AP GOV legislative branch (qna)

Incumbent advantages

Advertising

Credit claiming (casework, pork barrel)

Position taking

What was the question in Shaw v Reno?

Is gerrymandering based on race (even if “beneficial”) constitutional?

Types of congressional committees with definitions

Standing (permanent)

Subcommittees (for more specialization)

Select committees (established for a purpose, usually temporary)

Joint committees (composed of members from both house & senate)

Conference (temporary joint bodies to resolve differences in a bill)

Congress has some powers…name them

War Powers

Currency power

Commerce power

Foreign relations power

Naturalization

Judicial powers

Investigatory powers

(Implied powers)

House’s powers

Taxation starts in the House

Commerce power limitations

Cannot tax exports

Cannot favor the ports of one state over another

Could not interfere with the slave trade until after 1804

Senate’s powers

Presidential appointments

Judicial confirmation

Treaty ratification

The house and senate’s joint decision

They have to pass the same version of bills, war declarations, etc. for it to actually happen

The vast majority of House seats…

Are not competitive (not a toss-up)

The House’s role in federally charging people is that…

It can choose to IMPEACH someone

The Senate’s role in federally charging people is that…

It conducts the trial

What was the question in Baker v. Carr?

Was redistricting a judicial question or a political question?