Chapter 6 Flashcards
Constituents
potential voters in the represented district.
Each member of Congress (MC) has at least a geographic constituency of those people who can vote in their district.
True
MCs may choose to serve non-geographical constituencies by becoming interested in policy areas (Healthcare, Poverty).
True
How are Constituents represented?
via policy preferences and the allocation of resources.
Lawmaking
Congress is the primary source of lawmaking and determines where money will be spent.
Ombudsman
MC’s are often seen as a link between the government and the people. As an Ombudsman, a MC’s office will provide information and help about governmental services. This is often referred to as “casework”.
Bicameral
Two chambers, both of which must pass a piece of legislation before it becomes law.
House has 435 and Senate 100 members
Some nonvoting members from DC and Puerto Rico.
True
The Constitution is often specific on congressional powers, but is vague on how Congress is organized internally.
True
Internal organization has changed over time, both in rules and leadership positions.
True
Each Congress lasts for a 2 year cycle and we are currently in the 113 U.S. Congress.
True
The Rules of Congress:
House:
-Rules decided upon at the beginning of each session
-Majority party can dictate the rules, but they don’t change greatly from year to year.
-House can end debate (no filibuster).
Senate:
- The Senate never stops, always uses the same rules.
- Filibuster
- Cloture
True
Filibuster (define)
using the right to unlimited debate as a delay tactic.
Cloture
Voting to end debate in order to stop a filibuster, requires 60 votes.
- -Originally, the Senate had a rule to end debate.
- The Senate was small so it was rarely used
- In 1806, the Senate rules were revised, and the motion to end debate was left out as an oversight.
- -Late 1800s, partisans began taking advantage this.
- Delaying bills to the point of blocking entirely or gaining concessions.
True
1917
First “cloture” rule adopted (2/3 required).
1975
Cloture requirement dropped to 60 votes
Gang of 14 saves the filibuster (2005)
- Democrats were filibustering Bush’s judicial nominees
- Senate Republicans threaten “Nuclear Option” to end filibuster
- 7 Democrats and 7 Republicans work out a compromise to get nominations passed while not destroying the filibuster.
Filibuster
- Not Part of Constitution.
- Self Protecting.
- Used by MCs Strategically.
- Block some laws while changing the character of others by forcing the majority to make compromises or logrolls to win extra votes.
How a Bill Becomes a Law?
- -A bill is first be introduced by a MC.
- The bill gets a number
- The bill gets sent to an appropriate committee
- -A committee reviews the bill and may add amendments before deciding its fate.
- Most bills die in committee
–The committee may send the bill to the full chamber for a vote.
–Both Chambers must pass identical forms of the bill for it to reach the next step.
–If the chambers pass different versions of the bill, then a conference committee is held.
How a Bill Becomes a Law II?
- -After a Conference Committee, the bill is voted on again by both chambers.
- -The bill is then sent to the President for a signature.
- -If vetoed by the President, both chambers must pass the bill again with 2/3 support.
- -Unorthodox Lawmaking
- Much of the law passed today doesn’t go through this process.
- Unanimous consent agreements and fast track limit amendment process.
- Bills can be pulled out of committee.
- Dilatory tactics are used often.
Committees in Congress
Standing Committees Select Committee House Rules Committee Joint Committee Conference Committee
Standing Committees
These are permanent committees designed to deal with perennial problems.
Select Committee
appointed to deal with specific problems and then disappear.
House Rules Committee
This committee decides the rules under which a bill is debated under.
