AP GOV 2.1 - 2.7

What is the structure of the U.S. Congress?

Bicameral legislature consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

In the Senate, how is representation determined?

Each state is represented equally.

What is the minimum age requirement to serve in the Senate?

Must be at least 30 years old.

How long is a Senate term?

Senators hold 6-year terms.

What type of debate is allowed in the Senate?

Unlimited debate.

In the House of Representatives, how is representation determined?

Each state is represented by population.

What is the maximum number of representatives in the House of Representatives?

Capped at 435 based on the census.

What is the minimum age requirement to serve in the House of Representatives?

Must be at least 25 years old.

How long is a term in the House of Representatives?

Members hold 2-year terms.

What type of debate is typically allowed in the House of Representatives?

Structured debate.

What must happen for a bill to become law?

Both houses of Congress must agree on identical versions of the bill.

What power does Congress have in terms of budget?

The power to pass a federal budget (power of the purse).

What clause gives Congress implied powers?

Necessary and Proper clause.

Who is the Speaker of the House?

Always a member of the majority party and makes committee assignments.

What role do Majority and Minority Leaders play in Congress?

They guide their party members in policy-making issues.

What do Committee Whips do?

They are responsible for party discipline.

Who serves as President of the Senate?

The Vice President of the U.S.

What is the role of the President Pro Tempore?

A member of the majority party who presides over the Senate in the Vice President's absence.

What does the Majority Leader control in the Senate?

Sets the legislative agenda and controls the calendar assignments of bills.

What is a Standing Committee?

A smaller group of legislators that remains from session to session, addressing ongoing issues.

What is the purpose of a Conference Committee?

Formed if both houses can't agree on an identical version of a bill.

What is a Filibuster?

An attempt to stall or kill a bill by talking for a long time.

What is the Cloture Rule?

A move to end a filibuster by means of a 3/5 vote (currently 60 senators).

What happens to a bill once it comes out of committee?

It goes to the floor for a vote.

What is the Delegate Model of representation?

The belief that a representative must vote with the will of the people.

What is the Trustee Model of representation?

The belief that a representative should vote according to his or her conscience, even against the will of the people.

What is the Politico Model?

A hybrid of the delegate and trustee models, acting like a delegate on strong issues and a trustee otherwise.

What did Baker v. Carr address?

It argued that rural voters had more representation than urban voters, violating the equal protection clause.

What is gerrymandering?

Drawing district lines to benefit one party over another.

What was the outcome of Shaw v. Reno?

It ruled that districts drawn solely based on race were unconstitutional.

What does logrolling refer to?

The practice of exchanging favors, particularly in politics by reciprocal voting.

What is pork barrel spending?

Spending intended to benefit constituents of a politician in exchange for their political support.

What is the command of the President in foreign policy?

The President is the Commander-in-chief.

What is 'pocket veto'?

An indirect veto by retaining a bill unsigned until it is too late for it to be dealt with.

What is an executive order?

A directive from the president that has the force of a federal law.

What is the purpose of a signing statement?

To inform how the president intends to execute a law upon signing.

What is an executive agreement?

An agreement between the president and another head of state that is not a treaty.

What is the Senate's role in presidential appointments?

Many presidential appointments require Senate approval.

What does the War Powers Resolution of 1973 limit?

It limits the president's ability to use military force without congressional consent.

What was the significance of U.S. v. Nixon?

It ordered Nixon to deliver materials related to the Watergate scandal, affirming the limits of executive privilege.

What is meant by the term 'imperial presidency'?

A danger to the constitutional system allowing presidents to abuse power during national emergencies.

What is meant by the term 'Bully Pulpit'?

A prominent position that provides an opportunity to speak out and be listened to.

What does media gatekeeping refer to?

The process of filtering information for public dissemination.

What is one function of congressional oversight?

Reviewing and assessing programs to determine if they meet their intended goals.