Congress

AP Government and Politics

Congressional Caucuses

Informal groups of Congress members with shared interests or policy goals.

Purpose of Congressional Caucuses

Allow members to strategize, coordinate legislation, and advocate for issues.

Examples of Congressional Caucuses

Congressional Black Caucus, Freedom Caucus, Blue Dog Coalition.

Filibuster

A Senate tactic used to delay or block a vote by speaking for an extended period.

Cloture Motion

A vote to end a filibuster.

Votes Needed for Cloture Motion

Three-fifths (60 out of 100) votes.

Importance of Committees in Congress

Divide workload, hold hearings, refine bills.

Major Roles of Committees

Investigating, drafting legislation, oversight.

Type of Committee Carrying Out These Roles

Standing Committees.

Examples of Important Standing Committees

Appropriations, Judiciary, Ways and Means.

Committee of the Whole

A House committee including all members that debates bills faster with looser rules.

Significance of Committee of the Whole

Speeds up legislation while allowing more participation.

House Rules Committee

Sets debate rules, schedules bills for voting, controls legislative process.

Factors in Selecting Committee Chairs

Seniority, loyalty to party leadership, experience, fundraising ability.

Conference Committees

Resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

Who Determines Congressional District Boundaries

State legislatures.

How Often Congressional District Boundaries Can Change

Every 10 years (after the Census).

Constituent Services

Assistance provided by members of Congress to their constituents.

Examples of Constituent Services

Helping with federal agencies, securing grants, military academy nominations.

Year Direct Election of Senators Began

1913.

Constitutional Change Allowing Direct Election of Senators

17th Amendment.

Franking Privilege

Allows Congress members to send mail to constituents for free.

Effect of Franking Privilege

Increases incumbents’ visibility and re-election chances.

Gerrymandering

Manipulating district boundaries to favor a party.

Example of Gerrymandering

Drawing a district to cluster opposition voters into one area.

Incumbency Advantage

Incumbents have advantages like name recognition, fundraising, casework, gerrymandering.

Founders' Intent for Legislative Process

Deliberate and slow lawmaking to prevent tyranny.

Examples of Founders' Legislative Structures

Bicameralism, checks and balances, separation of powers.

Shaw v. Reno (1993) Issue

Racial gerrymandering.

Shaw v. Reno (1993) Holding

Race-based districting must meet strict scrutiny.

Pork Barrel Spending

Government spending on local projects to gain political support.

Pros of Pork Barrel Spending

Helps districts, funds needed projects.

Cons of Pork Barrel Spending

Can lead to wasteful spending.

Example of Pork Spending

Funding for a new highway in a representative’s district.

Presiding Officer of the House

Speaker of the House.

Presiding Officer of the Senate

Vice President.

Senate Presiding Officer When VP is Absent

President Pro Tempore.

House vs. Senate Rules

House has strict, time-limited debate; Senate has flexible debate, allowing filibusters.

Main Reason for House-Senate Rule Differences

House has more members, needs efficiency.

House-Senate Procedural Differences

House: Rules Committee sets rules; Senate: No limit on debate, uses unanimous consent.

Standing Committees

Permanent committees that focus on specific policy areas.

Importance of Standing Committees

Draft, review, and oversee bills.

Examples of Standing Committees

Judiciary, Ways and Means.

Official Name for a Two-House Legislature

Bicameral legislature.

Best Predictor of Congressional Votes

Party affiliation.

Congressional Whip

Party leader ensuring members vote in line with party goals.

Duties of a Congressional Whip

Gather votes, enforce party discipline.

Fate of Most Bills in Congress

Most die in committee.

Three Main Jobs of Congress

Legislation, oversight, representation.

Earmarks (Programmatic Requests)

Specific funds directed to a particular project in a bill.

Logrolling

Legislators trading votes to pass each other’s bills.

Senatorial Courtesy

Senators influence judicial appointments in their state.

Riders

Unrelated provisions added to bills to secure passage.

Baker v. Carr (1961) Issue

Unequal district sizes violated equal representation.

Baker v. Carr (1961) Holding

Courts can intervene in redistricting cases.

House Representation

Based on population.

Senate Representation

Two per state.

Term Length for U.S. Representative

2 years.

Term Length for U.S. Senator

6 years.

Exclusive Powers of Congress

Declare war, tax, regulate commerce, coin money.

Divided Government

One party controls Congress, the other controls the presidency.

Effect of Divided Government

Gridlock, slow legislation.

Trustee Representation

Legislators vote based on personal judgment.

Delegate Representation

Legislators vote based on constituents’ wishes.

Politico Representation

Mix of trustee and delegate approaches.

Key Actions Within Subcommittees

Hearings, research, markups.

Key Actions Within Committees

Amending bills, voting, oversight.

Unanimous Consent

Senate agreement to skip debate and pass a measure quickly.

Hold

Senator’s request to delay a bill or nomination.

Mandatory Spending

Spending required by law.

Examples of Mandatory Spending

Social Security, Medicare.

Discretionary Spending

Optional government spending.

Examples of Discretionary Spending

Defense, education.

Causes of Increased Mandatory Spending

Aging population, rising healthcare costs.

Congressional Solutions for Rising Mandatory Costs

Raise taxes, cut benefits.

Key Activities in Congressional Oversight

Hearings, investigations, budget reviews.