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