Gov Unit 2 notes

Congress

Legislative branch: house of rep & senate

Enumerated powers delegated to congress

1. Tax 2. Coin money 3. Declare war 4. Regulate foreign & interstate commerce 5. Create armed forces

Implied powers

“Necessary and proper” clause, elastic clause, civil rights act of 1964 and creation of IRS

Congress may overall presidential veto by:

2/3 vote in each house

Incumbents

Those already in office, have: recognition, experience, fundrasing/organization

Marginal districts

Districts where incumbents win in close elections

Safe districts

Incumbents win with more than 55% of the vote

WHIP

ensure party discipline

President Pro-Tempore

Actually runs meetings in the senate (official head of senate is VP but only voted to break ties)

Advice and consent

Power of the senate to confirm or deny treaties & ambassadors

17th amendment

direct election of senators, changed importance of senate

Filibuster

Attempt to defeat a bill in senate by talking indefinitely

Cloture

Limit filibuster to 30 hours, need 3/5 vote in senate

Speaker of the House

Most powerful person, guides debate, elected by majority vote of house

House initiates

revenue bills (tax), impeachment, appropriations, select pres if no electoral college majority

Partisan

favoring one side

Bipartisan

working together

Pork Barrel Legislation

bills that give tangible benefits to constituents in hope of winning vote

Franking

members of congress are allowed to send material through the mail for free

Earmarking

something added to a bit;l that will specifically help. congressperson’s district

Appropriations

setting aside money for specific use

Log rolling

Voting for a bill to get in return a vote

Gridlock

Congress not getting anything done

Divided government

President and congress different political parties

Reapportionment

Redistribution of seats in house due to changes in population

Redistricting

congressional districts redrawn by state legislatures according to pop (“one person- one vote”)

Gerrymandering

legislative districts being drawn for political purposes (helps majority party)

Trustee model

voters trust congressman to make best decision for them, using congressman’s own judgment

Delegate model

Voters expect congress persons to vote on the basis of what constituents believe

political/politico model

mix of trustee and delegate

constituents service model

doing work fro constituents that need help from the government (service academies)

Committees

where most of real work in congress is done, source of status in congress

selective incorporation

Bill of right not only apply to the federal government but also the states