AP GOV- Congress

how many members is Congress composed of?

100 senators & 453 representatives

What does the Legislative branch consist of?

The congress, which is divided into House and Senate

What is the most important factor for winning election in Congress?

Incumbency

How often is election for Congress?

Every two years in November

Incumbency

Elected officials who already hold office position and are running for reelection

Where does impeachment happen?

Senate

Where do revenue bills originate?

House

Necessary & Proper clause

Grants Congress the power to make all laws that are necessary and proper. Under the necessary and proper clause, Congress may enact legislation that addresses a wide range of economic, environmental, and social issues related to interstate commerce.

What are some enumerated powers of Congress?

Coining money, declaring war, maintain the armed forces, and passing a federal budget, establishing post office, regulating commerce, and protect patent and copyrights.

Coalition

Alliance of political groups pursuing a common goal

Filibuster

Tactic used by Senate to block a bill by holing the floor and speaking for long periods, utilizing the unlimated speech debate

Committee of the Whole

A committee of the House on which all representatives serve in order to consider the details of a proposal.

Who does Senate represent and who does the House?

Senate = state

House = population

Cloture

A Senate procedure through which a supermajority of 60 senators can vote to limit the amount of time spent debating a bill and cut off a filibuster.

Legislation

The process of creating or enacting laws by a governing body

Discharge petition

A petition signed by members of the House of Representatives to bring a bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote

Pork-barrel legislation

Federal spending on projects designed to benefit a particular district or set of citizens.

What is mandatory spending composed of?

Entitlement programs(medicare, medicaid, ss) and net interest

Logrolling

When two senators agree to vote in favor of each other’s legislation

Baker vs Carr

“One person one vote”

Shaw vs Reno

Racial redistricting must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny.

Process of bills passing

1. bill can be introduced by any member of Congress (in then House or Senate), unless it is related to revenues then it must be introduced in the House

2. Bill is assigned to subcommittee to be reviewed, where it holds hearings and rewrites if necessary

3. If approved, it goes to standing Committee, which decides whether to keep or debate or kill it

4. Bill is introduced to be debated on floor on the chamber

Conference Committee

Temporary bodies that are formed to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of bill

House of Rule Committee

Reviews bills submitted by committee before they go to floor.

If different versions of bills are passed in each house, where do the bills go?

Conference Committee

Standing committeee

permanent and deals with broad policy areas.

Joint Committee

Members of both houses and focus on a major policy issue

Select committtee

Exist for a limited and specific time and are usually formed to conduct and investigation into a current matter of great public concern—> Watergate, JFk

What committee typically exercises oversight?

Standing Committee

Delegate model

Members of Congress pass votes that reflect the preferences of the majority of their constituents

Trustee model

Members of Congress use their best judgement to make policy in the interests of the peopl

Politico model

Members of Congress act as delegates or trustee depending on the issue

What branch do most originate from?

Executive

What are the advantages of the majority party?

Holds committee chair

Assigns bill to committee

sets the legislative agenda

controls the House Rules Committee

Majority floor leader

Manages the legislative process and coordinates the party strategy to bills important to party caucus passed

Majority leader of HoR

• Works closely with the Speaker of the House (who is also from the majority party) to set the legislative agenda.

• Helps schedule debates and votes on bills.

• Coordinates with committee chairs to advance the party's priorities.

• Acts as a spokesperson for the majority party's policies.

Majority leader of Senate

• Serves as the chief strategist for the majority party.

• Schedules the Senate’s legislative calendar, including debates and votes on bills and nominations.

• Works to secure votes within the majority party to pass legislation.

• Represents the majority party during negotiations with the Minority Leader and other stakeholders.