Ap Gov Unit 2: Congress

Advice & Consent

The power of the Senate to consult and approve the president's treaties and appointments. Congress approves new VP

Bicameral Caucuses

A legislature divided into two chambers; Congress has the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Enumerated Powers

Powers given specifically to the national government; for Congress those powers are listed in Article 1 Section 8, including coining money, taxing, and declaring war.

Implied Powers

Powers of the federal government that go beyond those enumerated in the Constitution, in accordance with the necessary and proper clause.

House of Representatives

Elected by the people, proportionate to the amount of citizens, originally 1 representative for every 30,000 (slaves counted as 3/5) Term is 2 years (Population reevaluated every 10 years)

Coalitions

A combination of groups of people who work together to achieve a political goal. Coalitions form among legislators who work together to advance or defeat a particular bill.

Power of the Purse

Congress—and in particular, the House of Representatives—is invested with the "power of the purse," the ability to tax and spend public money for the national government. Article I, Section 7.

Senate

Based on equal representation meaning each state has two senators. Every two years, one-third of the Senate is up for re-election and when elected they serve six year terms. Upper house of Congress, meaning more experienced lawmakers serve here.

17th Amendment

Direct election of Senators.

War Powers Act

The president must consult with Congress whenever possible prior to using military force; withdraw forces after 60 days unless extension/declaration of war by Congress

Bill

A legislative proposal that if passed by both the House and Senate and approved by the President becomes law.

Law

A bill that is agreed by both chambers of Congress and signed by the President.

Sponsor

Person who introduces the bill to the floor for debate and voting; usually a member of the committee that the bill comes from.

Open Rule

Permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill. A bill's status as open or closed is decided upon by the House Rules Committee.

Closed Rule

A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendments to bills or provides that only members of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments.

Floor Debate

Discussion of the bill, controlled by the speaker of the house.

Reported Out

When a bill has been agreed upon by a committee and is ready for floor debate.

Mark-Up

Process by which a U.S congressional committee debates, amends, and rewrites proposed legislation.

Committee of the Whole

A Congressional committee that includes all members of the House of Representatives, and which meets in the House Chamber for the consideration of measures under relaxed procedural rules.

Conference Committee

A special joint committee appointed to reconcile differences when bills pass the two chambers of Congress in different forms.

Joint Committee

Committee made up of members of both houses of Congress.

Rules Committee

A standing committee of the House of Representatives that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by the house. (every bill has to go through here) (most powerful committee in congress) (open or closed rule, how long debate, when schedule). They are the traffic cop in the House.

Select Committees

Committee selected for a specific purpose.

Ways & Means Committee

House committee that determines tax policy (Bills involving revenue must start in the HOR)

Standing Committee

Permanent body with specified legislature responsibilities.

Subcommittee

A group within a standing committee that specializes in a subcategory of its standing committee's responsibility.

Discharge Petition

A method of bringing a bill out of committee and to the floor for consideration without a report from the committee; necessary when a committee chair refused to place the bill on the committee's agenda.

Unanimous Consent

An agreement on the rules of debate for proposed legislation in the Senate that is approved by all the members.

Senate Majority Leader

The chief spokesperson of the majority party in the Senate, who directs the legislative program and party strategy.

President of the Senate

Vice President, can vote in case of ties

President Pro Tempore

Serves as president of the Senate in the absence of the Vice President; chosen by the majority party.

Speaker of the House

The leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

Whip

Party leaders who work with the majority leader or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party. (whip in line, vote in blocks) (#1 indicator of how someone will vote in congress= political party)

Cloture Rule

A procedure used in the Senate for ending a debate and taking a vote. Requires 60 votes and ends a filibuster

Quroum

the minimum number of members of Congress that must be present at any of its meetings to make the proceedings of that meeting valid. Half PLUS 1.

Filibuster

A lengthy speech designed to delay or kill the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate. Weapon of the minority to force the majority to compromise.

Bill Signing

A written declaration that a president may make when signing a bill into law. Usually, such statements point out sections of the law that the president deems unconstitutional.

Franking Privilege

Privilege that allows members of Congress to mail letters and other materials to constituents postage-free.

Debt

The sum of government deficits over time. (how much gov owes in total)

Deficit

An excess of federal expenditures over federal revenues in one year

Fiscal Policy

Way Congress can control the economy through taxing and spending

Monetary Policy

Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling the money supply and thus interest rates. (Federal reserve)

Discretionary Spending

Spending category about which government planners can make choices. Defense biggest item

Mandatory Spending

Required govt spending by permanent laws. Mostly entitlements (biggest part of budget) (not up for review)

Germane

Changes to bills on the floor of the House that must relate directly to the bill being considered. Non-germane amendments are typically not permitted in the House.

Hold

Senators have power to place HOLD - Indication of disapproval for a bill, strong hesitation will likely lead to a filibuster, a hold allows Senators to be informed of any change in status or action on a bill or confirmation, holds can usually be very powerful.

Logrolling

Vote trading; voting to support a colleague's bill in return for a promise of future support

Omnibus Bill

A law that is accepted in a single vote by a legislature but packages together several measures into one or combines diverse subjects.

Pork-Barrel Spending

Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in a district or state in the hope of winning their votes in return (pork adds cost and helps people get reelected)

Rider

An addition or an amendment added to a bill that often has no relation to the bill but that may not pass on its own merits.

Gridlock

The inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government.

Delegate Model

Members vote to please constituents, in order to be re-elected- vote how voters want them to. Also known as Representational View.

Politico Model

Lawmaker who attempts to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles (combo)

Trustee Model

Explanation of congressional voting which emphasizes the impact of personal views (headstrong). Also known as Attitudinal View.

Gerrymandering

Drawing of Congressional districts to favor one political party or group over another.

Baker v. Carr

Case that established one man one vote. This decision created guidelines for drawing up congressional districts and guaranteed a more equitable system of representation to the citizens of each state. The Court determined they could get involved in the redistricting process if districts were in violation of the equal protection clause. (no longer a political question)

Racial Gerrymandering

The drawing of a legislative district lines to favor a particular race

Shaw v. Reno

NO racial gerrymandering; race cannot be the sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative boundaries; majority-minority districts.

Swing District

Districts in which the winner got less than 55 percent of the vote (close elections)

Majority-Minority District

A district in which a racial minority group or groups comprise a majority of the district's total population.