AP GOV U2 FRQ

1. Identify five factors that contribute to incumbency advantage and explain how each factor contributes to incumbency advantage.

Gerrymandering: if district in favor of the incumbent party deters and creates reliability in winning

Fundraising Network: donors and PACs have established connection with incumbent making easy to get $ by experience shown

Credit claiming: tell voters what they’ve already done for them through pork and casework to persuade voters

Name recognition: safer, comfortable option for voters who already know their name

War Chest: $ from previous elections give a head start on spending and more resources to best competition

1. Explain the general makeup of a standing committee (including party representation) and explain what it does.

2. Explain the general makeup of a conference committee and explain what it does.

3. Explain the general makeup of a subcommittee and explain what it does.

4. Explain what the Rules Committee does (and in which house)

1. Permanent specialist committee reviews bills and oversees government agencies in that area, membership reflects partisan balance of chamber where majority party has majority seats/ committee

2. Temporary joint committee made up of members chosen by party leaders and usually members centrally involved in bill that resolves difference between House and Senate bill versions before sending to President

3. Subcommittees part of a full committee made up of ratio reflecting full committee that focuses on specialized policy areas, reviews specific bills to report to committee

4. HOR traffic cop: schedules bill votes, sets conditions bills are debated and amended

1. Describe two advantages the majority party in the United States House of Representatives has in lawmaking, above and beyond the numerical advantage that the majority party enjoys in floor voting.

2. Describe two differences between House and Senate rules that may make it likely that legislation may pass in one chamber but not in the other.

3. Explain how one of the differences identified in (b) can lead to the passage of a bill in one chamber but not in the other.

1. All committee chairs are part of majority party b/c chairs chosen by majority party leader, majority controls the Rules committee b/c always about 2/3 majority party members

2a. HOR requires all amendments to be germane (relevant) or else it can be ruled out entirely if conference can’t iron out the details which can stop it from passing in the House

2B. Senators can filibuster (unlimitedly debate) to slow or stop a vote on a bill in the Senate

2c. Senate minority members can filibuster to delay/ stop a vote while in HOR debate is tightly controlled by Rules

1. Define gridlock

2. Define divided government and explain the impact it typically has on governing efficiency

3. Explain the greatest influence on legislators under each of the following models

   1. Trustee

   2. Delegate

   3. Politico

1. When legislation is slowed by divisions

2. Different politics, parties control the chambers of Congress or the Presidency

3a. Their own knowledge and wishes

3b. Constituent wishes

3c. Mix of both

1. Identify who selects members of the House of Representatives

2. Identify who originally selected members of the Senate and who currently selects them

3. Apportionment, redistricting, and gerrymandering often impact who is elected to serve in the House.

a. Define reapportionment

b. Define redistricting

c. Define gerrymandering

d. Identify two key Supreme Court cases relating to these concepts and explain the significance of each one. (use your in class notes).

1. District voters

2. Originally state legislature, now state voters

3a. Reallocating HOR seats between states based off 10 year census

3b. States redraw electoral districts

3c. redistricting for political advantage

3d. Shaw v. Reno: established strict scrutiny standard when considering constitutionality, established political gerrymandering is allowed but not race based

Baker v Carr: SCOTUS can hear redistricting cases

1. Explain the meaning of each of the following elements of the congressional committee system and explain how each influences the legislative process.

1a. Committee chairs

1b. Specialization

1c, Logrolling

1d, Party representation on committees

2. Identify two ways party leadership (ex: Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, whips, other party leadership) in Congress can influence the legislative process and explain how each way influences the lawmaking process. 

1a. leader of congressional committee in charge of agenda —> can kill bills by refusing to hold hearings

1b.Congress members join a committee and become experts in that area —> specialized members during committee step can see flaws and refuse to support the bill to kill it

1c. Trading votes on legislation to get earmarks passed —> increases efficiency to move the bill through the legislative process

1d. Distribution of committee seats among parties —> majority members can vote down minority party amendments during committee session

2a. Whip: collects voting info and corrals votes on key issues. Influences lawmaking through ensuring party unity to avoid gridlock during a vote

2B. Speaker of the House: assigns bills to committees, influences lawmaking by choosing to send bills to committees either in or not in favor of the bill to advance or kill a bill, or send to multiple committees to kill with amendments and changes or one committee can pigeonhole the bill

1. Explain one reason why the framers created a bicameral legislature.

2. Using at least one specific example, explain how the different chamber sizes influence the formality of debate

3. Identify two powers unique to the House of Representatives and explain why the framers gave the House those powers.

4. Identify two powers unique to the Senate and explain why the framers gave the Senate those powers. 

1. To contain dangers of faction by adding checks and balances within Congress

2. The bigger the chamber, the more formal it is: Ex) HOR rules committee

3. Originate revenue bills, accuse to impeach —> to keep the reps closer to the people and reflect the will of the voters

4. Try impeachment, confirm prez nominations —> create stability and maturity in the branch and prevent quick trends from influencing legislation