Unit 2: Congress
Simplified Definitions for Concept Map Terms
Legislative Branch: The part of government that makes laws.
Bicameral Congress: A two-chamber legislature (House and Senate).
House of Representatives: The lower chamber of Congress with 435 members, elected based on state population.
Senate: The upper chamber of Congress with 100 members, two from each state.
Bills and Impeachment: Bills are proposed laws; impeachment is charging a government official with misconduct.
Powers of Congress (Article I, Section 8): Specific powers granted to Congress, such as taxation and declaring war.
Congressional Demographics: Statistics about members of Congress, including age and ethnicity.
119th Congress Breakdown: Composition and statistics regarding the 119th U.S. Congress.
Total Members (535: 435 HOR, 100 Senate): Total voting members in Congress (435 House, 100 Senate).
Incumbency Significance: Advantages of current officeholders in elections.
Congressional Leadership: Key roles that manage legislative activities.
Speaker of the House: The leader of the House who maintains order and presides over sessions.
President Pro Tempore: A senior Senate member who presides in the Vice President's absence.
Majority and Minority Leaders: Leaders of the majority and minority parties in Congress.
Whips: Party officials who ensure party discipline and vote mobilization.
Majority Party Advantages: Benefits of the party with the most seats in Congress.
Divided Government: When the presidency and Congress are controlled by different parties.
Committee System: Organization of Congress into groups that handle specific issues.
Types of Committees: Different types of committees in Congress include:
Standing Committees: Permanent committees for specific topics.
Subcommittees: Smaller units within standing committees.
Special/Select Committees: Temporary committees for specific tasks.
Joint Committees: Committees with members from both chambers.
Conference Committees: Committees to resolve House and Senate differences on bills.
Key Committees: Important committees like Appropriations, Ways and Means, Foreign Relations, and the Rules Committee.
Redistricting: The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries.
Definition and Significance: Explaining the importance of terms in political processes.
Reapportionment: Redistributing House seats based on population changes.
Gerrymandering: Manipulating district boundaries to favor a party.
Key Supreme Court Cases: Important court rulings affecting Congress and elections.
Baker V. Carr (1962): A Supreme Court case that established fair representation in elections.