AP United States Government, Congress.

Cloture rule

• A method by which the senate can limit debate and end a filibuster.

• 60 senators must sign to end a filibuster

• it’s the only formal way to end a filibuster

filibuster

• delay by the minority party

• unlimited debate i’m an attempt to stall action on a bill; occurs in the senate only

incumbent

current officeholders

constituent

voters who elected their congress person in office

bill

proposed law

standing committee

• A permanent committee that deals with specific policy matters

• in both house and senate

conference committee

• A temporary committee of members from both houses of Congress, created to resolve differences in House and Senate versions of a bill.

select committee

• A temporary committee appointed for a specific purpose, such as investigating a particular issue.

apportionment

• Distribution among the states based on the population of each of the states

• The determining of house seats (more, less, or the same) as a result of the census.

reapportionment

• The redistribution of congressional seats after the cencus determines the changes in population distribution among the states.

• The actual distribution of house seats (more, less, or the same)

gerrymandering

The drawing of congressional districts to favor one political party or group over another.

impeach

• To formally accuse a public official of misconduct, with the potential punishment being removal from office

  • presidents impeached: 3

  • presidents convicted: 0

process of impeachment

• To bring charges

• Senator tries (trial) the impeachment

• The jury at the trial is 100 senators

• 2/3 vote needed to commit senators (62/100) - majority vote.

bicameral

2 legislative bodies

divided government

One or both houses of legislative branch are of one party and the executive branch is of the other party.

party whip

• pressure fellow party members on how to vote

• render party discipline

• rely on “rank and file” (ordinary party members that are not leaders)

• Act as communication between party leadership and rank-and-file members

• ensure congress members tow the line. (keep members on unison)

What portion of the us constitution created the legislative branch

article 1

house of representatives

• size is NOT in the constitution

• More responsive to the people

• Reapportionment act of 1929: number of people one representative represents has increased

• term of office: 2 years (entire house up for reelection every 2 yrs)

• membership/size: 435

• qualifications:

  • 25 years old to run

  • US citizen for 7 years

  • must be resident of the state you represent

• Method of election; Appointed by population, districts

Senate

Focus on the big picture/nations

17th amendment

• term of office: 6 years - staggered terms (1/3 of senate up for reelection every 2 years)

• membership/size: 100 (2 senators per state) - fixed in constitution

• qualifications:

  • 30 years old to run

  • US citizen for 9 years

  • must be resident of the state you represent

• Method of election

  • 2 senators chosen from each state through direct election

congressional redistricting

the drawing, by state legislature, of congressional districts for those states with more than one representative. up to state legislature to redraw house districts based on state population

Baker V Carr

• 14th amendment- equal protection clause

• one person one vote philosophy

• each house congressional districts must have approximately same number of people, compact in shape.

electoral college

consists of 538 senators, majority 270 votes require to elect president.

One elector for each state’s number of member in house of representatives, plus 2 senators.

according to the original constitution how were members f the senate chosen?

By state legislatures

How are members of senate chosen today

17th amendment- direct election

(1913)

incumbency effect

• tendency of current officeholder winging reelection

• easker for current officeholders to win reelection, stems from factors such as recognition, established networks, and experience

• win reelection in house: %95 of the time

in senate: %80 of the time

speaker of the house

• chosen by house of representative as a whole

• will ALWAYS be member of majority party

most powerful member

1. assign bills to committees

2. control debate on the floor

3. appoint fellow party members to significant committees

majority leader - congress

• guide party members in policymaking issues

• direct debates

• sets legislative agenda

minority leader - congress

• guide party members in policymaking issues but are minority

• spokesperson for minority party

• directo how to oppose majority leader

• controls calendar assignments of bills

Who is the true leader of the house

speaker

Who is the true leader of the senate

senate majority leader

is the vice president a leader of senate?

NO!

the vice president (Article I sec III) presides, the senate as presiding officer. does NOT lead.

president pro tempore -Senior member of majority party

                                      when vp is absent, can preside

over senate. Figurehead position. 

what are the limitations on the presiding officer of the senate

the presiding officer of the senate (usually v.p or president pro tempore) has no legislative vote and would only vote to break a tie

senate president pro tempore

when vice president is absent, they temporarily reside over senate

• figurehead position

• senior member of majority party

Party Caucus

• closed party meeting

• beggining of a session=1 yr (term = 2 yrs)

  • choose party leader

  • determine legislative agenda/platform

  • committee assignments (based on seniority and expertise)

Caucus

closed party meeting

Role of committee chairperson

will always be member of majority party, tend to be longest standing in that committee (NOT AGE)

1. set agenda

2. create subcommittee

3. decide if to hold committee meeting

Joint committee

A committee of members from both houses of congress that often performs routine duties.

House rules committee - role

only in house because it is more strict

• standing committee

• set time spent on debate

• decide if amendments can be made into bill while its on the floor

House ways and means committee - role

-deals with taxing

bills about generation of revenue MUST originate IN THE HOUSE, then go to way and means committee

House appropriations committee - role

Determine where money is sent

Senate has 

less rules and unlimited debate (filibuster)

House and senate BOTH have (which committee)

appropriations committee (determine how money is spent)

Senate foreign relations committee

review and recommend whether the Senate should approve a presidential treaty, this committee does not make the final decision, they only recommend confirmation

• Senate approves presidential treaties, must agree with a 2/3 majority vote

Senate judiciary committee

confirm/reject presidential federal judge appointment

(The president appoints federal judges, senate approves)

Senate appropriations committee

determine where money is sent

theories

how members of congress represent constituents

partisan

with your party

politicos

balance all 3 (delegate, trustee, partisan)

delegate

• representative who grants constituents’ wishes

• how the “folks at home would want me to vote”

• conduit of constituents

trustee

“trust me”

• a member of congress who bases decisions on good judgement (merit) while keeping constituents in mind (dont run home to constituents for help)

expressed powers

Article I, Sec VIII

• specifically written powers given to Congress (17 total)

  • coin money

  • declare war

  • regulate interstate commerce/trade

  • create post offices

  • build army/navy

implied powers of congress

Article I, Sec VIII, Clause 18

• necessary and proper clause (elastic) 

• congress see it as necessary and proper to pass a law in order to carry out one of its expressed (enumerated) powers

investigative/ oversight powers of congress

• non legislative power

• congress checks up on executive branch and its agencies, commissions, and departments

• make sure the money they (Congress) give, is used wisely and laws are being executed.

4 things a president can do to a bill

1. sign into law:  simple, bill is signed into law

2. Veto: Reject ALL sections of the bill. Congress can check this by overriding the veto with a 2/3 super majority  vote in both houses

3. Do nothing: If congress is still in session 10 days after president receiving the bill, the president lets it sit on his desk. Bill becomes a law. (ego thing, president doesnt want to be responsible)

4. Pocket veto: Congress adjourns within 10 days of president receiving bill, the bill dies on his desk.

pork barrel legislation (earmark spending)

• An attempt to provide funds and projects for a member’s home district state

logrolling

you support my pork, ill support yours. You help me i help you. Congress members support eachother’s pork

pet project

projects so people vote them “ill build a ….. center”

riders

additions to legislation that usually have no connection to the legislation but would not pass on their own merit

party polarization

division within both parties, no compromise. leads to gridlock (nothing gets done)