AP GOV UNIT 2

House of Representatives # of members

The House of Representatives is composed of 435 members, with the number of representatives from each state based on its population.

Senate # of members

The Senate is composed of 100 members, with each state represented by 2 senators regardless of its population.

Minimum Age for House of Representative’s

A member of the House of Representatives must be at least 25 years old to be eligible for election.

Minimum Age for Senate 

A member of the Senate must be at least 30 years old to be eligible for election.

House of Representatives Citizen requirement

They must have been a citizen for at least 7 years before being elected.

Senate citizen requirement 

They must have been a citizen for at least 9 years before being elected.

House of Reps term length 

Members serve a 2 year term.

Senate term length

6 years

House of Representatives Where in the Constitution

Article I, Section 2

Senate Where in the Constitution

Article I, Section 3

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically listed in the Constitution. Article I, Section 8

Implied Powers

 Powers not expressly stated but reasonably inferred from the Necessary and Proper Clause. Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 (Necessary and Proper Clause)

Economic Powers of Congress

• Tax and spend for the general welfare

• Borrow money

• Regulate interstate and foreign commerce

• Coin money

• Establish bankruptcy laws

Military Powers of Congress

• Declare war

• Raise and support armies and a navy

• Establish military regulations

• Provide for the militia (National Guard)

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause):

Used to address new social, economic, and environmental issues by expanding Congress’s powers beyond those listed, allowing flexibility in lawmaking

House of Representatives Unique Powers

Initiates revenue bills; brings impeachment charges; breaks Electoral College ties

Senate Unique Powers

Confirms presidential appointments; ratifies treaties; holds impeachment trials

House of Representatives Policy-Making Style

More formal, rules-based, majoritarian

Senate Policy-Making Style

More deliberative, allows extended debate

House of Representatives Constituents

Smaller, more local districts

Senate Constituents

Entire states

Filibuster

Unlimited debate to delay or block legislation

Senate

Cloture

60-vote procedure to end a filibuster

Senate

Discharge Petition

Forces a bill out of committee to the floor (majority needed)

House

Treaty Ratification

2/3 Senate approval required for treaties

Senate

Confirmation of Judges

Senate must confirm presidential judicial nominees

Senate

Rules Committee

Sets debate time and amendment rules

House

Discretionary Spending

the portion of the federal budget that Congress decides on annually through the appropriations process

Mandatory Spending

spending on existing entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare that is required by law

Pork Barrel Legislation

legislation that funds specific local projects to bring money to a representative's district, often to gain political support, even if the projects lack broader public merit.

Logrolling

Lawmakers trade votes to pass legislation

Divided Government

One party controls Congress, the other the presidency – leads to gridlock.

Partisan

Following party lines strictly.

Bipartisan

Cooperation between parties to pass legislation

Lame Duck President

End of the president term with limited influence before successor takes office.

Gerrymandering

Drawing district lines to favor a political party

Redistricting

Redrawing congressional boundaries after census

Baker v.Carr

1962

Allowed federal courts to hear redistricting cases (“one person, one vote”)

Equal Protection (14th Amendment)

Shaw v. Reno

1993

Race-based gerrymandering violates Equal Protection

14th Amendment

Veto

Formal

Reject legislation passed by Congress

Pocket Veto

Formal

Take no action at session’s end = bill dies

Executive Orders

Informal

Directive with force of law, bypassing Congress

Treaties

Formal

Negotiated by President, ratified by Senate

Commander-in-Chief

Formal

Leads military forces

Executive Agreements

Informal

International agreements without Senate approval

Bargaining & Persuasion

Informal

Negotiation to advance agenda

Signing Statements

Informal

Comments attached to signed laws clarifying interpretation

President and Congressional Tension

The president’s agenda can create tension with Congress because:

• Different constituencies (national vs. local)

• Partisan divisions

• Use of executive orders bypassing Congress

• Budget conflicts and oversight hearings

Presidential Requirements

Requirement	Detail	Constitutional Source
Minimum Age	35 years	Article II, Section 1
Citizenship	Natural-born citizen	Article II, Section 1
Term Length	4 years	Article II, Section 1

Bureaucracy

Complex system of departments and agencies that implement laws

Patronage

Giving jobs to political supporters (spoils system)

Merit System

Hiring based on qualifications (Pendleton Act, 1883)

Civil Service

Professional, nonpartisan government employees

Power of the Purse

Congress controls funding for bureaucratic agencies

Compliance Monitoring

Ensuring businesses/agencies follow regulations

Bully Pulpit

Power to shape public opinion

Bureaucracy 

Complex system of departments and agencies that implement laws

Patronage

Giving jobs to political supporters (spoils system)

Merit System

a method of hiring and promoting government employees based on their abilities, skills, and performance, rather than on political connections or patronage.

Civil Service

government employees hired based on merit and qualifications, rather than political affiliation

Power of the Purse

Congress controls funding for bureaucratic agencies

Compliance Monitoring

Ensuring businesses/agencies follow regulations

Congress

Formal Powers	Informal Powers
Legislation, appropriations, oversight hearings	Threats of budget cuts, political pressure

President

Formal Powers	Informal Powers

Appointments, executive orders

Persuasion, directives

Courts

Formal Powers	Informal Powers

Judicial review of agency actions

Interpretation of constitutionality