Congress Flashcards
Number of Senators
100 = 2 by state - equal representation
Number of Members of the House of Representatives
435 = based on population = proportional representation
Senate
Smaller = encourages deliberation and debate
Discourages specialization = diverse statewide constituency
Less power is concentrated in the leadership’s hands
House of Representatives
Larger = more centralized / organized, gives leadership more legislative control, allows for specialization
= serve as well organized local interest’s agents vs senate = agents for both local and national constituencies
Agency Representation
Representatives can be held accountable to their constituencies if they fail to represe it properly -= hire and fire
Do not share their constituents sociological characteristics but worn on their behalf
Sociological Representation
Share the same characteristics = relatable
Franking priviledge
Free use of the postal system for sending communication to constituents
To end a fillibuster
3/5’s = 60 members to sign a vote of cloture which requires senator to yield the floor
House Bill
Draft, committee for deliberation, subcommittee for markups, committee for mark up and vote
When vote passes both chambers
Conference commmittee rato iron out the differences between the versions, compromise, another floor vote in each chamber, the president to sign, veto, pocket veto
Override a veto
2/3’s majority in each house
Pocket veto
Automatically veto if the president does nothing during the final 10 days of the legislative session
Special Powers to Congress
Advice and Consent
Treaties = 2/3 consent Appointments = simple majority
Oversight = hearings, investigations, fraud, waste, abuse = criminal charges = contempt, perjury
Unconstitutional delegation of power
Line item veto
Presidential power to make rules for the executive = status of state and formal legislation
Executive Order
