Ch. 11 and 12 Test Flashcards
Which party took control of congress in 2006 and what was the main issue that allowed them to?
The democrats because of the unpopular war in Iraq that Bush wanted to stay involved in
What obstacles did the democrats in congress face with ending the Iraq war?
They had to find a bill that all democrats agreed, because there were divisions in the party. Also Bush vetoed their bill and they couldnt override the veto
How does a bill become a law?
It must be passed in a single form through the house and senate
What are senates terms?
6 years terms that are staggered so that 1/3 senators are reelected every 2 years
What are House of Representative’s terms?
2 years long, all of them go up for reelection at the same time
What is the 17th Amendment?
Provided direct election of senators by popular vote instead of having them chosen by state legislatures
What powers do the House and Senate share?
Declare war, raise an army/navy, borrow coin and money, regulate interstate commerce, create federal courts, establish rules for naturalization of immigrants, and make laws necessary for “carrying into Execution of the foregoing powers”
Which House and Senate duties are different?
House alone: Right to originate revenue bills(both house and senate must approve though). Impeachment of any government official
Senate alone: Acts as court to try impeachment with Supreme court chief justice presiding. Approve major Presidential appointments, 2/3 approval of treaties,
How does the impeachment process work in congress?
The House can charge someone with impeachment and the Senate acts as a court to try the impeachment with the Supreme Court Justice Presiding. A 2/3 senate vote=conviction
Why did incumbent reelection rate decline in 2006?
22 Republican incumbents were defeated because the public did not approve of the Iraq war
Why does congress lack public approval?
Americans think congress is overly influenced by interest groups. A declining economy, war in Iraq, and persistant partisan disagreements within congress make their approval ratings low
What is gerrymandering?
Redrawing a congressional district to intentionally benefit one political party
What factors play into the incumbency effect?
Redistricting/gerrymandering, Name recognition, Casework, and campaign financing
Which trend with political parties does gerrymandering contribute?
Political polarization
What is the franking privilege?
A right given to members of congress to send mail free of charge
What is casework?
Solving problems for constituents
Why are senate incumbent challengers more successful than House incumbent challengers?
They are generally higher quality candidates
Why are women underrepresented in congress?
As women develop professionally, they are not recruited or encouraged to run in the same way men do
What is descriptive representation?
A belief that constituents are best represented who are similar to them demographically
What did the Voting Rights Act if 1982 do?
Encouraged states to draw districts that concentrated minorities together so that blacks and Hispanic Americans would have a better chance of being elected
Why are hispanics less represented than African Americans?
The dont in geographically concentrated areas so it’s harder to redraw districts to benefit them
How do members propose bills in the House and Senate?
House: Members drip bills in the “hopper” a mahogany box near the rostrum where the speaker presides
Senate: Senators give their bills to a senate clerk or introduce them on the floor
What is the general process of passing a bill through the house?
- Bill is introduced and assigned to a committee
- Subcommittee studies bill and golds hearings
- Full committee considers bill, if it is approved it moves on
- Rules committee issues rules of debate and amendment restrictions
- Full house debates bill if it is passed it goes to conference committee
- Conference committee reconciles differences between house and senate versions of the bill
- House votes of conference committee bill
- President signs or vetoes bill
What is the process of passing a bill through the senate?
- Bill is introduced and assigned to a committee
- Subcommittee studies bill and holds hearings
- Full committee considers bill
- Full senate consider bill
- Conference committee reconciles differences between House and Senate versions of the bill
- Full senate voted on conference committee bill
- President signs or vetoes bill
At what point does a bill become a law?
- When the President signs it
- President hasnt signed bill within 10 days, unless congress adjourns within 10 days, letting the bill die after 10 days through a pocket veto
What is a standing committee?
The most predominant committee, a standing committee is a permanent congressional committee that specializes in a particular area. Where the most drafting of legislation takes place
Why are subcommittee members important?
They are the dominant force in shaping the content a bill
What are joint committees?
A committee made of members from the House and senate. They fact find and publicize issues in their jurisdiction, making them weaker because they cant report bills
What is a select committee?
A temporary committee created for a specific purpose
What is a conference committee?
A temporary committee created to work out differences in House and Senate versions of legislation
How was the seniority norm weakened in congress?
Republican Party leadership established 6 year term limits for committee and subcommittee chairs
What are markup sessions?
