Unit 2 (2.1-2.3)

implied powers

industry regulation (railroads, electricity)

oversight (express authority to oversee or investigate the executive or program administration)

military draft, second national bank…

seventeenth amendment

let people of the state to elect senators

house of representatives

2 year terms, 435, initiate impeachment, break electoral tie, originate revenue bills

centralized and hierarchal, limited debate time (so many people, not enough time), power speaker, revenue and spending

senate

6 year terms, 100, provide advice/consent on treaties and presidential appointments (advice and consent power), handle trial of impeached officers

less centralized, looser debate (filibuster allowed but limited by cloture vote), foreign policy, leaders less powerful besides marjority leader

caucuses

meeting of groups of like minded people organized that usually unite around a particular belief or concern

powers of congress

power of the purse: power to control government spending, coin money

regulate commerce: us v lopez

foreign and military affairs: raise army, mandate draft, enact conscription procedure, declare war (can’t deploy troops, leaving chief influence to executive branch)

war powers act

require president to inform Congress within 48 hours of committing US forces to combat

speaker of the house

greatest lawmaking influence

floor leader (marjority and minority leader)

one below speaker

whip

deputy leader, one below floor leader

keep rough tally of votes among party members, when scandals occur, whip can insist member step down or leave

president pro tempore

In the absence of the Vice President, Senate chooses a temporary president, who holds office and executes duties presiding over the Senate

vice president

nonvoting president of the Senate

senate majority leader

wields more power in Senate than vice president, guides caucus on issues and party strategy, chief legislator

standing committee

permanent committees that handle most of congress’ work

ways and means committee

exclusive to house that determines tax policy

joint committee

members of both houses that address a long term issue or program

select/special committee

temporary committee that handles particular issue or investigation

conference committee

house and Senate members who reconcile similar bills

temporary to iron out differences

germane

relevant to legislature

house rules committee

committee of the whole

discharge petition

bring bill out of reluctant committee and to the floor for consideration without a report from the committee by "discharging" the committee from further consideration of a bill or resolution

house of reps general

ways and means

• determine tax policy

rules

• determine house proceedings

armed services

• oversee military

judiciary

• draft crime bills, impeachments

energy and commerce

• regulate energy and business

senate general

finance

• oversee budget and spending

armed services

• oversee military

foreign relations

• guides US foreign policy

judiciary

• confirm judges, oversee courts

agriculture, nutrition, forestry

• address farming, food, nature

filibuster

senators try to stall/kill bill by speaking for extremely long time

unanimous consent

approval of all senators

hold

measure to stall bill

cloture rule

require 2/3 supermajoroty to stop bill, stopping filibuster

foreign policy functions

senate has more foreign relations duties

confirm US ambassadors

how bill becomes law

bill introduced by member of congress

reviewed by committee

if passed, goes to House or Senate for floor debate and voting

if passed, sent to president → can sign bill into law, pocket veto (doesn’t sign 10 days after Congress adjourns), doesn’t sign after 10 days Congress is in session (becomes law), or veto (send back to congress)

sponsor

member who introduced bill typically assumes ownership

riders

nongermane amendments

additional ideas/programs that can be added to the bill

omnibus bill

large bill that is generally made up of numerous smaller bills on the same broad topic

pork barrel spending

appropriations made by legislative bodies for local projects that are often not needed but that are created so that local representatives can win reelection in their home districts

logrolling

legislators exchange support for each other's proposed legislation, helping to secure the passage of bills that may not have sufficient individual support

sources of revenue

comes from taxes

individual income taxes

paid by workers on income made during calendar year (progressive)

corporate taxes

paid by businesses on profits made

social insurance taxes (payroll tax)

paid by employee and employer to fund programs (like social security, unemployment insurance, medicare)

tariff and excise tax

taxes paid on certain imports to make US goods more affordable

other sources of revenue

interest on government holdings or estate taxes by people who inherit a lot of money

mandatory spending

mandated to spend on certain programs like social security

discretionary spending

congressional committees debate how to decide and divide

gridlock

legislative process is stalled due to the inability of lawmakers to reach an agreement on policy decisions

delegate model

act/vote in the way their constituents want

trustee model

vote in the way they deem best, even if it means going against their constituents

politico model

hybrid of delegate and trustee

gerrymandering

racial gerrymandering

apportionment of state lines based solely on race

shaw v reno

racial gerrymandering

violation of 14th amendment equal protection act

lame duck president

has not won reelection or who is closing in on end of second presidential term, highlighting partisan divide in government