Chapter 11: Congress Flashcards
What kind of legislature does the US government have?
A bicameral legislature. This means two houses. The House + Senate = Congress
What plan was the House of Representatives based on?
The Virginia Plan. This is based on population, and a census done every 10 years
How many members are in the House of Representatives?
435
What determines a state’s number of representatives after a census?
Reapportionment
What is redistricting?
This is moving boundaries after reapportionment
How long are the terms for representatives?
2 years
What are the qualifications for being a representative?
- 25 years old
- live in US for 7 years
- live in the district you represent
What plan is the Senate based off of?
The New Jersey Plan, which is equal representation
How many senators are there from every state?
2
What are the qualifications to be a senator?
- 30 years old
- live in US for 9 years
- live in the state you represent
What is the average occupation for Congressmen?
Lawyers, professors, and businessmen
Who is under represented in Congress?
Women, African Americans, and Hispanics
What is the average congressman?
High status, white male
What is an incumbent?
Someone currently in office who is seeking re election
What are constituents?
The people the Congressmen represent
Who wins elections?
Incumbents
Why do incumbents win elections?
- money for advertising
- credit claiming
- case work
- pork barrel spending
- position taking
What is credit claiming?
The legacy of the work you have accomplished
What is case work?
A favor for an individual. The good word spreads
What is pork barrel spending?
Not needed and absurd wastes of money that go to your state
What is position taking?
The positions you take when you vote on legislation and committees and when you submit legislation. Party identification=voting behavior
What is the role of money in Congressional elections?
- 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
How is the House organized?
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
What committee is unique to the House?
The Rules committee
What does the Rules Committee do?
- reviews most bills
- schedules bills
- allots time for debate
- specifies amendments
What title in Congress is the only title listed in the Constitution?
The Speaker of the House
What does the speaker of the house do?
- of the majority party
- experienced
- presides
- assigns committees
- appoints legislative leaders
- controls what bills go through to committees
- informal clout
What does the majority leader do?
Schedules bills
What are whips?
Those of the majority party that round up votes
Who presides over the Senate?
The Vice President, who also acts as a tie breaker. The Pro Tempore subs for the VP when he can’t make it
How is the Pro-tempore chosen?
- of the majority party
- sometimes based on seniority
What is the Senate responsible for?
- treaties, which are 2/3 vote
- confirming presidential nominations (>1/2 votes)
- holding a trial of impeachment
How is the Senate organized?
It is decentralized because it deals more with international affairs
What is a filibuster?
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
What do committees do?
Control the agenda and guide legislation, as well as hold hearing and provide legislative oversight
What is a caucus?
A group that you can join that shares a common interest
What are the four types of committees?
- Standing
- Joint
- Conference
- Special/Select
What is a Standing Committee?
Always there
What is a Joint committee?
In both the House and the Senate
What is a Conference committee?
This is done when the Senate and the House pass different versions of the same bill
What is a Special/Select committee?
Appointed for a special purpose
What is a subcommittee?
A specialized committee that is a part of a major one
Who is the head of committees and how does he get appointed?
Chairman. Of majority party, has seniority, and expertise
What is legislative oversight?
Overseeing how money is spent and how programs are being used
What do congressmen hope to achieve on committees?
- influence for their state
- re-election (credit claiming)
- opportunity to have input
What do the staff of Congressmen do?
- liaison between congressional members and constituents
- keep congressional members organized
- research information
- keep tabs with executive branch
What are three staff agencies?
Congressional Research Service (CRS)
General Accounting Office (GAO)
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
What is the Congressional Budget Office?
They look at the breakdown of every single bill that goes through. Helps with legislative oversight
What is leg-rolling?
I’ll vote for this bill for you if you vote for my bill. Has to do with party affiliation
What is a quorum?
This is the least amount of people needed to meet/vote (2/3)
