Congress Test

1. Four Kinds of Committees

• Standing Committees – Permanent committees that handle specific policy areas (e.g., Armed Services, Agriculture, Judiciary).

• Joint Committees – Composed of members from both the House and Senate to address broad issues (e.g., taxation, economic matters).

• Ad Hoc/Special/Select Committees – Temporary committees created for specific purposes, such as investigations (e.g., Watergate Committee).

• Conference Committees – Formed to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill

2. Functions of Congress

• Lawmaking – Creating and passing legislation.

• Oversight – Monitoring the executive branch and federal agencies.

• Representation – Acting on behalf of constituents.

• Constituent Services – Helping individuals navigate government-related issues.

.Membership & Structure:

• House of Representatives (435 members, based on population)

  • 2-year terms

  • Initiates revenue bills

  • Power to impeach officials

• Senate (100 members, 2 per state)

  • 6-year terms

  • Confirms presidential appointments

  • Ratifies treaties

  • Holds impeachment trials

3. Key Terms

• Pork Barreling – Using government funds for projects to benefit a specific district or state, often to gain political support.

• Gerrymandering – Manipulating district boundaries to benefit a political party.

• Redistricting – Redrawing congressional district boundaries every 10 years after the Census.

• Franking – Free postal service for members of Congress to communicate with constituents.

• Casework – Assistance provided by lawmakers to individual constituents (e.g., helping with social security issues).

• Logrolling – Lawmakers exchanging votes to support each other's legislation.

• Incumbency – Holding a political office while seeking reelection; incumbents have advantages such as name recognition and fundraising.

• Constituents – The people politicians represent in their districts or states.

• Divided Government – When different political parties control the presidency and one or both houses of Congress.

• Impeachment – The House initiates impeachment with a majority vote; the Senate conducts the trial and votes on removal (requires a two-thirds majority).

4. Leadership Positions in Each House

House of Representatives:

• Speaker of the House – Most powerful position, controls legislative agenda, appoints committee members.

• Majority/Minority Leaders – Guide party strategy and manage debates.

• Majority/Minority Whips – Ensure party members vote in line with party positions.

Senate:

• Vice President – Official leader, but only votes in case of a tie.

• President Pro Tempore – Senior-most member of the majority party; presides over the Senate in the VP’s absence.

• Majority/Minority Leaders – Lead party strategy and negotiations.

• Majority/Minority Whips – Assist leaders and rally votes.

5. The Committee System

• Selection – Party leaders assign members; seniority often determines chair positions.

• Purpose – Allows Congress to divide work, hold hearings, draft legislation, and oversee the executive branch.

• Types of Committees:

  • Appropriations – Handles government spending.

  • Ways and Means – Deals with tax policy.

  • Judiciary – Oversees legal and judicial matters.

6. The Three Theories of Representation

1. Trustee Model – Representatives use their own judgment to make decisions.

2. Delegate Model – Representatives strictly follow the wishes of their constituents.

3. Politico Model – A mix of trustee and delegate models, depending on the issue.

1. Incumbency Advantage

Incumbents (current officeholders) have several advantages in elections, including:

1. Name Recognition – Voters are more familiar with incumbents.

2. Franking Privilege – Free mail to constituents allows direct communication.

3. Access to Media & Publicity – Incumbents get more coverage and can promote their achievements.

4. Casework & Constituent Services – Helping voters with government issues builds goodwill.

5. Fundraising Advantage – Incumbents attract more donations due to their established political connections.

6. Pork-Barrel Projects – Securing government funds for local projects helps gain voter support.

7. Gerrymandering – Favorable district lines can secure a seat for a party or incumbent.

2. Three Ways to Negatively Impact Reelection Chances

1. Scandals & Corruption – Personal or political scandals can ruin trust and credibility.

2. National or Local Political Shifts – A strong wave election against a party can lead to incumbent losses.

3. Poor Legislative Record or Disconnection from Constituents – If voters feel ignored or that their representative is ineffective, they may vote for a challenger.

3. How a Bill Becomes a Law

1. Introduction – A bill is introduced in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee & Subcommittee Review:

   • Committee & Subcommittee Hearings – Experts, officials, and the public provide input.

   • Markup – Changes or edits are made to the bill.

   • Vote in Committee – If approved, it moves forward.

3. House Rules Committee (for House Bills) – Determines how and when the bill will be debated.

4. Floor Debate:

   • Filibuster (Senate Only) – Delaying tactic where senators talk indefinitely to prevent a vote.

   • Cloture (Senate Only) – 60 votes required to end a filibuster.

   • Hold (Senate Only) – A senator can place a temporary block on a bill.

5. Voting – If a majority in both chambers approve, the bill moves forward.

6. Conference Committee – Resolves differences between House and Senate versions of the bill.

7. Final Approval by House & Senate – The revised bill must be passed again.

8. President’s Action:

   • Sign into Law – Bill becomes law.

   • Veto – Bill is rejected; Congress can override with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

   • Pocket Veto – If the president ignores the bill and Congress adjourns within 10 days, the bill dies.

4. Two Key Factors for Winning a Congressional Election

1. Name Recognition & Incumbency – Incumbents have a strong advantage due to experience and visibility.

2. Money & Fundraising – Campaigns require significant financial resources for advertising, staffing, and voter outreach.

5. Congressional Oversight & Review

• Congressional Oversight – The monitoring of executive agencies, departments, and policies to ensure accountability (e.g., investigations, hearings).

• Congressional Review – Congress has the power to nullify executive regulations through the Congressional Review Act.

6. Differences Between the House & Senate

7. House Rules Committee

• Sets the terms of debate for bills in the House (e.g., time limits, amendment rules).

• Controls legislative agenda, determining which bills get priority.

• Significance: The committee gives the majority party significant power in shaping legislation and controlling the flow of bills to the floor.