Congress and Presidency: Key Concepts and Structures in U.S. Government

What demographic characteristics does Congress skew towards?

Older, wealthier, more male, and more highly educated than the U.S. population.

What is the total number of members in Congress?

535 members (100 Senators + 435 House members).

What are the minimum age requirements to serve in the House and Senate?

House: 25 years; Senate: 30 years.

What is descriptive representation?

A representative being nearly identical to constituents in personal/political characteristics.

What is substantive representation?

Representing the interests of groups, even without sharing their demographic traits.

Why are there fewer women in Congress?

Women are nominated at a lower rate and those with children tend to be less ambitious about running for office.

What is an incumbent?

Someone who currently holds an office and is running for re-election.

What percentage of incumbents won in the 1994 elections?

92% of incumbent Senators and 89% of incumbent Representatives.

What are the three main strategies incumbents use to maintain their advantage?

Advertising, credit claiming, and position taking.

What is bicameralism?

A two-house legislature, as established by the Great Compromise.

What powers does the House of Representatives have?

The sole power to impeach and revenue bills must originate here.

What is a filibuster?

A tactic allowing unlimited debate on a bill to delay or block it.

What is cloture?

A vote of 60 members needed to end a filibuster.

Who is the Speaker of the House?

Chosen by the majority party; often the most senior member and 2nd in line of succession to the presidency.

What role does the Vice President play in the Senate?

The constitutional President of the Senate, voting only to break ties.

What are standing committees?

Permanent committees handling specific policy areas.

What is legislative oversight?

Congress's role in monitoring agencies and policies it has already established.

What is the role of the Congressional Research Service (CRS)?

Tracks the progress of bills.

What is the significance of open seats in Congress?

They are the single largest cause of turnover in Congress.

What is the average amount spent by House winners in elections?

Typically over $1.5 million.

What is the average amount spent by Senate winners in elections?

Typically over $8 million.

What is the seniority system in Congress?

Generally used to select committee chairs based on the longest-serving majority-party member.

What is a caucus in Congress?

A group of members who share similar interests or characteristics, functioning like an internal interest group.

What is the role of personal staff in Congress?

Help constituents directly and often based in home-district offices.

What does the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) do?

Analyzes the president's budget proposals.

What is the relationship between the president and Congress?

The president is often called the 'chief legislator' and actively proposes and lobbies for many bills.

What has happened to the ideological gap between political parties?

The gap has grown, with Republicans shifting right and Democrats shifting left, making compromise harder.

What are the three models of how a representative should vote?

Trustee, instructed delegate, and politico.

What does the trustee model entail?

Using their own best judgment to make policy in constituents' interest.

What is the instructed delegate model?

Mirroring or following the stated preferences of constituents.

Define the politico model.

A blend of trustee and instructed delegate approaches.

What is the primary factor influencing how a member of Congress votes?

Personal ideology.

What role do lobbyists play in Congress?

They focus their efforts on members who already share similar views or beliefs.

What has happened to lobbying regulations over time?

They have increased, restricting the benefits politicians can legally accept.

How does the representation in Congress differ between small and large states?

Every state gets 2 Senators regardless of population, giving citizens of small states more influence per capita.

What is the tension Congress must manage regarding government programs?

Americans want lower taxes but also want to keep most existing government programs.

What is the franking privilege?

The ability of members of Congress to send mail to constituents without postage.

What are the formal requirements to run for President?

Must be 35 years old, a natural-born citizen, and have resided in the U.S. for 14 years.

What is the Take Care Clause?

It requires the President to ensure that laws are faithfully executed.

What limits did the 22nd Amendment impose on the presidency?

It limits presidents to two terms in office.

What is impeachment?

A formal accusation requiring a majority vote in the House for 'Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.'

Who presides over a presidential impeachment trial?

The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

Name one president who has been impeached.

Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, or Donald Trump.

What is the role of the Vice President in the presidential succession?

The Vice President succeeds the President upon death, resignation, or removal from office.

What is the primary function of the Cabinet?

To advise the President on various matters; composed of 14 cabinet secretaries and the Attorney General.

What are the three key groups in the Executive Office of the President (EOP)?

National Security Council (NSC), Council of Economic Advisers (CEA), and Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

What does the National Security Council (NSC) do?

Coordinates foreign and military policy advice.

What is the function of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA)?

To advise the president on economic policy.

What does the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) do?

Performs managerial and budgetary functions, including legislative review and budget assessments.

What is the significance of the Faithful Execution Clause?

It imposes a constitutional duty on the President to enforce U.S. laws.

What is pork barrel spending?

Government spending that benefits individual members politically, often criticized for encouraging government growth.

What is the difference between descriptive and substantive representation?

Descriptive representation refers to representatives mirroring the demographic characteristics of their constituents, while substantive representation focuses on advocating for the interests and policy preferences of constituents.

What is the primary role of the Chief Executive?

To preside over the administration of the federal government.

What is the scale of the federal bureaucracy?

It spends $2.5 trillion a year and employs more than 4 million people.

What is the role of the White House Staff?

The president's chief aides who serve the White House institution or the president personally, providing information and support.

What is the First Lady's role in the government?

The First Lady has no official government position but often champions a signature issue.

What is a veto?

The president sends a bill back to Congress with reasons for rejecting it; Congress can override with a 2/3 vote in both Houses.

What is a pocket veto?

The president lets a bill die by not signing it if Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting the bill.

What is a line-item veto?

The power to veto only parts of a bill; this power is not held by the president.

What is the significance of party leadership for the president?

Sharing a party with the president creates a psychological bond with legislators, increasing cooperation.

What are mandates in the context of presidential power?

The perception that voters strongly support a president's character and policy agenda.

What is the War Powers Resolution of 1973?

A law intended to limit presidential military use, requiring consultation with Congress before using military force.

What is the role of the president as Chief Diplomat?

Negotiates treaties with other nations, which require Senate ratification, and uses executive agreements for routine matters.

What does the term 'going public' refer to in presidential influence?

The strategy of presidents to gain public support for policies through media appearances.

What is the relationship between the president and the press?

They are often adversaries; the media seeks stories while presidents want to control their messages.

What does the 22nd Amendment state?

It limits presidents to two elected terms.

What is the purpose of casework in Congress?

Helping individual constituents solve problems with government.

What are the four types of congressional committees?

Standing, Joint, Conference, and Select committees.

What is the significance of presidential coattails?

Winning down-ballot races due to the popularity of the president.

What is the role of a trustee in legislative voting?

A model where a legislator votes based on their own judgment rather than constituents' preferences.

What is the role of a politico in legislative voting?

A model where a legislator acts as both a trustee and instructed delegate depending on the situation.

What is the role of the president as Commander-in-Chief?

The president makes major military decisions and commands the standing military.

What is the significance of public approval for a president?

It serves as a source of leverage over Congress but does not guarantee legislative success.

What is the impact of modern technology on presidential crisis management?

It allows the president to respond to crises much faster than Congress.

What is the relationship between presidential leadership and the Madisonian system?

Presidential roles and responsibilities are tied to checks and balances established in the Constitution.

What is pork barrel legislation?

Federal funding directed to local district or state projects.

What is the significance of the 25th Amendment?

It governs presidential disability and succession.