Unit #1 American History Hobbs

How many house of reps are there and are they divided between states?

435 they are divided by population of state

How many senate are there and are they divided between states

100 and there are two per state

Who elects the congress?

the people of the states

Requirements of the House of Reps and how long is the term

• at least 25

• have to be a citizen for 7 years

• term of 2 years

What and who is the speaker of the house

runs of the house of reps (Kevin Mccarthy)

Powers of the house

Propose and pass legislation (make laws)

Coin Money

power to impeach

Declare War

Raise an Army

Regulate Commerce (taxation)

establish Federal courts

establish rules of naturalization/immigration

Power of senate

approve prez nominations for cabinet and supreme court

approves treaties

tries pez for impeachment

checks of the house of reps

executive branch can veto laws

judicial can declare laws unconstitutional

requirements of senate and how long is the term

have to be 30

9 years of citizenship

6

checks of senate

laws can be vetoed by prez

#of reps in exectutive branch and their positions

1 P 1VP 15 Cabinet members (have extra people working for them final # in the thousands)

Requirements of Exectutuve branch

35 yaers old

need to be citizen of us

us resident for 14 years

How is prez and vp elected

electoral college

what are the powers of the president

veto legislation created by congress

enforce laws

grant pardons

negototate treaties

nominates head of federal agencies

commander of chief of army +navy

gives advice to senate

leader of federal gov

checks of executive branch

prez and vp can be removed from office by congress

judicial branch can declare exectutive orders unconstitutional

Powers of VP

president of senate (breaks ties)

is alive (takes over the prez place if they die)

how many judicial reps are they?

9

What and who is the head of the supreme court

Cheif justice (John Roberts)

How are the supreme justices elected?

nominated by presiednt and approved my senate

What are the powers of the judicial branch?

determind if laws are constututional (judicial review)

determind meaning of laws for specific cases

What are the checks of the judicial branch?

nominated by the president and approved by the senate

senate can impeach them

What is the elastic Clause?

A law in the consitution that allows Congress to make laws not specifically mentioned in the Constitution. It states that they can make whatever if benficial for the progress of society.

What is the congressional approval rating and why?

It is less than 17% because there are so many injust and seemingly undemocratic policies in place but because the declaration protects our freedom of speech and petetiom they cant be taken away.

What are the steps in passing a bill

1. A new bill is introduced to congress

2. The bill starts in one chamber of legislation and gets sponsered by its members

3. Once is is approved in one branch the process must continye all over again in the other branch

4. the bill must be worded exactly the same in both cases and all differences must be resolved if not they will have to start the whole process again on both sides.

5. if both sides approve it will be writen in its final version

6. then the bill goes to the president

7. the prez can veto or approve or say nothing in which case if congress is still in session the bill will be officially passed. However if no action is taken by the prez in ten days and the congress is adjourned the bill is veotoed.

8. if a prez vetos a vote the congress can override the veto. If bothe the house of reps and congress vote to pass the bill they will win in a 2/3 majority.

Andrew Jackson

Woodrow Wilson

Franklin Roosevelt

Democratic

Abraham Lincoln

Teddy Roosevelt

Ronald Reagan

Republican

Democratic role in gov

Bigger, active government/Higher Taxes

Republican role in gov

smaller, less obtrusive government

Lower taxes

Government programs only when needed

Rep Social policy

Private charities to help the poor

"faith based initiatives"

Importance of incentive/work programs

Dem Social Policy

Gov. should actively help the disadvantaged: social security/welfare/health care

Dem Business

Gov. should regulate quality, emissions,practices, etc.

Rep Business

Laissez faire (less government regulation)--market forces determine most efficient way of producing things

Dem Abortion

pro-choice (right to abortion)

Republic Abortion

pro-life/anti-abortion

Dem Envirorment

protection oriented:entitlements like welfare,action, public education

Rep Envirorment

Responsible use of natural resources/exploitation of natural resources to help working people

Rights/responsiblities/emphasis Rep

Responsibility oriented/ Emphasizes indiv. choice: 

A)private/charter schools

B)medical plans

C)retirement money-private investment

Rights/responsiblities/emphasis Dem

"Government should help those who can't help themselves"

what is a filibuster?

 is a tactic used to prolong debate and delay a vote for a bill, resolution, amendment, and more.

cloture

• a measure that can be taken to end a filibuster. It is fulfilled when 3/5ths, or 60 out of the 100 senators, vote on the matter.

pigeonholding

•  bill is the process of stopping a bill because it was found to be unnecessarily unconstitutional. Legistlators often avoid a bill by “losing” it or purposely putting it somewhere they know they will forget about.

Logrolling

• combining several provisions into one bill through political favors shared among parties with a mutual interest.

• I will vote for your bill if you put what I want in the bottom of it

• Quid Pro Que (I do something for you you do something for me)

Pork Barrel Legislation

•  a practice in American politics that is used to win votes by pooling lots of money into specific districts so they get re-elected and win votes

• spending money in return for political support

Redistricting

Redistricting is the redrawing of the boundaries of congressional and state legislative districts. Districts are redrawn to keep populations even so that everyone has an equal amount of representation when it comes to their vote. There are 9 districts in MA

Gerrymandering

is when the system of redistricting is abused to the advantage of one political party.

Cracking

Split in group with people of similar characteristics such as people voting the same party (voting strength is divided and they are much less likely to elect their preferred canidates in their district.

Packing

Opposite of cracking, cram certain groups into as small districts as they can. In these few districts, the “packed” groups are likely to elect their preferred candidates, but the groups’ voting strength is weakened everywhere else.

Political lobbying

paying congressman to vote or act in favor of peoples opions or companies

Cabinets

advisors to the prez with specific departments they are in charge of and report to the prez about.