AP Gov Unit 4 Congress

Process for a bill becoming a law

• Intro to H of R

• Committee referral

• Subcommittee referral

• Rules committee action

• Floor consideration

• Conference committee action

• Final consideration of conference committee bill

Where are major bills assigned to

Multiple committees

How can Congress bypass the use of conference committees

By sending an amended version of the legislation to be passed in a different chamber (usually used when there’s little time)

What is the purpose of the conference report

Early/preventative cost estimates

What have happened to the. humber of congressional hearings in recent years

Decreased by 50% since mid-1970s with a decrease in the workforce (this is why interest groups providing information is so important for Congress)

As of recent, what trends has Congress seen

• In session fewer days, held fewer hearings, and passed fewer bills

What does the House Rules Committee determine

Determines if the bill will make it to the floor for debate or not (also maybe if it’ll pass)

What do vetos by Congress against president signal

Divided government

What does the president find difficult in with the bureaucracy

Controlling it

What can the president do with budgets

Can use budget to reward or punish agencies

What has the cabinet become for the president

Has become a big source of information and reward for people who have supported the president

Do judges require senate confirmation

Yes

Pocket veto

President doesn’t sign legislation within 10 days

When do pardons usually happen

End of presidential administration

What do Eos do

• Policy directives that DON’T require congressional approval

Can congress still impeach officials who are pardoned

Yes, neither Congress/legislature or judiciary can override pardons

Can someone impeached and removed still be convicted of criminal charges

Yes

What happens to the majority of bills

Most don’t become law

How successful are discharge petitions

Rarely successful

Unanimous consent agreement

Terms for considering a bill (usually determined by majority leader)

What are holds on legislation

Legislators against a bill can communicate problems with a bill, amend it, and can usually lead to filibuster

What vote does it take for cloture

3/5 (was lowered to 60 recently)

22nd amendment

Prevents president from being elected for more than 2 terms

Reconciliation

Process of adjusting spending, taxing, or debt limit to meet a final budget resolution

What vote does a treaty need for ratification

2/3 from congress

Reprieve

Temporary released due to extenuating circumstances (usually health)

Executive agreements

Like treaties but less serious and don’t require senate ratification

War powers resolution

President can call armed forces/troops if:

• Congress declares war

• Statutory authorization by congress

• National security emergency where nation attacks US

Last war officially declared by Congress

WWII