Chapter 6 and 7

Question 1

What are influential election rules in the US? (4)

Answer 1

1. Regularly Scheduled Elections
2. Fixed, Staggered, and Limited Terms
3. Winner take all
4. Electoral College

Question 2

When are elections held for members of Congress?

Answer 2

First Tuesday after first Monday in November in even numbered years

Question 3

House term is?

Answer 3

2 years

Question 4

Senator term is?

Answer 4

6 years… elections are staggered so only 1/3 of them are up at a time.

Question 5

What amendment limits pres to 2 terms?

Answer 5

22nd amendment (1951)

Question 6

lame duck

Answer 6

candidate who cannot or will not run for re-election

Question 7

What happens if candidates for pres get same number of electoral votes?

Answer 7

House chooses among top 3, if still no victor, senate choose among top 2

Question 8

Stages of pres election. (3)

Answer 8

1. Nomination
2. National Party Convention
3. General Election

Question 9

How a pres gets nominated

Answer 9

Varies by state, usually have to have a list of people and signatures to get on the ballot.

Question 10

4 Types of pres primaries

Answer 10

1. Proportional (Most states, especially larger ones)
2. Winner takes all (California)
3. Superdelagates and no allegiance delegates
4. Vote twice- pres choice and choose delegates

Question 11

Can you get on the ballot without primary elections and conventions?

Answer 11

Yes, but it takes time and money. (A lot of signatures)

Question 12

What case challenged BCRA?

Answer 12

McConnell v. FEC

Question 13

What did FECA do? (4)

Answer 13

1. Created FEC
2. Partial Public Funding match up to $250
3. Limits on contributions
4. Full disclosure of spending by candidates for federal office

Question 14

Buckley v. Valeo

Answer 14

Upheld most of FECA, but said that there was no limit on how much someone spends on their own campaign and how much people spend independent of campaigns

Question 15

What did BCRA do? (2)

Answer 15

1. Increased limits for candidates running against someone spending a lot of their own money, unconstitutional now.
2. Banned soft money

Question 16

How do people resist campaign spending reform? (3)

Answer 16

1. Issue Advocacy
2. Independent Expenditures
3. Super PACs

Question 17

Continued problems with campaign finance? (4)

Answer 17

1. increased cost
2. dependence on PAC money
3. Decreased visibility and competitiveness
4. advantage of wealthy by self-funding

Question 18

What are the powers of Congress? (5)

Answer 18

1. Raise, make, and borrow money
2. Regulate Commerce
3. Unify and expand country
4. Prepare and declare war
5. Create federal judiciary (courts smaller than SC)

Question 19

Size of house?

Answer 19

435

Question 20

Elections in HoR v Senate?

Answer 20

HoR elected by district, senators by state as a whole

Question 21

What house gives individuals more power?

Answer 21

Senate

Question 22

Legislation in the House?

Answer 22

Raising revenues, decision to consider made by majority, amendments approved before legislative action

Question 23

Legislation in the senate?

Answer 23

Advice and consent of treaties and appointees, amendments allowed, unanimous decision to consider legislation

Question 24

Debate in House?

Answer 24

strict limits, individual cannot stop once bill is approved for action

Question 25

Debate in senate?

Answer 25

flexible limits approved by unanimous consent, single member can stop action through filibuster

Question 26

Leadership in the House

Answer 26

Speaker of the house, party caucus, majority and minority, whips, house rules committee

Question 27

Types of Comittees (6)

Answer 27

1. Rules and Administration
2. Budget
3. Authorizing
4. Appropriations
5. Revenue
6. General Oversight

Question 28

What influences Congress members? (7)

Answer 28

1. Colleagues
2. Congressional Staff
3. Constituents
4. Ideology
5. Interest Groups
6. Party
7. President