Congress

How can citizens shape Congress’s agenda?

Voting, online messaging, face to face meeting

What was congress formed to do?

Be powerful to create laws and check the executive but also not powerful enough to be tyrannical

How did the framers view the HOR?

The peoples chamber

How did the framers view the Senate?

More elite, deliberate institution

How often are members of the HOR up for election? What about the Senate?

2 years, 6 years

What did the 17th amendment do?

Put the election of Senators to public popular vote

How were Senators elected before the 17th amendment?

They were chosen by state legislators

What is incumbency?

The status of already holding office

What factors are behind the success of incumbents when they run for election?

Stronger name recognition, easier media coverage, franking, campaign contributions

What is Reapportionment?

Reallocation of seats to the HOR to each state based on changes in state population since the last census

What is Redistricting?

The redrawing of congressional district boundaries based on the reapportionment

What is Gerrymandering?

The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit incumbents, political parties, or other group

What is a majority-minority district?

A legislative district composed of a majority of a minority

What is impeachment?

The power to accuse the president, VP, or federal judges of crimes and to conduct a trial

Why is impeachment such a significant power?

It can change the composition of the other branches of gov by removing someone from office

What is the trustee model of representation?

Legislators follow their own conscience when deciding positions and determining how to vote

What is the instructed delegate model of representation?

Legislators vote with their constituents views, even if they contradict their own

What is pork barreling?

Legislators appropriation for funds for projects within their congressional districts

What are earmarks?

Allows legislators to allocate funding to specific projects in their jurisdiction

What is casework?

Personal work by a member of congress on behalf of constituents

What is congressional oversight?

The legislative branches ability to ensure laws passed are being administered the way they were intended

How many members does the HOR have? What about the Senate?

435, 100

What is a bill?

A proposed piece of legislation

What are standard committees?

Permanent committees with a defined legislative jurisdiction

What are select committees?

Specially created to consider a specific policy issue

What are joint committees?

Bicameral committees composed of members of both chambers

What is a subcommittee?

Handle specific areas of a standing committees jurisdiction

What 4 actions do committees and subcommittees make when they are working on a bill?

Agency review, hearings, markup, report

What is the fillibuster?

An attempt to halt the passage of a bill

What 2 ways can you defeat a filibuster?

Cloture and nuclear option

What is cloture?

A supermajority of 60 senators

What is the nuclear option?

When the presiding officer in the senate overrides a standard rule

What role does the conference committee play?

Creates a compromise when there are 2 different versions of the same bill in the 2 houses

What 3 actions can the president take when a bill passes?

Sign it, nothing, veto

Who is the most powerful officer in the house?

The Speaker of the House

What do the House majority and minority leaders do?

Leaders of their respective party, helps the speaker to develop and implement strategy

What is the president pro tempore?

Chairs the senate in the absence of the VP

Who has the real power in the senate?

Senate majority leader

What are constituents?

The people who elected a legislator