Legislative and Executive Branch Test
12th Amendment- Electors cast one vote for president and one vote for vice president. If no candidate wins a majority for president, the House of Representatives chooses from the top three candidates with each state casting one vote.
20th Amendment- President and vice president’s term start and end at noon on January 20th. Congress starts and ends at noon on January 3rd. Congressional sessions must happen annually, starting on January 3rd. If the elected president died between election day and January 20th, then the vice president elect serves as president.
22nd Amendment- limits president to 2 terms or up to 10 years in the presidency.
25th Amendment- The vice president is second in line to the presidency. If the vice presidency is empty, then the president can fill the position with a simple majority from both houses. The president can temporarily transfer power to the vice president by declaring in writing that they are unable to perform their duties. If the vice president and a majority of the cabinet send a written note to Congress that the president cannot complete his job functions, then the vice president would serve as the president. If the president sends a notice that he can perform his duties, then he can serve his role again.
Cabinet- advise the President on any subject relating to the duties of their respective executive departments
Census- the calculation of the number of people in the US who live in a given area, used when redistricting congressional seats and allocating federal funds.
Electoral College – Electors- people chosen to vote officially for the president on behalf of their state, chosen by political parties at state conventions. The electors are divided up based on population and have two electors for senate.
Maine-Nebraska- They have split electoral votes and some go to the state wide winner while others go based on the Congressional districts.
Winner-take-all- used by most states, candidate who gets the popular vote gets all electoral votes even if they only won by a small margin.
Formal powers- designated electors formally elect the U.S. President and Vice President. Their specific powers are limited to meeting in their respective states, casting ballots for president and vice president, and certifying these votes to Congress
Gerrymandering- the practice of redrawing districts so that one party can win more elections by organizing voters in a strategic way.
How a bill becomes a law –
Chamber- legislative body in the US Congress, either House of Representatives or Senate
Cloture- procedure to end debate and take a vote, overcomes a fillbuster
Committee- most powerful part of the process and where most bills die
Conference committee- when members of both chambers meet to create one final version if opinions differ.
Filibuster- action designed to prolong debate and delay or prevent a vote on a bill, typically by a single senator
Rules committee- determines terms of debate: how long, what amendments are allowed, when vote happens
Simple majority- voting requirement in which proposition is passed if more than half of the votes cast are in favor of it
Sponsor- members how add their names to show support, the more the more likely to pass
Steps- writing and submitting, committee hearings, floor debate and vote, presidential action
House v Senate –
House- 435 voting members, two year terms, stricter rules for debate, originates revenue bills and has the power of impeachment
Senate- 100 members 2 from each state, six year terms, allows for more extended debate, provides advice and consent on treaties and appointments, holds impeachment trials
Informal powers- powers not explicitly written in the Constitution, but that are executed by the president: issuing executive orders, negotiating executive agreements with foreign heads of state, issuing signing statements upon signing a bill, using the bully pulpit to influence public opinion and congress
Leadership in the House –
Speaker of the House: presiding officer and de facto leader of the majority party
Majority Leader- floor leader for majority party
Minority Leader- floor leader for the minority party
Whips- assistants to the floor leaders responsible for party discipline and mobilizing votes
Leadership in the Senate –
Vice President: official president of the senate (casts tie breaking votes)
President Pro Tempore: presides over the Senate in the VP’s absence (usually the most senior member of the majority party)
Majority Leader: the most powerful position in the Senate; the floor leader for the majority party
Minority leader: floor leader for the minority party
Whips: assistants to the floor leaders, responsible for party discpline ad mobilizing votes
Terms of officials-
Representatives: two year terms'
Senators: six year terms
President: four year terms (limited to two terms by 22nd amendment)
Supreme Court Justices: serve during good behavior, typically for life
Who’s Included- Individuals in the government-
Legislative: Senators and Representatives (Congress members) and their staff
Executive: President, Vice President, cabinet members, and members of the various federal departments and agencies
Judicial: federal judges, supreme court justices, and staff