Chapter 12: Congress Flashcards
agency review
part of the committee or subcommittee process of considering a bill, wherein committee members ask executive agencies that would administer the law for written comments on the measure
agenda setting
the determination by congress of which public issues the government should consider for legislation
attentive public
the segment of voters who pay careful attention to political issues
Baker v. Carr
This 1962 Supreme Court case established the right of federal courts to review issues concerning redistricting within states, which had previously been viewed as “political questions” outside the courts’ jurisdiction. This landmark case addressing reapportionment and redistricting established the standard of “one person, one vote” which informs our modern ideal of representation.
bill
proposed piece of legislation
casework
personal work by a member of congress on behalf of a constituent or group of, typically aimed at getting the gov to do something the constituent wants done
cloture
procedural move to end a filibuster → supermajority of 60 senators
conference committee
bicameral, bipartisan committee composed of legislators whose job is to reconcile two versions of a bill
discharge petition
a special tactic used to extract a bill from a committee to have it considered by the entire house
earmark
a designation within a spending bill that provides for a SPECIFIC expenditure
filibuster
a procedural move by a senator to attempt to halt the passage of a bill → senator can speak for an unlimited amount of time with no restrictions
franking
the privilege of sending mail free of charge by members of congress
gerrymandering
redrawing legislative districts to benefit an incumbent, political party, or other group
hearings
sessions held by committees to gather information and news from experts
hopper
wooden box where house reps can place bills for introduction
house majority leader
leader of the majority party: helps speaker develop and implement strategy & works with other members of house
house minority leader
leader of the minority party who helps speaker develop and implement strategy & works with other members of house
but without the power of holding the majority
instructed delegate model
representatives should vote in line with constituent views
joint committee
bicameral committee composed of members from both chambers of congress
joint referral
the practice where a bill could be referred to two different committees for consideration
ABOLISHED IN 104TH CONGRESS
lead committee
the primary committee considering a bill
logrolling
the agreement of voting for one bill in exchange for their colleagues vote on another
majority whip
the go-between with the majority leadership & party in house
majority-minority district
district where majority of the population is a minority
markup
legislative committees “mark up” a bill with suggestions, changes, and amendments
minority whip
the go-between with minority leadership
nuclear option
maneuver exercised by the presiding officer in the senate that eliminates the possibility of filibusters by subjecting votes on certain matters to a simple majority
ombudsperson
elected/appointed leader acts as an advocate for citizens by listening to and investigating complaints against a gov agency
oversight
legislative branch “checks” on the executive branch to ensure laws passed y congress are being
administered properly
- congressional hearings, confirmation hearings, investigations, budgetary appropriations
pocket veto
at conclusion of the legislative session where the president waits 10 days without signing the bill → he has effectively sza’d (kill bill)
(the bill dies)
pork barrel
legislators’ appropriations of funds for SPECIAL projects locate within their congressional districts
president pro tempore
PRESIDENT PRO TEM
theoretically the chair of senate in VP absence
senator of maj party having the longest record of continuous service being elected to the position
reapportionment
reallocation of seats in the house based on changes in population… which is based on the census
redistricting
redrawing congressional districts… based on reapportionment
report
a legislative committee’s explanation to the full chamber of a bill & its intent
report
a legislative committee’s explanation to the full chamber of a bill & its intent
rules committee
decides the length of debate and scope of amendments that will be allowed on a bill
ROBERTS RULES ??????
select committee
considers SPECIFIC policy issues/ addresses a SPECIFIC concern
senate majority leader
most powerful position in the senate 💪
- manage the legislative process & schedules debate on legislation
senate minority leader
the leader of the minority party; woks with maj leader in negotiating legislation
seniority system
member with longest continuous tenure on a standing committee is given preference when choosing chair
👴 &🧍= 🪑
shaw v. reno
1993
→ redistricting on basis of race must be held under strict scrutiny under 14th
speaker of the house
leader of house, elected by majority party
standing committee 🧍
permanent committee with defined legislative jurisdiction
subcommittee
handles specific areas of a standing committees jurisdiction
trustee model 🤝
member of congress goes with their OWN CONSCIENCE when deciding issue positions
unanimous consent
agreement by every senator to terms of debate on a given piece of legislation
SENATE
- 100 (2 per state equal representation)
- staggered reelection in 3s → new senate every 6 yrs
- treaties, confirm nominees
- less diverse
- VIP: committee chairs & VP
HOUSE 🏠
- 435 (by pop)
- reelection every 2 yrs
- taxation (without representation !)
- VIP: speaker, committee chairs
California senators
Dianne Feinstein
Alex Padilla
17th
direct election of senators
incumbent advantage
name recognition
media coverage
redistricting
reputation
franking
powers of congress
ARTICLE 1
- limit president power
tax, spend, tariffs, borrowing money POWER OF THE PURSE
NECESSARY & PROPER
immigration, healthcare, terrorism
legislative process
CONGRESS introduces bill → hopper
→ committee review
→ debate & 🐟?
→ president ( veto → congress ❌ → pass anyways with majority vote)
