AP Gov Unit 3

I'm cooked

Qualifications for the House of Representatives

At least $25$ years old, a U.S. citizen for at least $7$ years, and must reside in the state represented.

Qualifications for the Senate

At least $30$ years old, a U.S. citizen for at least $9$ years, and must reside in the state represented.

McCulloch v. Maryland ($1819$)

Established the principle of implied powers under the Necessary and Proper Clause and confirmed federal supremacy over states.

Incumbent

An official currently holding office who is running for re-election.

Incumbent Advantages: Money

Incumbents raise significantly more campaign funds than challengers due to established donor networks.

Incumbent Advantages: PACs

Political Action Committees are much more likely to donate to incumbents who already hold power and committee seats.

Franking Privilege

The right of members of Congress to send official mail to constituents for free using their signature instead of postage.

Travel Allowance

Government-provided funds that allow members of Congress to travel back and forth between D.C. and their home district/state.

Casework

Direct assistance provided by a member of Congress to individual constituents resolving bureaucratic problems (e.g., lost passport, VA benefits).

Pork Barrel Spending

Federal funds secured by a representative for local projects that benefit their specific district or state.

Incumbent Advantages: Name Recognition

Incumbents are already well-known to voters through media coverage, past campaign ads, and official activities.

Log-rolling

Trading of favors or votes between legislators to pass mutually beneficial legislation ("I'll vote for your bill if you vote for mine").

Safe District vs. Marginal District

A Safe District is one where the incumbent or winning party wins with $55\%$ or more of the vote; a Marginal District is won with less than $55\%$.

Why does incumbency help House members more than Senators?

Senate elections cover entire states with broader, more diverse populations, and Senate challengers are usually higher profile, better funded, and have greater experience.

Location of Congressional Powers in the Constitution

Article I, Section $8$ of the U.S. Constitution.

Standing Committee

Permanent committees in Congress that handle specific policy areas (e.g., House Ways and Means) and review bills.

Conference Committee

A temporary joint committee formed to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of the same bill before sending it to the President.

Select Committee

A temporary committee created for a specific, limited purpose or investigation (e.g., investigating a scandal or crisis).

Joint Committee

A committee composed of members from both the House and Senate used primarily for study or administrative oversight.

Seniority System

The practice where the majority party member who has served the longest on a committee becomes the committee chair.

Iron Triangles

The three-way alliance among Congressional committees, executive agencies (bureaucracy), and interest groups to create public policy.

House Rules Committee

The powerful committee in the House of Representatives that sets rules, time limits, and amendment conditions for floor debate on a bill.

Open Rule

A procedural rule set by the House Rules Committee that permits floor amendments to a bill during debate.

Closed Rule

A procedural rule set by the House Rules Committee that prohibits any floor amendments to a bill during debate.

Rider

An unrelated amendment or provision attached to a popular bill in the Senate so it can piggyback its way into law.

Filibuster

A Senate tactic where a senator delays or prevents a vote on a bill by speaking indefinitely on the floor.

Cloture

A Senate procedure used to end a filibuster and force a vote, requiring a $\frac{3}{5}$ majority vote ($60$ votes).

Party Polarization

The growing ideological gap between political parties, where Democrats and Republicans consistently vote against each other.

Congressional Caucuses

An informal group or association of members of Congress created to advocate a political ideology, regional issue, or common interest.

Voting Rights Act of $1965$

Federal legislation designed to enforce the $15\text{th}$ Amendment, eliminating literacy tests and placing federal oversight on discriminatory state voting laws.

Gridlock

A situation where legislative action comes to a standstill because political parties are unable or unwilling to compromise.

Speaker of the House

The constitutionally required leader of the House of Representatives, chosen by the majority party, third in line for the presidency.

Majority Leader

The elected head of the party holding the majority of seats in the House or Senate who manages legislative schedules and party strategy.

Minority Leader

The elected head of the party holding the minority of seats in the House or Senate who coordinates opposition strategy.

Whips

Party officials in Congress responsible for counting votes, maintaining party discipline, and encouraging members to vote with party leadership.

President Pro Tempore

The senior member of the majority party in the Senate who presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President.

Congressional Oversight

The power of Congress to monitor, review, and supervise executive agencies, programs, and policy implementation.

How a Bill Becomes a Law: Step $1$ (Introduction)

A bill is introduced by a member of the House or Senate and assigned a number and a committee.

How a Bill Becomes a Law: Step $2$ (Committee Action)

The bill is referred to a subcommittee/committee for hearings, revisions, and a vote to report it to the full chamber.

How a Bill Becomes a Law: Step $3$ (Floor Action)

The full House or Senate debates the bill, considers amendments, and votes; in the House, it must first pass through the Rules Committee.

How a Bill Becomes a Law: Step $4$ (Conference Committee)

Members of both chambers iron out differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill to create a single compromised version.

How a Bill Becomes a Law: Step $5$ (Presidential Action)

The President signs the bill into law or vetoes it; Congress can override a veto with a $\frac{2}{3}$ vote in both chambers.

Reapportionment

The reallocation of the $435$ seats in the House of Representatives among states based on population changes recorded in the decennial census.

Reapportionment Act of $1929$

Established a permanent cap of $435$ seats on the House of Representatives, redistributed after each $10$-year census.

Malapportionment

BAD ("mal") distribution of legislative seat populations resulting in districts of unequal size, violating the principle of equal representation.

Gerrymandering

Redrawing congressional district boundaries to give a distinct political advantage to a specific political party or group.

Cracking

Spreading opposing party voters across many districts to dilute their voting power so they cannot win a majority in any district.

Packing

Concentrating opposing party voters into a single district to minimize their voting influence across surrounding districts.

Baker v. Carr ($1962$)

Established that federal courts have jurisdiction over state redistricting disputes and established the principle of 'one person, one vote'.

Shaw v. Reno ($1993$)

Ruled that race cannot be the predominant factor