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AP US Government > Chapter 11: Congress > Flashcards

Chapter 11: Congress Flashcards

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1
Q

What kind of legislature does the US government have?

A

A bicameral legislature. This means two houses. The House + Senate = Congress

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2
Q

What plan was the House of Representatives based on?

A

The Virginia Plan. This is based on population, and a census done every 10 years

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3
Q

How many members are in the House of Representatives?

A

435

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4
Q

What determines a state’s number of representatives after a census?

A

Reapportionment

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5
Q

What is redistricting?

A

This is moving boundaries after reapportionment

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6
Q

How long are the terms for representatives?

A

2 years

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7
Q

What are the qualifications for being a representative?

A
  • 25 years old
  • live in US for 7 years
  • live in the district you represent
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8
Q

What plan is the Senate based off of?

A

The New Jersey Plan, which is equal representation

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9
Q

How many senators are there from every state?

A

2

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10
Q

What are the qualifications to be a senator?

A
  • 30 years old
  • live in US for 9 years
  • live in the state you represent
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11
Q

What is the average occupation for Congressmen?

A

Lawyers, professors, and businessmen

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12
Q

Who is under represented in Congress?

A

Women, African Americans, and Hispanics

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13
Q

What is the average congressman?

A

High status, white male

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14
Q

What is an incumbent?

A

Someone currently in office who is seeking re election

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15
Q

What are constituents?

A

The people the Congressmen represent

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16
Q

Who wins elections?

A

Incumbents

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17
Q

Why do incumbents win elections?

A
  • money for advertising
  • credit claiming
  • case work
  • pork barrel spending
  • position taking
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18
Q

What is credit claiming?

A

The legacy of the work you have accomplished

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19
Q

What is case work?

A

A favor for an individual. The good word spreads

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20
Q

What is pork barrel spending?

A

Not needed and absurd wastes of money that go to your state

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21
Q

What is position taking?

A

The positions you take when you vote on legislation and committees and when you submit legislation. Party identification=voting behavior

22
Q

What is the role of money in Congressional elections?

A
  • majority of the money comes from individuals
  • PAC
  • money does not necessarily mean winning in congressional races
  • money leads to advertising which leads to name recognition
23
Q

How is the House organized?

A

It’s more centralized, more institutionalized, more hierarchy, and less archaic. This is because the House is so large, it needs to be strictly organized to function

24
Q

What committee is unique to the House?

A

The Rules committee

25
Q

What does the Rules Committee do?

A
  • reviews most bills
  • schedules bills
  • allots time for debate
  • specifies amendments
26
Q

What title in Congress is the only title listed in the Constitution?

A

The Speaker of the House

27
Q

What does the speaker of the house do?

A
  • of the majority party
  • experienced
  • presides
  • assigns committees
  • appoints legislative leaders
  • controls what bills go through to committees
  • informal clout
28
Q

What does the majority leader do?

A

Schedules bills

29
Q

What are whips?

A

Those of the majority party that round up votes

30
Q

Who presides over the Senate?

A

The Vice President, who also acts as a tie breaker. The Pro Tempore subs for the VP when he can’t make it

31
Q

How is the Pro-tempore chosen?

A
  • of the majority party

- sometimes based on seniority

32
Q

What is the Senate responsible for?

A
  • treaties, which are 2/3 vote
  • confirming presidential nominations (>1/2 votes)
  • holding a trial of impeachment
33
Q

How is the Senate organized?

A

It is decentralized because it deals more with international affairs

34
Q

What is a filibuster?

A

When a senator speaks for a long time in order to stall/prevent a bill going through. A cloture is a vote to end a filibuster

35
Q

What do committees do?

A

Control the agenda and guide legislation, as well as hold hearing and provide legislative oversight

36
Q

What is a caucus?

A

A group that you can join that shares a common interest

37
Q

What are the four types of committees?

A
  • Standing
  • Joint
  • Conference
  • Special/Select
38
Q

What is a Standing Committee?

A

Always there

39
Q

What is a Joint committee?

A

In both the House and the Senate

40
Q

What is a Conference committee?

A

This is done when the Senate and the House pass different versions of the same bill

41
Q

What is a Special/Select committee?

A

Appointed for a special purpose

42
Q

What is a subcommittee?

A

A specialized committee that is a part of a major one

43
Q

Who is the head of committees and how does he get appointed?

A

Chairman. Of majority party, has seniority, and expertise

44
Q

What is legislative oversight?

A

Overseeing how money is spent and how programs are being used

45
Q

What do congressmen hope to achieve on committees?

A
  • influence for their state
  • re-election (credit claiming)
  • opportunity to have input
46
Q

What do the staff of Congressmen do?

A
  • liaison between congressional members and constituents
  • keep congressional members organized
  • research information
  • keep tabs with executive branch
47
Q

What are three staff agencies?

A

Congressional Research Service (CRS)
General Accounting Office (GAO)
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

48
Q

What is the Congressional Budget Office?

A

They look at the breakdown of every single bill that goes through. Helps with legislative oversight

49
Q

What is leg-rolling?

A

I’ll vote for this bill for you if you vote for my bill. Has to do with party affiliation

50
Q

What is a quorum?

A

This is the least amount of people needed to meet/vote (2/3)

AP US Government (17 decks)

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