AP GOV Unit 3 Congress quiz

Bicameral legislature

A law making body made of two houses (bi means 2). Example: Congress (our legislature) is made of two house - The House of Representatives and The Senate.

Midterm election

The congressional election that occurs midway through the president's term of office

Congressional Budget Office

Evaluates the economic effect of different spending programs

Provides information about the cost of proposed policies

Analyzes the president's budget and economic projects

Nonpartisan, federal agency, considered part of legislative branch

CBO informs Congress about budget, OMB prepares budget from president

Filibuster

A lengthy speech designed to delay or kill the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate

Cloture

They are used by senators to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote.

Congressional Oversight

the process by which Congress checks the executive branch by holding hearings, conducting investigations, and controlling the budget to ensure laws are implemented as intended.

Resolution

general framework of how much money Congress needs to raise and plans to spend by category

Discretionary spending

Federal spending on programs that are controlled through the regular budget process

mandatory spending

federal spending that is required by existing laws, such as for entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare, and does not require annual appropriations from Congress

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

Hold

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of the bill or nomination. This is a way for a single senator to express disapproval and can lead to a full filibuster if they stand their ground and the Senate is unable to pass the legislation by unanimous consent.

incumbent

Those already holding office. In congressional elections, incumbents usually win.Significance: We as voters know what the incumbent did the term prior to the one he/she is running, and agree or disagree with their beliefs.

Elastic clause

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which allows Congress to make all laws that are "necessary and proper" to carry out the powers of the Constitution.

Closed rule

a restriction set by the House Rules Committee that prohibits any amendments from being offered to a bill during its floor debate. This effectively prevents the minority party and other members from proposing changes, limiting debate to what the committee has already approved.

Open rule

an order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor

Standing committee

Permanent and have legislative, investigative, and oversight powers

Special/select committee

Appointed by a house for a limited, temporary purpose to study an issue and conduct an investigation (House Un-American Activities, January 6 Attack)

Joint committee

Contains members of both houses for similar temporary purposes

conference committee

Contains members from the House and Senate, meets to reconcile differences between versions of the same bill

Job = make sure that House and Senate are voting on identical versions of a bill

Pork (Pork Barrel)

attached onto appropriations bill, spends federal money on a local project to help a Congressperson gain support with constituents. Only helps a specific district NOT the country as a whole

Logrolling

one member of Congress helps another on pet project and expects help in return

* think you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours

Appropriations

laws that grant funds to federal agencies and programs, giving them budget authority to incur obligations and make payments from the U.S. Treasury

Single member district

electoral district that has only one representative. In the United States, this system is used for elections to the U.S. House of Representatives, where each district has a single representative who is accountable to the voters within that specific geographic area.

House Rules Committee

Acts as a traffic cop for bills from committee

Functions:

Place bills on calendar for floor debate

Set time limits for debate

Decide whether amendments can be added to bills during debate

Delegate model of voting

an elected official should act as a direct agent of their constituents, voting strictly according to the preferences and interests of the people they represent, regardless of their own personal opinions or judgment.

Trustee model of voting

legislators should consider the will their constituents but act in ways they believe are best for the long term interest of the nation ( TRUST ME to make the best choice for you)

Politico model of voting

A combination of delegate and trustee model is used.

Impeachment

the formal process by which the House of Representatives brings charges against a federal official for "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors". It is the indictment stage, not the removal itself, which requires a trial and a two-thirds vote for conviction in the Senate. Impeachment serves as a significant check on the power of the executive and judicial branches.

Baker v. Carr

Ruling: Federal courts have jurisdiction to hear cases challenging state legislative reapportionment on Equal Protection grounds.

Key Principle: Established the "one person, one vote" principle, ensuring that legislative districts should be roughly equal in population.

Shaw v. Reno

ruling: The Court held that the district's bizarre shape raised a presumption that it was created for racial purposes.

Establishment of strict scrutiny: The ruling established that redistricting based on race must be subjected to strict scrutiny, meaning the state must prove a compelling government interest for the plan and that the plan is narrowly tailored to achieve that interest.

Override of veto

An override is when it goes back to congress and receives at least a 2/3 majority in both houses and therefore become s a law without the approval of the president.

Divided government

one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress

Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974

requires the president to spend the money that Congress has appropriated

Fiscal year

the 12-month period that the federal government uses for its budget and accounting purposes. For the U.S. government, this runs from October 1 to September 30

What is the difference between mandatory and discretionary spending in the federal budget?

mandatory spending is required by existing law and doesn't need an annual vote, while discretionary spending is funded through annual appropriations bills passed by Congress each year. Mandatory spending includes programs like Social Security and Medicare, while discretionary spending includes funding for agencies and programs like defense, education, and transportation.