managing the bureaucracy?

The merit system provides for a neutral administration where civil servants are not partisan appointees, ensuring impartial work.

How is hiring in the federal bureaucracy characterized?

It is a mix of the patronage and merit systems, with the vast majority of positions filled by merit.

What is Congress's typical response to controlling an economic activity?

The creation of a regulatory agency.

What types of agencies are the FBI, NASA, and EPA?

The FBI is an independent agency, NASA is an agency within a cabinet department, and the EPA is a regulatory agency.

What is the primary responsibility of the bureaucracy's policy implementation function?

Carrying out decisions made by Congress, the president, and the courts.

On what basis are most federal civil servants hired?

Most are hired based on merit criteria.

Is Amtrak an example of a regulatory agency?

False, Amtrak is a government corporation.

What are the foundational characteristics of bureaucracy?

Bureaucracy is based on hierarchical authority, job specialization, and formalized rules.

Which cabinet department has the most full-time employees?

The Department of Defense has more full-time employees than any other cabinet department.

What does the merit system ensure in the federal bureaucracy?

It ensures that civil servants are not partisan appointees, promoting a neutral administration.

What is the role of regulatory agencies in economic activities?

Regulatory agencies are created by Congress to control and oversee specific economic activities.

What is the function of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the federal budget process?

The OMB sets budget limits for federal agencies based on presidential directives.

What is the significance of job specialization in bureaucracy?

Job specialization allows for efficiency and expertise in specific areas of government operations.

How does the merit system affect presidential appointments in the bureaucracy?

The merit system allows for a more neutral and professional bureaucracy, reducing political influence in appointments.

What does the term 'patronage' refer to in the context of federal hiring?

Patronage refers to the practice of appointing individuals to government positions based on political connections rather than merit.

What is the difference between independent agencies and regulatory agencies?

Independent agencies operate outside of the executive departments, while regulatory agencies are created to enforce specific regulations.

What is the impact of hierarchical authority in bureaucracy?

Hierarchical authority establishes a clear chain of command, facilitating organized decision-making and accountability.

What does the term 'formalized rules' imply in a bureaucratic context?

Formalized rules imply that procedures and policies are documented and followed consistently within the bureaucracy.

What is the relationship between the bureaucracy and public responsiveness?

The bureaucracy is expected to be responsive to the public's needs, although it can sometimes be perceived as wasteful or unresponsive.

What is the role of civil servants in the federal bureaucracy?

Civil servants implement policies and programs, ensuring the continuity of government operations regardless of political changes.

When does the federal government's fiscal year end?

September 30.

What is the most recent cabinet department established in 2002?

Department of Homeland Security.

How is the modern bureaucracy in America best described?

Hierarchy, specialization, and rules.

What percentage of all legal cases in the United States are decided in state or local court systems?

Approximately 95 percent.

What is a Supreme Court opinion called when the majority of justices agree on the legal reasoning for the decision?

Majority opinion.

Do U.S. courts of appeals review district court decisions?

True.

Do court decisions have to be based on applicable laws?

True.

What is the significance of the Marbury v. Madison (1805) Supreme Court decision?

It established judicial review.

How are federal judges selected?

They are nominated by the president and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

What does an amicus curiae brief provide?

It provides the view held by an interest that is not a direct party to the case.

What does the term stare decisis refer to?

Adherence to precedent.

Are federal judges carrying out decisions made by Congress, the president, and the courts?

False.

What is a concurring opinion?

An opinion delivered when a justice agrees with the majority but for different reasons.

What is a written Supreme Court opinion that disagrees with the majority called?

A dissenting opinion.

How many cases does the Supreme Court grant certiorari to each year?

Fewer than 100 cases.

Why is the opinion often more significant than the decision in a Supreme Court case?

It informs others of the Court's interpretation of the laws and guides their decisions.

What are the constitutional requirements for being a federal judge?

There are no constitutional requirements for being a federal judge.

What authority does the judiciary have under the principle of judicial review?

To invalidate the actions of other institutions when judges believe they have acted unconstitutionally.

What is the legal doctrine that holds policy issues should be decided by elected officials rather than appointed judges?

Judicial restraint.

What is a writ of certiorari?

A request to a lower court to submit to the Supreme Court a record of the case it has been requested to hear.

Who was the first African American justice to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court?

Thurgood Marshall.

What is the most common method for the selection of judges in the states?

Election to office.

What is the Supreme Court's responsibility regarding lower courts?

Establishing legal precedents that will guide their decisions.

What is the difference between a majority opinion and a concurring opinion?

A majority opinion reflects the views of most justices, while a concurring opinion agrees with the majority but for different reasons.

What does the Supreme Court's opinion reveal about the justices?

It reveals the conflicts between the justices, which can influence presidential and congressional decisions.

What is the role of the Supreme Court in relation to congressional or presidential decisions?

Judges can overturn decisions they believe are unconstitutional.

What does judicial activism refer to?

The practice of judges making rulings based on personal or political considerations rather than existing law.

What is the purpose of the Supreme Court's opinions?

To guide lower courts and inform the public about the Court's interpretation of laws.

What is the significance of the Supreme Court's decisions?

They establish legal precedents that lower courts must follow.

What is the relationship between the Supreme Court and public opinion?

The judiciary can ignore public opinion when making decisions.

What is the process by which most cases reach the Supreme Court?

By the filing of a writ of certiorari.

What is the role of the president in relation to judicial appointments?

The president can use the conflicts revealed in opinions to influence judicial appointments.

What does it mean for a judge to be in 'good standing' with the state bar?

It means the judge is recognized as a qualified and ethical member of the legal profession.

What is the impact of the Supreme Court's decisions on lower courts?

Supreme Court decisions set binding precedents that lower courts must follow.

What is the significance of judicial review in the context of the Supreme Court?

It allows the judiciary to check the powers of the legislative and executive branches.

What is the role of elected officials in policy issues according to the doctrine of judicial restraint?

Elected officials should decide policy issues, not appointed judges.