POLI201 Exam 2 extended

House of Representatives

Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution establishes the House.

Senate

Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution establishes the Senate.

House age requirement

25 years old.

Senate age requirement

30 years old.

House citizenship requirement

U.S. citizen for at least 7 years.

Senate citizenship requirement

U.S. citizen for at least 9 years.

House term length

2 years.

Senate term length

6 years (staggered; ~⅓ elected every 2 years).

House constituency

Represents a district (~700,000 people).

Senate constituency

Represents the entire state.

Unique powers of the House

Initiates revenue (tax) bills; brings impeachment charges.

Unique powers of the Senate

Holds impeachment trials; confirms presidential appointments; ratifies treaties (2/3 vote).

Leadership in the House

Speaker of the House is the most powerful member.

Leadership in the Senate

Vice President presides; Majority Leader holds real power.

Style of the House

Closer to the people, faster-moving, more localized.

Style of the Senate

More deliberative, slower-moving, national focus, stable.

Power of the purse

Congress controls spending and taxation through authorization and appropriation.

War powers

Congress can declare war, raise and regulate the military, and share power with the President under the War Powers Resolution.

Commerce power

Regulate interstate and foreign trade.

Oversight power

Monitor executive agencies to ensure laws are properly enforced.

Impeachment power

House brings charges; Senate holds the trial.

Bicameral legislature

Two chambers: House and Senate.

Unified government

One party controls the House, Senate, and Presidency.

Divided government

Different parties control branches, leading to gridlock.

Committee system

Divides labor, allowing specialization in lawmaking.

Delegate model

Representatives act on constituents' wishes.

Trustee model

Representatives use their own judgment.

Politico model

Mix of delegate and trustee depending on the issue.

Descriptive representation

Legislator reflects constituents' demographic traits.

Substantive representation

Legislator advocates for constituents' interests regardless of identity.

Incumbency advantage

90% reelection rate due to name recognition, funding, and experience.

Franking privilege

Free mail to communicate with constituents.

Casework

Helping constituents with government agencies.

Pork barrel spending

Funding local projects to benefit a representative's district.

Apportionment

Allocation of House seats after the census.

Redistricting

Redrawing district lines after census results.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating district lines to favor one party.

Packing

Concentrating opposing voters into a few districts.

Cracking

Spreading opposing voters across many districts to weaken them.

Minority-majority district

District drawn to ensure minority representation.

Standing committee

Permanent committee that handles major policy areas.

Select committee

Temporary committee created for investigations or crises.

Joint committee

Members from both chambers coordinate efforts.

Conference committee

Reconciles differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

House Rules Committee

Controls debate and scheduling in the House.

Ways and Means Committee

Writes tax legislation.

Appropriations Committee

Handles government spending.

Senate Judiciary Committee

Screens judicial nominees.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee

Oversees treaties and foreign policy.

Committee chair

Senior member of the majority party who leads a committee.

Ranking member

Senior member of the minority party on a committee.

Lawmaking

Drafting, debating, and voting on bills.

Constituent services

Helping citizens and advocating locally.

Oversight

Monitoring executive actions and agencies.

Representation

Acting as a voice for constituents.

Partisanship

Supporting party agenda and leadership.

Reelection

Continuous campaigning and fundraising.

Bill introduction

A member of Congress introduces a bill in either chamber.

Committee stage

Bill sent to committee for hearings and markup.

House debate

Strict rules and limited time.

Senate debate

Unlimited debate; filibuster allowed.

Cloture

60 votes required to end a filibuster in the Senate.

Conference committee

Resolves differences between House and Senate versions.

Presidential options

Sign into law, veto, or pocket veto if Congress adjourns.

Veto override

Requires 2/3 vote in both chambers.

Article II

Establishes the presidency.

Presidential qualifications

35 years old, natural-born citizen, 14-year resident.

Term and limits

4-year term, 2-term limit (22nd Amendment).

Vice President

Same qualifications; serves as President of the Senate.

Commander in Chief

Directs the U.S. armed forces.

Chief Executive

Enforces laws and oversees federal bureaucracy.

Chief Diplomat

Directs foreign policy and negotiates treaties.

Chief Legislator

Recommends policy and can veto bills.

Appointive power

Nominates judges, ambassadors, and officials.

Executive order

Directive to federal agencies with the force of law.

Executive agreement

International deal without Senate ratification.

Signing statement

President's interpretation of legislation.

Bully pulpit

President's platform to influence public opinion.

Institutional presidency

Staff and agencies supporting the President (OMB, NSC, CEA).

Cabinet departments

15 major departments like State, Defense, and Treasury.

White House staff

Close advisors such as Chief of Staff and Press Secretary.

National representation

President represents the entire nation.

Public opinion

Approval ratings affect influence.

Crisis situations

Presidential power expands in war or emergencies.

Partisanship

Unified government helps; divided government limits effectiveness.

Bureaucracy and Congress

Can aid or resist presidential policy goals.

Legislative relationship

President proposes bills and budget.

Veto power

Can veto or threaten to veto legislation.

Executive orders

Used to bypass congressional gridlock.

Judicial branch purpose

Interprets laws and the Constitution; checks other branches.

State courts

Handle most criminal and civil cases.

Federal courts

Handle federal crimes, interstate disputes, and constitutional issues.

District courts

Trial courts with original jurisdiction.

Courts of Appeals

Review lower court decisions; no juries.

Supreme Court

Final authority on constitutional interpretation.

Writ of certiorari

Petition asking Supreme Court to review a case.

Rule of Four

Four justices must agree to hear a case.

Briefs

Written arguments submitted by lawyers.

Oral arguments

Lawyers present cases before the Court.

Majority opinion

Official decision of the Court.