(24) AP Government UNIT 2 REVIEW [Everything You Need to Know!]

Unit 2 Overview: Three Branches of Government

  • Focuses on the:

    • Legislative Branch (Congress)

    • Executive Branch (President)

    • Judicial Branch (Courts)

    • Bureaucracy (often considered the unofficial fourth branch)

I. Legislative Branch (Congress)

A. Structure of Congress

  • Bicameral legislature consisting of:

    • House of Representatives

    • Senate

B. House of Representatives

  • 435 members apportioned by state population

  • Representatives serve two-year terms, ensuring they are closely tied to their constituents.

  • Key Points:

    • More immediate accountability due to shorter terms.

    • Represents smaller districts, leading to a better understanding of local issues.

C. Senate

  • 100 senators, with each state represented by 2 senators.

  • Senators serve six-year terms, potentially resulting in a lesser connection to constituents' immediate concerns.

D. Legislative Process

  • Both houses must agree on identical versions of a bill before it is sent to the president.

  • Coalition building is essential for passing legislation, affected by the difference in term lengths.

    • Senate coalitions tend to be longer-lasting, while House coalitions are more fluid.

E. Powers of Congress

1. Enumerated Powers

  • Clearly defined in Article 1, Section 8, include:

    • Taxation, coining money, declaring war, and military legislation.

2. Implied Powers

  • Powers not explicitly stated but necessary to execute the enumerated powers, justified by the Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause).

  • Example: Establishment of a national bank based on the need to raise revenue.

II. Leadership in Congress

A. House Leadership

  • Speaker of the House: The only constitutionally mandated leader, typically from the majority party.

  • Majority and minority leaders direct debates; whips ensure party discipline.

B. Senate Leadership

  • President of the Senate: Vice President of the U.S.; votes only in case of a tie.

  • President pro tempore: Senior member of the majority party; acts in absence of the Vice President.

  • Senate Majority Leader: Sets legislative agenda; more powerful than the constitutional leaders.

III. Legislative Committees

A. Types of Committees

1. Standing Committees

  • Permanent committees dealing with ongoing issues (e.g., House Judiciary Committee).

2. Joint Committees

  • Composed of members from both houses (e.g., Joint Committee on the Library of Congress).

3. Select Committees

  • Temporary committees for specific purposes (e.g., Watergate Investigation).

4. Conference Committees

  • Resolve discrepancies in bills passed by both houses.

B. Rules and Procedures

  • House Rules: Limited debate time; House Rules Committee controls which bills reach the floor.

  • Senate Rules: Unlimited debate time with options for filibusters; cloture requires a two-thirds vote to close debate.

IV. Bills and Lawmaking Process

A. Lawmaking Steps

  • Introduction, committee assignment, markup, whole group vote, presidential approval.

  • Pork Barrel Spending: Earmarks added to bills for local benefits.

  • Logrolling: Quid pro quo arrangement for votes.

B. Federal Budget

  • Mandatory Spending: Required by law (e.g., Social Security).

  • Discretionary Spending: Allocated based on congressional appropriations.

  • Tension arises when mandatory spending increases, leaving less for discretionary expenses.

V. Factors Affecting Congressional Efficiency

A. Ideological Divisions

  • Political polarization leads to legislative gridlock, especially during divided government.

B. Representative Models

  • Trustee Model: Votes according to personal judgment.

  • Delegate Model: Votes according to constituents' wishes.

  • Politico Model: Combination depending on circumstances.

C. Redistricting and Gerrymandering

  • Apportionment based on the decennial census; controversial practices may skew representation.

  • Key Cases:

    • Baker v. Carr (1962): Established the principle of one person, one vote, ruling unconstitutional disparities.

    • Shaw v. Reno (1993): Limited racial gerrymandering despite its intent to increase minority representation.