ap government unit 2 complete overview

Apportionment

Distribution of representatives among the states based on the population of each state

Cloture

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate.

Committee Chair

Leader of a congressional committee who has authority over the committee's agenda

Committee of the Whole

Consists of all members of the House and meets in the House chamber but is governed by different rules, making it easier to consider complex and controversial legislation

Conference Committee

A temporary joint committee that resolves differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill, which is required by the Constitution before a president can sign the bill into law

Constituencies

A body of voters in a given area who elect a representative or senator

Delegate

The idea that the main duty of a member of Congress is to carry out constituents' wishes

Select/Special Committee

Temporary body that is usually called upon to investigate an issue, sometimes in response to a crisis or scandal

Senate Majority Leader

The person who has the most power in the Senate and is the head of the party with the most seats

Speaker of the House

The leader of the House of Representatives, chosen by an election of its members

Standing Committees

permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area

Trustee

The idea that members of Congress should make decisions based on their knowledge and judgment

Unanimous Consent

An agreement in the Senate that sets the terms for consideration of a bill

Unified Government

the same party controls both the presidency and one or both chambers of Congress

Veto

The power of a president to reject a bill passed by Congress, sending it back to the originating branch with objections

Whip

A member of Congress, chosen by his or her party members, whose job is to ensure party unity and discipline

Discharge Petition

a device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had the bill for 30 days, may petition to have it brought to the floor

Divided Government

Control of the presidency and one or both chambers of Congress split between the two major parties

Filibuster

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

Gridlock

the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government

Holds

A delay placed on legislation by a senator who objects to a bill

House Rules Committee

An institution unique to the House of Representatives that determines when a bill will be subject to debate and vote on the House floor, how long the debate will last, and whether amendments will be allowed on the floor

House Majority Leader

The person who is the second in command of the House of Representatives

Incumbency

Being already in office as opposed to running for the first time

Incumbency Advantage

institutional advantages held by those already in office who are trying to fend off challengers in an election

Joint Committee

A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.

Lame Duck Period

period at the end of a presidential term when Congress may block presidential initiatives and nominees

Logrolling

vote trading; voting to support a colleague's bill in return for a promise of future support

Majority-minority districts

the process by which a majority of the population is from the minority

Minority Leader

The head of the party with the second-highest number of seats in Congress, chosen by the party's members

One Person, One Vote

the rule that one person's voting power is equivalent to another person's within the same state

Oversight

Congressional review of the activities of an executive agency, department, or office through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies

Party Polarization

When political parties move farther away from each other ideologically

Policy-Making Process

1. Evaluation (what are the problems that need to be fixed)
2. Issue Identification
3. Policy Formulation
4. Decision Making (vote in Congress on whether to approve or deny the policy)
5. implementation

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises and spends campaign money from voluntary donations

Politico

Representation where members of Congress balance their choices with the interests of their constituents and parties in making decisions

Pork-barrel legislation

legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return

earmarks

pork barrel legislation is also referred to as__________

President of the Senate

the vice president whose role is to preside over the Senate's daily proceedings

Redistricting

states' redrawing of boundaries of electoral districts following each census

Bill is drafted and submitted by house or senate member.

what happens first when a bill is created?

Introduced in House

what happens 2nd when a bill is created?

Sent to Committee

what happens 3rd when a bill is created?

Committee Action

what happens 4th when a bill is created?

Rules Committee

what happens 5th when a bill is created?

Floor Action

what happens 6th when a bill is created?

Introduced in Senate

what happens 7th when a bill is created?

Committee Action

what happens 8th when a bill is created?

Bill Called Up

what happens 9th when a bill is created?

Floor Action

what happens 10th when a bill is created?

Conference Committee

what happens 11th when a bill is created?

Vote on Compromise

what happens 12th when a bill is created?

Presidential Action

what happens 13th when a bill is created?

Could Vote to Override with 2/3 approval of Congress

what happens 14th when a bill is created?

must be at least 25 years old, USA citizen for 7 years, must live in the state they are representing

What are the requirements for membership in the House of Representatives?

Must be at least 30 years old, USA citizen for 9 years, live in the state they are representing

What are the requirements for membership in the Senate?

