Unit 2 Branches of Government APGov

The House of Representatives has _____ members who each represent a _______ and serve _______ year terms.

435, district, 2

The House is _______ formal and has _______ rules

more

The Senate has _____ members who each represent a _______ and serve _____ year terms.

100, state,6

The Senate is _____ formal and has ______ rules

less, fewer

Identify five enumerated powers used by Congress to participate in the public policy process

enumerated powers include the authority to levy taxes, regulate commerce, declare war, coin money, and establish post offices.

Confirm nominations

Senate

Ratify treaties

Senate

Initiates all tax/revenue bill

house

Power of impeachment

House

Rules Committe

House

Fillabuster

Senate

Unanimous consent agreements

Senate

Committee of the Whole

House

Discharge petition

House

Holds

Senate

identify three roles/terms that speed up the legislature process and two that slow the process down

Speed: Committee of the Whole, Discharge petition, Unanimous Consent Agreements

Slow: filibuster, Holds,

The Senate needs _____ votes to invoke ______ to end filibuster.

60, cloture

Describe two roles of the Speaker of the House

-leader of the whole House

-schedules bills

-spends time advertising majority parties agenda

identify three advantages the majority party has in legislative process in congress

-control all Committee chairs

-control the agenda

-senate majority is equal to Senate of House

Conference Committee

Create a compromise bill when the House of Senate pass different versions of a bill

Standing/Permanent Committe

Permanent committees that holds hearings, markup legislative, conduct congressional oversight, most of the work in Congress is done here

Select Committee

Conduct temporary investigations; disbanded once the investigation is complete

Joint Committee

Committees that include both Representatives and Senators

Discretionary spending

-30% of spending

• defense is largest, then education, then infrastructure

log rolling

legislation provides tangible benefits like jobs, money, and programs to a congressional a district and is vote trading in Congress; “I vote for yours if you vote for mine”

Reaportionment

changing the number of seats each state has in the House; occurs after the census

redistrict

Redrawing congressional districts; done by state legislatures (redraw lines)

Gerrymandering

Drawing congressional districts in bizarre shapes, usually to benefit the majority party

Malaportionment

drawing congressional districts of very unequal size( ruled unconstitutional)

Baker v. Carr(1962)

Tennessee districts weren’t equal. Judge ruled: 1 man, 1 vote; 14th amendment- equal protection law

Shaw v. Reno(1993)

Judge ruled: can’t draw districts based on race; violates 14th amendment; race can be a factor but not the main and only reason

Describe one effect of party polarization on legislation and confirmations

Policy gridlock, ideological difference; hard to make Agreements

Define divided government and identity two potential results of divided governemnt

lame duck