Chapter 11: Congress

Question 1

What kind of legislature does the US government have?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

What plan was the House of Representatives based on?

Answer 2

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

Question 3

How many members are in the House of Representatives?

Answer 3

435

Question 4

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

Answer 4

Reapportionment

Question 5

What is redistricting?

Answer 5

This is moving boundaries after reapportionment

Question 6

How long are the terms for representatives?

Answer 6

2 years

Question 7

What are the qualifications for being a representative?

Answer 7

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

Question 8

What plan is the Senate based off of?

Answer 8

The New Jersey Plan, which is equal representation

Question 9

How many senators are there from every state?

Answer 9

2

Question 10

What are the qualifications to be a senator?

Answer 10

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

Question 11

What is the average occupation for Congressmen?

Answer 11

Lawyers, professors, and businessmen

Question 12

Who is under represented in Congress?

Answer 12

Women, African Americans, and Hispanics

Question 13

What is the average congressman?

Answer 13

High status, white male

Question 14

What is an incumbent?

Answer 14

Someone currently in office who is seeking re election

Question 15

What are constituents?

Answer 15

The people the Congressmen represent

Question 16

Who wins elections?

Answer 16

Incumbents

Question 17

Why do incumbents win elections?

Answer 17

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

Question 18

What is credit claiming?

Answer 18

The legacy of the work you have accomplished

Question 19

What is case work?

Answer 19

A favor for an individual. The good word spreads

Question 20

What is pork barrel spending?

Answer 20

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

Question 21

What is position taking?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

What is the role of money in Congressional elections?

Answer 22

• 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

Question 23

How is the House organized?

Answer 23

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

Question 24

What committee is unique to the House?

Answer 24

The Rules committee

Question 25

What does the Rules Committee do?

Answer 25

- reviews most bills - schedules bills - allots time for debate - specifies amendments

Question 26

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

Answer 26

The Speaker of the House

Question 27

What does the speaker of the house do?

Answer 27

- of the majority party - experienced - presides - assigns committees - appoints legislative leaders - controls what bills go through to committees - informal clout

Question 28

What does the majority leader do?

Answer 28

Schedules bills

Question 29

What are whips?

Answer 29

Those of the majority party that round up votes

Question 30

Who presides over the Senate?

Answer 30

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

Question 31

How is the Pro-tempore chosen?

Answer 31

- of the majority party | - sometimes based on seniority

Question 32

What is the Senate responsible for?

Answer 32

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

Question 33

How is the Senate organized?

Answer 33

It is decentralized because it deals more with international affairs

Question 34

What is a filibuster?

Answer 34

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

Question 35

What do committees do?

Answer 35

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

Question 36

What is a caucus?

Answer 36

A group that you can join that shares a common interest

Question 37

What are the four types of committees?

Answer 37

- Standing - Joint - Conference - Special/Select

Question 38

What is a Standing Committee?

Answer 38

Always there

Question 39

What is a Joint committee?

Answer 39

In both the House and the Senate

Question 40

What is a Conference committee?

Answer 40

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

Question 41

What is a Special/Select committee?

Answer 41

Appointed for a special purpose

Question 42

What is a subcommittee?

Answer 42

A specialized committee that is a part of a major one

Question 43

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

Answer 43

Chairman. Of majority party, has seniority, and expertise

Question 44

What is legislative oversight?

Answer 44

Overseeing how money is spent and how programs are being used

Question 45

What do congressmen hope to achieve on committees?

Answer 45

- influence for their state - re-election (credit claiming) - opportunity to have input

Question 46

What do the staff of Congressmen do?

Answer 46

- liaison between congressional members and constituents - keep congressional members organized - research information - keep tabs with executive branch

Question 47

What are three staff agencies?

Answer 47

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

Question 48

What is the Congressional Budget Office?

Answer 48

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

Question 49

What is leg-rolling?

Answer 49

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

Question 50

What is a quorum?

Answer 50

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