AP Gov 2.2

Representation & Apportionment

• Constituencies: voters represented by legislators.

• House of Representatives

  • 435 members, 2-year terms, single-member districts (winner-take-all).

  • More responsive to public opinion.

• Senate

  • 100 members, 6-year staggered terms, represent entire states.

  • Unequal representation (e.g., CA vs. WY).

• Apportionment

  • 435 House seats are divided among 50 states.

  • Based on the census every 10 years.

  • States may gain/lose seats; each state is guaranteed at least one.

Speaker of the House: Presiding officer, sets agenda, and assigns bills

Set party

Whips: Count Votes, Enforce party discipline

Committees

Standing Committees: Permanent policy-focused

Selected Committee: Temporary, investigation/issues

Joint Committees: Members from both chambers

Conference Committee: Reconcile House and Senate versions of the bills

House Rules

• Rules Committee: controls debate (open vs. closed rule).

• Discharge Petition: forces bill to the floor without committee approval.

  • Makes the House highly structured, majority party–driven.

Senate Rules

• Filibuster: unlimited debate to block action.

• Cloture: 60 votes to end filibuster.

  • Gives minority party influence, slows policymaking.

• Mandatory Spending: required by law (Social Security, Medicare).

• Discretionary Spending: set annually (defense, education).

• Pork-Barrel Legislation: funds for local projects.

• Logrolling: vote trading to pass legislation.

  • Reflects Congress’s budgeting power (2.1) in practice.