435 representatives run for reelection every 2 years with an unlimited number of terms

What are the term lengths in the House of Representatives?

100 senators run for reelection every six years; with an unlimited number of terms

What are the term lengths in the Senate?

entire state

Who is the constituency in the Senate?

electoral district, apportioned to states by population

Who is the constituency in the House of Representatives?

More governed by rules, more formally structured, more power to individual leadership positions

How is the organization/character in the House of Representatives?

Less governed by rules, more power to individual members, more informal

How is the organization/character in the Senate?

To be more insulated from voters' preferences

What is the goal of the Senate?

To be closer to the voters' preferences

What is the goal of the House of Representatives?

National

Are the House of Representatives federal or national?

Federal

Is the Senate federal or national?

Choose president if there's no majority in the electoral college, impeach, initiate revenue bills

What are the specific powers of the House of Representatives?

Foreign relations, Try impeachments and convict impeached officials with a 2/3 vote, confirm appointments of the cabinet, justices, judges, and ambassadors with a majority vote (51% or more), Ratify treaties with 2/3 vote

What are the specific powers of the Senate?

wisdom, stability, provides a check, less corruption

Why are the Senate's rules and requirements stricter than that of the house?

the incumbent

who has more advantage, the incumbent or new candidate?

Franking privileges

—the ability to send mail by one's signature rather than by postage

in the house because of gerrymandering in electoral districts

Where is incumbency stronger in the Congress? Why?

Speaker of the House

the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives; maintains order, manages its proceedings, and governs the administration of its business

house majority leader

schedules legislation to be considered on the House floor; organizes daily, weekly, and yearly legislative plans; consults with Members to understand how party members feel about issues; works to advance the goals of the party; and works to keep the majority party united

whips

task is to ensure party discipline in a legislature, and ensure that members of the party vote according to the party platform, rather than according to their own individual ideology or the will of their donors or constituents

house minority leader

the leader of the minority party, whose job mirrors that of the majority leader but without the power that comes from holding a majority in the House of Representatives

Senate Majority Leader

The chief spokesperson of the majority party in the Senate, who directs the legislative program and party strategy.

Senate Minority Leader

The party officer in the Senate who commands the minority party's opposition to the policies of the majority party and directs the legislative program and strategy of his or her party.

oversight of the federal bureaucracy (regulates the committees and subcommittees) and other public officials, budgeting, lawmaking

What are the powers of Congress?

enumerated powers of Congress

establish the number of Supreme Court justice; create levels of the judicial branch below Supreme Court; define and punish felonies; power to call up the military to execute and enforce their laws and repel invasions: create and collect taxes, coin money, borrow money, regulate the value of currency, regulate interstate and foreign commerce, create laws "necessary and proper" to carry out enumerated powers, regulate trade with other nations, declare war, raise and support armies and a naval force

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habeas corpus can't be taken away unless public safety is put into danger

a writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court, especially to secure the person's release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention

can't grant titles of nobility; can't take public money from the treasury without permission; can't tax any state's exports to another state; can't tax any state's exports to another state; pass bills of attainder or ex post facto laws (Congress cannot make a law and then charge somebody who already did it in the past); habeas corpus can't be taken away unless public safety is put into danger; pass bills of attainder or ex post facto laws

What are the powers denied to Congress?

enumerated powers

The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution.

House of Representatives:

The majority and minority parties control legislative scheduling and rules equally.

Senate

Minority party members can threaten to filibuster a bill the majority party wants to pass.

House of Representatives

The Constitution's framers intended it to reflect the will of the people.

Senate

The Constitution's framers designed it to represent the interests of the states.

House of Representatives

Most legislative work takes place in the standing committees.

Senate:

Based on its size, it tends to have stricter rules affecting the legislative process.

House of Representatives

Members serve two-year terms with a term limit of up to twelve years.

Senate

Members serve six-year terms with no term limits.

House of Representatives :

Debate is unlimited.

Senate

Debate is unlimited.

House of Representatives

Members can filibuster.

house

Members cannot filibuster - house or senate

Senate

Members can filibuster.

House of Representatives

Members cannot filibuster.

House of Representatives

Led by the president pro tempore

Senate

Led by the vice president