US Government and Politics: Chapter 4 Congress

How did framers make Congress?

powerful enough to govern and check executive branch; too weak to become tyrannical

How many constituents does the House have in each district?

711,000

True or False?

The senate is elite and not subject to the whims of mass politics

How often do we elect House representatives?

2 years

How often de we elect Senators?

Every 2 years we elect 1/3; they serve 6 year terms

Who originally elected Senators?

state legislators

Who elects Senators now?

people; 17th Amendment in 1913

Factors of incumbency?

name recognition; redistricting; casework; media coverage; campaign money; franking (free mail)

incumbency rates in 2014?

95% House and 88% Senate

when is gerrymandering illegal?

when it eliminates the minority party (SC 1986)

What is another name for the necessary and proper clause?

elastic clause

Where does the Senate derive its power from?

Supreme Court decisions, media, and people

True or false?

Policy making is often at odds with representation

Trustee model?

legislators vote with conscience

Instructed delegate model?

legislators vote with constituents’ views

pork barrel?

funds for special projects in a district

earmarks?

designation for a specific expenditure in a spending bill

casework?

personal aid to constituents

ombudsperson?

a representative that is an advocate for a citizen

True or False

policymaking is Congress’s main role

oversight?

Congress checks executive branch

Forms of oversight?

Congressional hearings; confirmation; investigations; budget appropriation

True or False

agenda setting and civic engagement are related

Ture or False

Congress often manages societal conflict

Who has responsibility of revenue bills?

House

Who has advise and consent power of presidential appointments?

Senate

Who ratifies treaties?

Senate

Who has a more formal legislative process?

House

How does a bill become a law?

1. introduced

2. Committee

3. House+Senate approve

4. Conference committee reconciles

5. President approves

Hopper?

House

True or False

Most bills die in committee

How are committees chosen?

seniority

Standing committee?

permanent; 21 in House and 20 in Senate

Subcommittee?

specific area; 104 in House and 70 in Senate

Select committee?

specific policy

Joint committee?

both chambers

Rules committee

decides debate in House

4 steps in committee

1. agency review

2. hearings

3. markup

4. report

discharge?

pulls bill from committee to House

unanimous consent

Senate decides rules of debate

Cloture?

60 Senators vote to end filibuster

Nuclear option?

presiding officer of Senate goes to simple majority vote (no filibusters)

How many votes of Congress to override Presidential veto?

2/3

Who elects president pro tempore? (senate leader)

majority party of senate

When did partisanship increase in Congress

after Watergate in 1970s and congressional elections in 1994

logrolling?

trading votes

Interest groups influence Congress by:

• influencing campaigns

• providing information to Congress

• lobbying