Studied by 12 people________: A method of bringing a bill out of committee and to the floor for consideration without a report from the committee.
Discharge petition
________ help floor leaders by directing party members in voting and keeping track of vote counts.
Whips
Since 1913, the ________ allows for the direct election of senators by the people of the state.
Seventeenth Amendment
The ________ is the tendency of those already holding office to win reelection.
incumbency effect
________: Additions to legislation that generally have no connection to the legislation.
Riders
Gerrymandering can be based on ________, incumbents, or race.
partisanship
________ on committees reflects the overall percentage of Democrats and Republicans in each house, and members try to serve on committees where they can influence public policy relating to their district or state.
Membership
________ is the method by which the Senate limits a filibuster.
Cloture
________: Additions or changes to legislation that deal specifically with the legislation.
Amendments
Redistricting may also be based on helping or hurting the ________ candidates.
chances of minority
Lobbying: Trying to influence ________ to support or reject legislation.
members of Congress
________: May affect the wording and therefore the final intent of the legislation.
Conference committees
________ and interest groups: Often provide members with information on topics relating to their group's interest or possible financial support in future campaigns.
Lobbyists
________: Members often take into consideration the opinions of their ________ and voters back home in their district or state.
Constituents
Limitations on powers: powers denied to Congress by Article I, Section 9 and the ________.
Tenth Amendment
________ /oversight powers: Investigate matters falling within the range of its legislative authority; often involves the review of policies and programs of the executive branch.
Investigative
The president can call for special sessions if there is a(n) ________.
national emergency
________ occurs when district lines are drawn to prevent racial minorities from electing their chosen candidate.
Racial gerrymandering
The Constitution guarantees that "no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate "(________)
Article V
________: Groups of legislators who form voting blocs based on shared interests or goals.
Caucuses
________: The rejection of a presidential or executive branch action by a vote of one or both houses of Congress.
Legislative veto
________ are elected at- large from each state.
Senators
________ are created to prevent the weakening of minorities voting strength in compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and its amendments.
Majority minority districts
Pork ________: An attempt to provide funds and projects for a member's home district or state.
barrel legislation
President: Presidents often lobby members to support legislation through phone calls, invitations to the ________, or even appeals to the public to gain support from voters to bring pressure on members.
White House
In the Senate, the U.S. vice president is the presiding officer, and the president pro tempore is a(n) ________ of the majority party who presides in the absence of the Senate president.
senior member
Gerrymandering is drawing ________ to favor one political party or group over another.
congressional districts
________: the House may bring charges, or ________, the president, vice president, or any civil officer.
Impeachment
________ refer to the strategies and methods used by Congress and others to block or pass legislation.
Legislative tactics
They allow for the ________ among members and enable the study of legislation by specialists.
division of work
The ________ is the tendency of those already holding office to win reelection.
incumbency effect
________ are chosen by the majority party in each house and have various duties, including setting agendas, assigning members to subcommittees, and managing floor debates.
Committee chairpersons
Logrolling: An attempt by members to gain the ________ in return for their support on the member's legislation.
support of other members
________ help floor leaders by directing party members in voting, informing members of impending voting, keeping track of vote counts, and pressuring members to vote with the party.
Whips
________ is made up of two houses that meet every two years, starting on January 3 of odd- numbered years.
Congress
presiding officer and most powerful member of the House; assigns bills to committee, controls floor debate, and appoints party members to committees; elected by members of his or her political party within the House
Speaker of the House
senior member of the majority party chosen to preside in the absence of the Senate president; mostly ceremonial position lacking real power
President pro tempore
powers specifically granted to Congress by the Constitution, mainly found in Article I, Section 8
Expressed powers
powers denied to Congress by Article I, Section 9 and the Tenth Amendment
Limitations on powers
the House of Representatives selects the president and the Senate selects the vice president in the event of an electoral college failure to achieve a majority vote
Electoral powers
Congress may propose amendments by a two-thirds vote of each house or by calling a national convention to propose amendments if requested by two-thirds of the state legislatures
Amendment powers
The Senate shares the appointment and treaty-making powers with the executive branch; the Senate must approve appointments by majority vote and treaties by two-thirds vote
Executive powers of the Senate
Investigate matters falling within the range of its legislative authority; often involves the review of policies and programs of the executive branch
Investigative/oversight powers
A key mechanism for passing legislation; bills may fail if committees reject them or fail to act upon them
Committee system
A method of bringing a bill out of committee and to the floor for consideration without a report from the committee
Discharge petition
A filibuster is unlimited debate in an attempt to stall action on a bill
Filibuster and cloture
An attempt to provide funds and projects for a member's home district or state
Pork barrel legislation
An attempt by members to gain the support of other members in return for their support on the member's legislation
Logrolling
Trying to influence members of Congress to support or reject legislation
Lobbying
Members often take into consideration the opinions of their constituents and voters back home in their district or state
Constituents
Each party's platform takes a stand on major issues, and loyal members often adhere to the "party line."
Party influences
an increasing number of independent voters and an increase in split-ticket voting
Two factors increase the chances of divided government
Note
Flashcard