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POLS 1120-501 American National Government > Chapter 11: Congress > Flashcards

Chapter 11: Congress Flashcards

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1
Q

The process by which seats in the House of Representatives are distributed among the fifty states

A

Apportionment

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2
Q

The political process that results from dividing a legislature into two separate assemblies

A

Bicameralism

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3
Q

Proposed legislation under consideration by a legislature

A

Bill

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4
Q

A parliamentary process to end a debate in the Senate, as a measure against the filibuster; invoked when three-fifths of senators vote for the motion

A

Cloture

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5
Q

The relationship between Congress and the United States as a whole, and whether the institution itself represents the American people

A

Collective representation

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6
Q

A special type of joint committee that reconciles different bills passed in the House and Senate so a single bill results

A

Conference committee

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7
Q

The body of voters, or constituents, represented by a particular politician

A

Constituency

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8
Q

A model of representation in which representatives feel compelled to act on the specific stated wishes of their constituents

A

Delegate model of representation

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9
Q

The extent to which a body of representatives represents the descriptive characteristics of their constituencies, such as class, race, ethnicity, and gender

A

Descriptive representation

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10
Q

The powers given explicitly to the federal government by the Constitution to regulate interstate and foreign commerce, raise and support armies, declare war, coin money, and conduct foreign affairs

A

Enumerated powers

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11
Q

A parliamentary maneuver used in the Senate to extend debate on a piece of legislation as long as possible, typically with the intended purpose of obstructing or killing it

A

Filibuster

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12
Q

The powers not specifically detailed in the U.S. Constitution but inferred as necessary to achieve the objectives of the national government

A

Implied powers

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13
Q

The powers neither enumerated nor implied but assumed to exist as a direct result of the country’s existence

A

Inherent powers

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14
Q

A legislative committee consisting of members from both chambers that investigates certain topics but lacks bill referral authority

A

Joint committee

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15
Q

The leader of the majority party in either the House or Senate; in the House, the majority leader serves under the Speaker of the House, in the Senate, the majority leader is the functional leader and chief spokesperson for the majority party

A

Majority leader

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16
Q

The amending and voting process in a congressional committee

A

Markup

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17
Q

The party member who directs the activities of the minority party on the floor of either the House or the Senate

A

Minority leader

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18
Q

The right to review and monitor other bodies such as the executive branch

A

Oversight

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19
Q

A model of representation in which members of Congress act as either trustee or delegate, based on rational political calculations about who is best served, the constituency or the nation

A

Politico model of representation

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20
Q

Federal spending intended to benefit a particular district or set of constituents

A

Pork-barrel politics

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21
Q

The senator who acts in the absence of the actual president of the Senate, who is also the vice president of the United States; the president pro tempore is usually the most senior senator of the majority party

A

President pro tempore

22
Q

An elected leader’s looking out for his or her constituents while carrying out the duties of the office

A

Representation

23
Q

A small legislative committee created to fulfill a specific purpose and then disbanded; also called an ad hoc, or special, committee

A

Select committee

24
Q

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives and the leader of the majority party; the Speaker is second in the presidential line of succession, after the vice president

A

Speaker of the House

25
Q

A permanent legislative committee that meets regularly

A

Standing committee

26
Q

A theory proposing that the surge of stimulation occurring during presidential elections subsides during midterm elections, accounting for the differences we observe in turnouts and results

A

Surge-and-decline theory

27
Q

A model of representation in which representatives feel at liberty to act in the way they believe is best for their constituents

A

Trustee model of representation

28
Q

In the House and in the Senate, a high leadership position whose primary duty is to enforce voting discipline in the chambers and conferences

A

Whip

29
Q

Congress is

A

The most important branch of the US government

30
Q

Which of the following is not a power of the House of Representatives?
* can impeach the President
* appropriations bills must originate in the House
* decide the Presidential election in the case of a tie
* can overturn decisions made by Federal courts

A

Can overturn decisions made by Federal courts

31
Q

How are the number of individuals in the Senate determined?

A

There are always 2 per state

32
Q

How old do you have to be to run for Congress?

A

25 House, 30 Senate

33
Q

Why are terms in the house shorter than in the Senate?

A

The House is structured so that it is more responsive to the changing opinions in each district

34
Q

What is one of the reasons elections are fairly frequent?

A

If a politician has to run often, they are more likely to have to pay attention to what constituents actually want.

35
Q

Members of the House are up for election every ___ years, while Senators are up for elections every ___ years.

A

2, 6

36
Q

Which of the following are characteristics of most good political candidates? Check all that apply.
* unblemished record
* friends in high places
* ivy league education
* ability to raise money

A

An unblemished record and the ability to raise money

37
Q

A _____ is a person holding an office who runs for that office again.

A

Incumbent

38
Q

Generally speaking, _______ have a much higher chance of winning an election.

A

Incumbents

39
Q

What are the 4 types of committees?

A

Standing, select, joint, temporary

40
Q

Joint committees are made up of

A

Members from both the House and the Senate

41
Q

Congress uses the committee system because

A

It is easier for small groups to write legislation than a large group

42
Q

In most cases, who refers each bill to a committee?

A

The Speaker of the House

43
Q

Which Speaker greatly heightened the power of the position of Speaker?

A

Newton Gringrich

44
Q

Who elects the Speaker of the House?

A

The majority party

45
Q

Major task of the__________ includes counting votes on important pieces of legislation

A

Majority whip

46
Q

After a bill is introduced, what is the next step?

A

It is referred to a committee

47
Q

Open and closed rules refer to what?

A

Whether or not amendments are allowed for a bill or not

48
Q

A __________ is a committee comprised of members of both houses.

A

Conference committee

49
Q

A Presidential veto can be overturned by________.

A

A 2/3 majority vote in both the House and the Senate

50
Q

Which 2 of the following are ways that a bill can die?
* Refusal of the Speaker or Majority Leader to refer the bill to committee
* Refusal of the Senate to schedule a vote
* Poor grammar and spelling
* The House Ways and Means Committee refuses to review it

A

Refusal of the Speaker or Majority Leader to refer the bill to committee and refusal of the Senate to schedule a vote

POLS 1120-501 American National Government (14 decks)

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