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2.1-2.3 ap gov test > 2.2 > Flashcards

2.2 Flashcards

1
Q

What is the largest category of mandatory spending in the budget?

A

Healthcare

Healthcare spending is the largest mandatory spending category, followed closely by Social Security.

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2
Q

Which category follows healthcare as the largest mandatory spending?

A

Social Security

Social Security is the second-largest mandatory spending category.

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3
Q

What percentage of the budget is allocated to interest payments on the national debt?

A

8%

Interest payments on the national debt account for 8% of the total budget.

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4
Q

What percentage of the budget was discretionary spending in 2019?

A

38%

Discretionary spending constituted 38% of the budget in 2019.

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5
Q

What is the largest component of discretionary spending?

A

Defense

Defense spending makes up about half of the discretionary spending.

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6
Q

List three categories included in discretionary spending.

A
  • National Parks
  • Transportation
  • Education

Discretionary spending also includes science, space, and agriculture among other categories.

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7
Q

What is the main difference between the structures and powers of the Senate and House of Congress?

A

They are different by design, which directly affects the legislative process.

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8
Q

How do chamber-specific rules and procedures affect the legislative process?

A

They influence the way legislation is introduced, debated, and voted upon.

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9
Q

Who is elected by a majority of members to preside over the legislative work in the House of Representatives?

A

The Speaker of the House.

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10
Q

What are some responsibilities of the Speaker of the House?

A
  • Administering the oath of office to members
  • Giving members permission to speak on the House floor
  • Counting and declaring all votes
  • Appointing members to committees
  • Sending bills to committees
  • Signing bills and resolutions that pass in the House
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11
Q

In the line of presidential succession, where does the Speaker of the House rank?

A

Second, behind the Vice President.

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12
Q

True or False: The Speaker of the House has no responsibilities towards their district while serving.

A

False.

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13
Q

Fill in the blank: The Speaker of the House has all the duties of other _______.

A

members of the House.

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14
Q

What is the role of the Speaker of the House of Representatives?

A

The Speaker does not serve on committees or participate in floor debate.

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15
Q

Where must all revenue bills originate?

A

All revenue bills must originate in the House of Representatives.

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16
Q

What is the responsibility of the Ways and Means Committee in the House?

A

Raising the revenue required to finance the Federal Government.

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17
Q

What types of taxes does the Ways and Means Committee oversee?

A
  • Individual income taxes
  • Corporate income taxes
  • Excise taxes
  • Estate taxes
  • Gift taxes
  • Miscellaneous taxes
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18
Q

Who establishes the rules for debate in the House on a bill?

A

The Rules Committee.

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19
Q

What is the function of the Rules Committee?

A

To review most bills after they come from the full committee and before they go to the full chamber for consideration.

20
Q

What is a Committee of the Whole?

A

A way to move legislation through to the House floor for a vote quickly.

21
Q

What is the quorum requirement for the Committee of the Whole?

A

Only 100 members.

22
Q

What is a discharge petition?

A

A device by which any member of the House may ask to have a bill brought to the floor after it has been in committee for 30 days.

23
Q

True or False: A discharge petition is frequently used in the House.

A

False.

24
Q

How are bills typically brought to the floor in the Senate?

A

By unanimous consent.

25
Q

What tactic can a Senator use to prolong debate on a bill?

A

Filibuster.

26
Q

What is a motion for cloture?

A

A procedure to end a debate.

27
Q

What is the purpose of a conference committee?

A

To reconcile differences in wording of a bill passed by both chambers.

28
Q

How is leadership in committees determined?

A

By the majority political party.

29
Q

What is pork-barrel legislation?

A

Funding for a local project in a larger appropriation bill.

30
Q

What is logrolling?

A

Combining several pieces of legislation into one bill to secure enough votes for passage.

31
Q

What must Congress generate a budget for?

A

Both mandatory and discretionary spending.

32
Q

What is mandatory spending?

A

Required by law for entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

33
Q

What is discretionary spending?

A

Approved on an annual basis for defense spending, education, and infrastructure

Discretionary spending is subject to annual appropriations and can vary from year to year.

34
Q

What happens to discretionary spending opportunities as entitlement costs grow?

A

Decrease unless tax revenues increase, or the budget deficit increases

Entitlement costs such as Social Security and Medicare can consume a larger portion of the budget.

35
Q

Who is responsible for breaking ties in the Senate?

A

President of the Senate (Vice President)

The Vice President has the constitutional role to cast tie-breaking votes.

36
Q

What are standing committees?

A

Permanent committees in both chambers that promote expertise in a broad topic

Assigned by the Speaker of the House or Majority Leader in the Senate upon request.

37
Q

What is the function of the Rules Committee in the House of Representatives?

A

Manages the flow of legislation and sets the terms for debate

The Rules Committee plays a crucial role in determining how and when bills are debated.

38
Q

What is a rider on a bill?

A

An additional provision added to a bill, which may or may not have much connection with the subject matter

Riders can be used to attach unpopular provisions to popular legislation.

39
Q

What is an omnibus spending bill?

A

A type of bill that packages many smaller appropriations bills into one larger bill

This allows for a single vote in each house of Congress, simplifying the legislative process.

40
Q

Define earmarks in the context of congressional spending.

A

Small grants to programs and projects in congressional districts

Earmarks are often controversial and seen as a way to direct funds to specific local projects.

41
Q

What is pork barrel spending?

A

Government spending for localized projects secured to direct spending to a representative’s district

This term is often used pejoratively to describe wasteful government spending.

42
Q

What does logrolling refer to in legislative terms?

A

The trading of favors or quid pro quo, such as vote trading

Logrolling is often used to gain support for legislation by promising votes on other issues.

43
Q

What is the primary source of revenue for the federal government?

A

Income taxes

Income taxes account for the largest share of federal revenue.

44
Q

What was the national debt as of the latest data?

A

$32 trillion

The national debt has increased significantly over the years, especially since the Clinton administration.

45
Q

What are the two types of expenditures in the federal budget?

A
  1. Mandatory Spending
  2. Discretionary Spending

Mandatory spending includes entitlement programs that are required by law.

46
Q

What percentage of the budget did mandatory spending represent in 2019?

A

62%

This highlights the significant portion of the budget allocated to mandatory spending programs.

47
Q

List three examples of mandatory spending programs.

A
  • Social Security
  • Medicare
  • Medicaid

These programs are designed to provide financial support to eligible individuals.

2.1-2.3 ap gov test (3 decks)

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