Legislative Processes Exam 1

Descriptive representation

whether a legislature’s membership reflects the diversity of backgrounds and interests in society

Substantive representation

when legislators consciously act as agents for constituents and their interests--an activity that can be performed regardless of background or group memberships

a lawmaking institution and an assembly of local representative

What is the dual nature of Congress?

institutionalization

the increasing of Congress’s organizational complexity

legislative workload, institutional size, conflict with the executive branch, members’ partisan interests

What are some of the important factors that have driven the institutional development of Congress?

granted the Speaker secure control over the order of business and strictly curbed the minority party’s ability to obstruct the majority party’s floor agenda

What did Reed’s Rules (1890) do?

the congressional career, professionalization, and constituency demands have all increased

How has the job of the legislator evolved?

recruitment

What is the social and political process through which people seek and win leadership posts?

1. Age (25 in House, 30 in Senate)
2. Citizenship (7 years in House, 9 years in Senate)
3. Residency (in state from which officeholder is elected)

What are the qualifications for holding Congressional office?

method of equal proportions

What is the mathematical formula that is utilized to determine House apportionment?

state legislatures

Who is fundamentally responsible for carrying out redistricting processes?

malapportionment and gerrymandering

What are two problems surrounding districting?

partisan gerrymandering, pro-incumbent gerrymandering, racial gerrymandering

What are the different types of gerrymandering?

time, money, and energy; privacy; a winnable contest; willingness to be harsh; policy/political message

What are some of the issues raised when one makes the decision to run for office?

trustee

When thinking about representation, what type of representative follows his or her own conscience when deciding issue positions?

delegate

When thinking about representation, what type of representative believes that an elected representative should represent the opinions of his or her constituents.?

dyadic representation

What type of representation emphasizes the individual relationship between you and your member?

collective representation

What type of representation describes the relationship between Congress and the US as a whole (it considers whether institution itself represents the American people, not just whether a particular member represents his/her district)?

legislator, constituency servant, and partisan

What are the three congressional roles undertaken by most members of Congress?

supporters (the reelection constituency), loyalists (the primary constituency), and intimates (the personal constituency)

When candidates or incumbents analyze their electoral base, what are the three constituencies they discern?

person-to-person style

What style to presenting one’s self does a candidate use when relying upon knowing constituents by name and meeting with them in small, face-to-face groups?

issue-oriented approach

What style to presenting one’s self does a candidate use when they hold many town hall events where they articulate and defend their stance across a range of hot-button topics (convey the impression that they are activist, engaged in issues their constituents view as important)?

collective action dilemma

What is a situation in which the members of a group would benefit by working together to produce some outcome, but each individual is better off refusing to cooperate and reaping benefits from those who do the work referred to?

Speaker of the House

What is the only leadership position in Congress whose existence and method of selection is mandated by the Constitution?

Hassert Rule

What rule states that the Speaker will not put a bill forward without support from a majority of the party?

conditional party government

What theory states that a Speaker will be strong when you have:


1. preference homogeneity within the party
2. distinct policy differences between the parties?

the majority leader

Who is the party’s floor leader?

whips

Which Conregressional position encourages party discipline, counts votes, and, in general, mobilize winning coalitions on behalf of partisan priorities?

seniority, parliamentary expertise, can you competently communicate your party’s agenda, gender balance

How do members typically decide who to place in leadership?

organizing, scheduling, consulting

What are the institutional tasks of leaders?

organize the party, promote party unity and views, campaign assistance

What are the party tasks of leaders?

Blue Dog Democrats, Republican Study Committee, Tea Party Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus

What are a few informal party groups that hold power in Congress?

gerrymandering and better partisan sorting

What are the sources of polarization in Congress?

caucus or conference

What is the organization of all partisans in a chamber called?

intensity of party conflict, persistence of two-party system, advent of new coalition-building practices

What are a few features of the contemporary party system on Capitol Hill?

megabills (omnibus bills)

What is legislation that is hundreds or thousands of pages in length, encompassing disparate policy topics called?

respecting other branches’ internal operations (executive privilege, congressional procedure)

What are interbranch “no-fly zones”?

Reconstitutive change

What are rapid and enduring shifts in fundamental dimensions called?