Govpol L&E part 1

Qualifications for House

25 yrs old, citizen 7 yrs, resident of state

Qualifications for Senate

30 yrs old, citizen 9 yrs, resident of state

Term length (House)

2 years

Term length (Senate)

6 years (⅓ elected every 2 yrs)

Impeachment Role (House)

Sole power to impeach (bring charges)

Impeachment Role (Senate)

Conduct trial, convict/remove (⅔ vote required)

Enumerated Powers

Explicitly listed in Constitution: tax, coin money, regulate commerce, declare war

Implied Powers

Not listed, but necessary to execute enumerated powers; from Necessary & Proper Clause

Power of Purse

Congress authority to tax & spend public money

Special Powers of Senate

Confirm appointments, ratify treaties, impeachment trials

Special Powers of House

Initiate revenue bills, impeach officials

Leadership (House)

Speaker of House, Majority/Minority Leaders, Whips

Leadership (Senate)

Vice President (Senate President), President Pro Tempore, Majority/Minority Leaders

Types of Committees

Standing (permanent), Select/Special (temporary), Joint (both chambers), Conference (resolve bill differences)

Powerful Committees (examples)

House: Ways & Means; Senate: Finance (taxation/revenue)

Caucuses in Congress

Groups sharing interests/identity (e.g., Congressional Black Caucus)

17th Amendment

Direct election of Senators by popular vote (not by state legislatures)

Role of Census

Decennial census counts population for equal district representation

Reapportionment

Redistribution of House seats among states based on census

Redistricting

Redrawing district boundaries due to population changes

Gerrymandering

Manipulating districts to favor party/group

Safe Seats

Seats consistently won by one party (often from gerrymandering)

Packing & Cracking

Gerrymandering: Pack (concentrate voters), Crack (spread voters thin)

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Established "one person, one vote"; redistricting issues justiciable

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Racial gerrymandering violates Equal Protection Clause (14th Amendment)

Partisan vs Racial Gerrymandering

Partisan favors political parties; Racial targets race, unconstitutional

14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause

Prevents states from denying equal protection under law; basis for anti-gerrymandering rulings

Voting Rights Act/Preclearance

(1965) End voting discrimination; preclearance (fed approval) for some states (nullified Shelby v. Holder 2013)

Bill to Law Process

Intro → committee review → debate/vote (House & Senate) → President signs/vetoes; bill can die anytime

House Rules Committee

Determines debate rules for bills in House; powerful gatekeeper role

Filibuster

Senate tactic; senator speaks indefinitely to delay/block vote

Cloture

Procedure to end filibuster; requires 60 votes (⅗ Senate)

Omnibus Bill/Christmas Tree Bill

Large bill including unrelated amendments/provisions

Germane vs Non-Germane Amendments

Germane related to bill topic; Non-Germane unrelated (often riders)

Pork Barrel/Earmark

Gov't spending for localized district/state projects to please constituents

Riders vs Amendments

Riders: non-germane amendments added onto bills; Amendments generally relevant

Delegate

Rep votes according to constituents' preferences

Trustee

Rep votes based on personal judgment

Politico

Rep balances delegate/trustee role depending on issue

Partisan

Rep votes in alignment with party interests

Veto

Presidential rejection of bill from Congress

Pocket Veto

Indirect veto by President not signing bill within 10 days if Congress adjourns

Override

Congress overturns veto with ⅔ majority in both chambers