Ap Gov Flashcards
Baker v Carr
-1962
- Facts: Tennessee hadn’t redrawn districts, making them unequally representing people
- issue: did the supreme court have jurisdiction over the question of legislative apportionment?
- Baker won; All citizens were not protected against the 14th amendment
In equal protection law, the supreme court has the authority to rule on ?’s legislative apportionment
Shaw v Reno
- 1993
- Facts; Racial gerrymandering, Carolina sending gerrymandering plans that were based on race
- Shaw Won
- Decision; separating voters into different districts based on race is not right,
- Equal protection Law; was violated due to the 14th amendment
Discretionary and entitlement spending
- Entitlement programs are mandatory spending, benefits to ppl who qualify by law
- Social security
- medicare - Mandatory spending is the amount left for Discretionary spending
- Discretionary spending; spending for programs @ discretion of congress and pres. Changes no constant
Conference Committee
- Members of both champer sit
- When there are differences between the house and senate versions of the bill
Standing Committees
- Permanent, divided by policy area
- where the most work gets done
Select committees
- Temporary and normal for investigations
Gerrymandering
- Redistricting to benefit a specific interest or group of roles
- The census happens every 10 years,
- Redraw boundaries
- Packed districts, drawing lines packing to decrease opponents
- Cracked districts, spread opponents’ votes
Racially Gerrymandering is not allowed
Filibuster
- the power of an individual senator to talk/talk to delay a motion or role
- Common in a closely split and deeply divided senate
- To eliminate Fillibuster would be changing the rules of the senate
Cloture
ending a debate and calling to vote due to Filibuster
Budget Process
- President proposed budget
- Congressional Budget and improvement and control act
- Process of setting the federal budget
- Entitlement programs
- Discretionary spending
2. Congress Acts - Congress produces a budget resolution, outlines federal spending
The House of Senate sets the budget for; departments, agencies, bureaus - Taxes 6th amendment: instituted a national income tax
Budget surplus: take in more money than it spends
Budget deficit: borrowing money for the foreseeable future
House and Senate differences
House
- The lower house (large states appeased)
- People’s branch
- Only branch originally elected by voters
- Elected every 2 years
- More inclusive
- Strictly structured
Senate
Upper house ( small states appeased)
-More stable branch
- Elected every 6 years ( staggered ⅓ up for election every 2 yrs)
- Originally selected by state legislatures
17th amendment: replaced state legislatures to direct election
Delegate
someone who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level.
Logrolling
- Congress trade votes
- Voting for each other’s legislation
Pocket Veto
- 10 days after Congress going to be re-elected,
- the president doesn’t vote on the bill
Veto
- President’s ability to veto bills congress proposes
- ⅔ vote can override veto difficult to do
Executive Orders
- Policy directives issued by the president
- Orders issued by the President, the force of law has to be followed
Reasoning;
- congress might not pass it, urgent
Presidential approval over time
Overtime president rating drop over time
Presidents formal Powers
Formal powers stated in the constitution
Commander in chief
- Orders issued by the President, the force of law has to be followed
Reasoning; congress might not pass it, urgent
Commander Executive
Execute laws
Enforce laws
Grant pardons
Nominate judges
Chief legislator
Veto bills
Pocket veto, ten days left with the \’[]
Congress president doesn’t vote on the bill it becomes dead
Override with ⅔ vote
Presidents Informal Powers
Informal powers,
- similar to a necessary and proper clause in congress enumerated powers
Executive order
- Orders issued by the President, the force of law has to be followed
Reasoning; congress might not pass it, urgent
Executive Agreements
-International agreements, related to trade
- Force a treaty
- Doesn’t need senate approval
Executive Privilege
- Claim executive privilege
- Hide information safer for the public not to hear
- National security
President’s bully pulpit
Presidential appeals to the public to pressure other branches to support his policies
Purpose of state of the union address
- President can initiate executive order
- The power to negotiate/sign treaties that the senate approves of
FED 70
1 President is best to ensure the power of protecting the nation from foreign attacks and keeping it safe
Allows the president to act fast, and efficiently, if there were multiple it would be hard to see who is at fault
take longer to make decisions