The meetings at which committees and subcommittees actually debate and amend legislation
What are ways congress performs oversight? Which is the most visible?
Hearings(most visible), requesting reports, media
What are the pluralist and majoritarian views of committees?
Pluralist: Committee members represent constituencies with an unusually strong interest in the committee’s policy area
Majoritarian: Most committee members reflect the general ideological profiles of the two parties’ congressional contingencies
Who is the constitutional leader of the Senate, and how is their leadership practiced?
The vice president, but they only visit if they need to break a tie vote
What is the President pro tempore?
Meaning president “for the time”, this person is elected by the senate majority party and leads in the Vice President’s absence. Usually the most senior member of the majority party
What is the senate majority leader?
The head of the majority party in the senate, the second highest ranking member of the majority party. They schedule legislation and steer bargaining and negotiations in bill making
What plays the role of a Rules committee in the Senate?
Unanimous consent agreements to set he starting time and length of debate
what is cloture?
A petition that can cut of senate debate when it gets 60 signatures
What is the most important norm in congress?
willingness to bargain
Which influences on voting in congress push us towards majoritarian and pluralist democracies?
Pluralist: Constituents and interest groups
Majoritarian: Parties and the President
What is a trustee?
A representative who is obliged to consider the views of constituents but is not obligated to vote according to those views if they dont like them
What is a delegate?
A legislator whose primary responsibility is to represent the majority view of their constituents regardless of their own views
How do legislators need to act to be more pluralistic or majoritarian?
Delegates=pluralism
parliament system=majoritarian
How is a parliament system structured?Describe Britain’s
They have 2 houses, one being much weaker than the other. The leader of the majority party is the prime minister. In Britain, the House of Commons makes decisions, while the House of Lords is an honorary debating club for distinguished members of society
How do earmarks get into the budget?
Bargaining among members
What is a consequence of pluralism in government?
Unnecessary spending and tax loopholes
Why is it difficult to fix the shortcomings of pluralism in congress?
Members of congress resist any structural changes that will weaken their chances of reelection
What are the qualifications for being a President?
- Must be a U.S. born citizen
- At least 35
- Lived in united states for a minimum of 14 years
What is necessary for the President to make a treaty with a foreign country?
2/3 approval from the Senate
What duties did the delegates list for the President?
- Administrative head of the nation
- Commander in chief of military
- Convene congress
- Veto legislation
- Appoint various officials
- Make treaties
- Grant pardons
What is the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Act?
An act requiring intelligence agencies to obtain a warrant from a panel of judges before witetapping calls of U.S. citizens
What are executive orders?
Presidential directives that create or modify laws/public policies without the direct approval of congress
What was the War Powers Resolution of 1973?
An act directing at ending the President’s ability to pursue armed conflict without explicit congressional approval
What is the executive office of the President?
The President’s Executive aides and staff, the extended executive establishment
What are three key Presidential advisory methods and who made them?
Franklin Roosevelt: Competitive management style to get all info and hear all sides
Eisenhower: Hierarchal management
Clinton: Loose, collegial staffing arrangements
What are the Vice President’s main duties? other duties?
Their main duty is to serve the country if the President cant. They also campaign, fundraise and promote the party
Which cabinet positions did George Washington have?
Attorney General, Secretary of State treasury and war
What are the first 5 in line for Pres
- Vice President
- Speaker of the House
- President Pro Tempore of the Senate
- Secretary of the State
- Secretary of he Treasury
What is the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921?
Executive branch departments and agencies have to clear proposed budget bills with the White House
What was Roosevelt known for doing?
Demanding a lot of congress-enacting the 15 significant laws the first 100 days congress was in session, including the Agriculture Act(creating the Civilian Conservation Corps), and the National industry recovery act
What is the Legislative Liaison staff?
People who compose a communications link between White House and Congress, advising the President and cabinet on pending legislation
Which fundamental foreign relations objectives are Presidents generally always concerned with?
- National Security
- Fostering a national peace agreement
- Protection of US economic interests
What are the guidelines for how a President should act during a crisis?
- Draw on opinions and advisors
- Dont act in unnecessary haste
- Have a well designed, formal review process with thorough analysis and open debate
- Rigorously examine the reasoning and underlying options to assure that their assumptions are valid
