Unit 2 Review AP GOV

Unit 2 Review Part 1 - THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Congress: The Senate and the House of Representatives (Article I of the Constitution)

  • Congress Chart

    • Chamber Size:

      • House of Representatives: 435 members

      • Senate: 100 members

    • Qualifications:

      • House: 25 years old, citizen for 7 years, resident of the state

      • Senate: 30 years old, citizen for 9 years, resident of the state

    • Representation:

      • House: Based on population

      • Senate: Equal representation (2 per state)

    • Leadership:

      • House: Speaker of the House

      • Senate: Vice President and President pro tempore

    • Term Length:

      • House: 2 years

      • Senate: 6 years

    • Framers Intent: Ensure representation of both the populace and states equally.

    • Debate: More structured in the House than in the Senate.

    • Advise and Consent: The Senate’s power to approve presidential appointments and treaties.

    • Powers/Area of Specialization: House specializes in revenue legislation, Senate in treaties and appointments.

Reapportionment and Redistricting

  • Reapportionment: The process of reallocating seats in the House based on population changes; occurs every 10 years following the census.

  • Redistricting: The process of redrawing district boundaries; typically managed by state legislatures and happens every 10 years after the census.

  • Gerrymandering: The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party over another.

  • Impact on Elections: Can dilute the voting power of opposition parties and entrench incumbents.

Chamber Size and Debate Formality

  • Differences in Chamber Sizes and Constituencies:

    • House’s larger size leads to stricter rules and less personal debate.

    • Senate allows for more extensive debate and extended speeches (filibuster).

Coalitions and Term Length

  • Influence of Term Lengths:

    • Shorter terms in the House lead to more frequent electoral pressures and can encourage the formation of coalitions.

Specialization in the Senate

  • Senate Specialization: Known for its focus on foreign policy, treaties, and confirmations.

Enumerated Powers of Congress

  • Three Key Powers (Article I, Section 8):

    • Taxation: The power to collect taxes.

    • Regulate Commerce: Control over interstate and international trade.

    • Declare War: Authority to announce war and determine military regulations.

  • Necessary and Proper Clause: Expands Congress's power to enact laws beyond enumerated powers, fostering flexibility in governance.

Structures, Powers, and Functions of Congress

Policymaking Process

  • Bill to Law Process: Steps include introduction, committee review, debate, voting in both chambers, and presidential approval.

  • Impact of House and Senate Differences:

    • House has stricter rules; Senate allows for more debate and requires 60 votes to overcome a filibuster.

  • Committee Roles:

    • Committees review proposed legislation, hold hearings, and conduct oversight of executive agencies.

Types of Committees

  • Standing Committee: Permanent committee that meets regularly (e.g., Appropriations).

  • Select Committee: Created for a specific purpose (e.g., Watergate investigation).

  • Conference Committee: Resolves differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

  • Joint Committee: Includes members from both House and Senate for specific issues (e.g., Economic Committee).

Chamber Procedures

  • Speaker of the House: Leader of the House, influences legislative agenda.

  • President of the Senate: Vice President, primarily votes in case of a tie.

  • Filibuster: A tactic in the Senate to extend debate and delay proceedings.

  • Cloture: A procedure to end a filibuster with a 60-vote majority.

  • Hold: A request to delay a bill from going to the floor for a vote.

  • Unanimous Consent: Agreement among all senators to expedite proceedings.

  • Rules Committee: Determines the rules of debate in the House.

  • Committee of the Whole: A procedure allowing the House to operate with a quorum of less than 218 members.

Federal Budget and Spending

Federal Budget Role

  • Congress's Role: Drafting, negotiating, and passing the federal budget.

  • Discretionary Spending: Optional spending set by annual appropriations (e.g., defense spending).

  • Mandatory Spending: Required spending (e.g., Social Security) not subject to annual budgets.

  • Entitlement Spending: Government programs providing benefits to qualifying individuals (e.g., Medicare).

  • Budget Deficit: Occurs when spending exceeds revenue. Cutting taxes may worsen a deficit by reducing government income.