Congress Study Guide - AP Gov

Why did the founding fathers create a bicameral legislature?

To represent both small and large states, House → elected based on population, Senate → 2 representatives per state

Qualifications for House of Representatives member

25 years old, 2 year term length, no term limit, must be a citizen

Qualifications for Senator

30 years old, 6 year term length, no term limit, must be a citizen

Describe how House members might interact with their constituents in comparison to the Senate members.

House : shorter term lengths, smaller districts → closer to constituents

Senate : longer term lengths, take care of entire state → interact less with constituents

What is a cloture? How is it achieved

• Cloture: voting system to end a debate, typically a filibuster

• It is achieved through a supermajority vote with 60 votes (3/5ths of the Senate)

What is a filibuster?

Used by the minority party to delay or block a vote on legislation by extending a debate for as long as they want

What is Senatorial courtesy?

an agreement among senators not to vote for any presidential nominee who is opposed by the senators from the nominee’s home state

What is gerrymandering? Why is gerrymandering a frowned upon practice

• Gerrymandering is the redrawing of electoral district boundaries to give on political party or group an unfair advantage in elections → politicians “choose their voters” to guarantee wins

• It is frowned upon b/c it it can result in gridlock

• Packing : Putting as many of the opposing party’s supporters into a single district → reduce influence in other districts

• Cracking : Breaking up a group’s supporters across multiple districts → fall short of majority

What is pork barrel legislation?

spending that directs gov funds to specific, sometimes unnecessary local projects to win votes

What is casework?

personalized services members of Congress provide to help individual constituents

What is the franking privilege?

when members of Congress and their staff send mail without paying postage to communicate with their constituents

House rules committee

set terms for floor debate, influencing whether a bill dies or passes

Standing committee

conduct hearings, amending legislation, oversight federal agencies

Select committees

conduct investigations or oversight on issues that fall outside the jurisdiction of permanent standing committees

Joint committees

composed of both Senate and House members where they have jurisdiction over matters of joint interest

Conference committee

temporary committee from both HOR and Senate formed to reconciled differences in legislation

How are committee members chosen? Differences between House and Senate committees and membership?

• Committee members are chosen by their political parties, committee leaders

• House committees are larger and usually more partisan

  • Senate committees offer more power to individual members and rely on seniority

Speaker of the House

• most powerful person in house

• 3rd in line to presidency

• duties: committee selection, routing of bills to committees, leader of majority party, schedules bills for debate

President of the Senate

duties : presides over the Senate (role of VP), break ties if 50/50 in Senate

Majority Leader

duties : spokesperson for majority party, works closely w/ speaker in planning and executing goals of the party, consults w/ members of party, helps w/ reelection efforts

Minority Leader

duties : spokesperson for minority party, assists w/ assigning committees

Whips

duties : assists majority leaders, ensure other members of their party vote for the plan they want to play out (discipline them)

Baker v Carr

• courts can require states to redraw voting districts so that they are roughly equal in population

What powers are granted to Congress?

tax, borrow money, regulate interstate/foreign commerce, declare war, maintain armed forces

Incumbents

• someone who is currently holding a political office and is running for reelection to that same position

  • advantages : name recognition, fundraising, franking privilege, media coverage

How does representation change in Congress as the US population grows?

House of Reps members change as the seats are based on population

Describe the process of a bill going through Congress to the Presidency. Where is it most likely to die?

• a bill must go through both the House and the Senate through committee review, floor debate, and votes before making it to the President

• it is most likely to die in committe

congressional caucus

informal group of Democrat or Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate who unite to promote shared policy interest, ideologies, or constituency concerns

What are Congress’ war powers (know at least 4)?  What are the provisions of the War Powers Act?

• war powers : declare war, raise and support armies, maintain a nay, call state militia

• War Powers Act limits presidential military action by requiring notice within 48 hours, restricting unauthorized deployments to 60 days, and asking Congress beforehand