Congress

What section of the U.S. Constitution establishes Congress as the key policy-making figure?

Article I, Section 8.

What are Enumerated Powers?

Powers explicitly given to Congress by the Constitution.

What promotes popular sovereignty and eliminates collective dilemmas under the Articles of Confederation?

The establishment of a representative republican government.

What is the necessary and proper clause also known as?

The elastic clause.

What powers are not explicitly stated in the Constitution but deemed necessary?

Implied powers.

What is the principal-agent relationship established between the public and Congress members?

The public acts as principals, while Congress members act as agents.

What age must a senator be to serve in the U.S. Senate?

At least 30 years old.

How long do members of the House of Representatives serve before seeking reelection?

Two years.

What is the primary focus of the House of Representatives compared to the Senate?

The House focuses on people, while the Senate focuses on property.

What advantage do incumbents have in congressional elections?

Franking privilege and increased name recognition.

What are campaign strategies in Congress aimed at reelection called in the context of David Mayhew's work?

Credit-claiming, position-taking, and advertising.

What is the process of redrawing district lines to favor one political party called?

Gerrymandering.

What Supreme Court case established the principle of 'one person, one vote'?

Wesberry v. Sanders.

What are the two common techniques of gerrymandering?

Packing and cracking.

What term refers to the advantage of current members of Congress in elections?

Incumbency advantage.

What is the Delegate Model of representation?

A model where representatives focus on the concerns of their constituents.

What is a primary function of political parties in Congress?

To foster cooperation, coalition, and compromise.

What is the name of the committee that controls the bills in the House of Representatives?

The House Rules Committee.

What is required to invoke cloture and end a filibuster in the Senate?

60 votes.

What is the first step in the legislative process for a bill?

A bill is created and introduced by a member of Congress.

What is Cloture?

A procedure for ending debate in the Senate and bringing the matter under consideration to a vote.

What is a Filibuster?

A tactic used in the U.S. Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill or other measure by extending debate on it.

What is Apportionment?

The process of allotting seats to each state in the U.S. House of Representatives based on population, following a census.

What is Redistricting?

The redrawing of electoral district boundaries to ensure each district has roughly the same number of constituents.

What is Judicial Review?

The power of the U.S. Supreme Court to examine the actions of the legislative, executive, and administrative branches of government and to determine whether such actions are consistent with the U.S. Constitution.

What are Expressed powers?

Powers that are specifically listed in the Constitution

What are Implied Powers?

Powers not explicitly named in the Constitution but assumed to exist due to their being necessary to implement the expressed powers that are named in Article I.

What is Conference Committee?

A committee composed of some members from each chamber of a bicameral legislature convened in order to resolve differences over legislation that has passed both chambers.?

What is Standing Committee?

A legislative committee responsible for a specific policy area

What are Hearings?

A tool used by committees to investigate and gather information on specific issues

What is a Presidential Veto?

The process by which a U.S. president can disapprove of a bill passed by Congress.

What is a Veto Override?

The act of overturning a presidential veto by a two-thirds vote in both the House and Senate.

What is a Bill?

A formal proposal for a new law that is under consideration by a legislature.

What is an Amendment?

A change to the existing law or a proposed bill.

What is Floor Debate?

A legislative session where members debate and vote on proposed legislation.

What is a Roll Call Vote?

A vote in a legislative body where each member's vote is recorded.

What is Passage?

The approval of a bill or resolution by a majority of the members of a legislative body.

What is a Committee Hearing?

A meeting of a committee or subcommittee to hear testimony and gather information on a bill.

What is a Committee Markup?

The process by which a congressional committee rewrites a bill after holding hearings on it.

What is a Committee Report?

A report issued by a congressional committee that explains the purpose and provisions of a bill.

What are the four general steps of the legislative process?

1. Bill Introduction.
2. Committee Review.
3. Floor Debate and Vote.
4. Presidential Action.