congress Flashcards
House members, terms, age, citizenship
435
2 years
25 years old
7 years
Senate members, terms, age, citizenship
100
6 years
30 years old
9 years
role of the house
initiates all revenue bills, more influential on budget and tax reform
the peoples house
role of the senate
gives advice and consent, more influential on foreign affairs
- unlimited debates (fillibuster)
the upper chamber - remains unsulated from passions of the day
number of house per state
population based
numver of senate per stae
2
percent of house us for election every 2 years and method of selection
100
people/district
percent of senate up for election eery 2 years
33
people/ state
presiding officer and special duties of house
speaker of the house
- initiates revenue bills and impeachment
presiding officer and special dutise of the senate
vice president
ratifies treaties, confirms presidential appointments, and impeachment trials
trustees
use best judgment to make policy in the interest of people
instructed delegates
mirror preferences of consituents
politicos
adopt both trustee and delegate roles to be both representatives and policymakers
speaker of the house
presides over the house
sets overall agenda and coordinates policy
determines committee assignments
majority leader of the house
schedules legislation for the flloor consideration
plans daily, weekly, and annual legislative agendas
minority house leader
top choice for speaker if party control flips
meets with speaker and majority leader to discuss agreements on issues
senate majority leader
chief senate spokesmen and manages schedules for legislative and executive business
minority senate leader
minority party’s chief spokesperson
expected to thwart majority party’s agenda
whips
deputiees who are responsible for maintaining party loyalty and counting heads on key counts
standing committee
most important
handle bills in different policy areas
select committees
created for specific purpose
temporary
watergate
joint committees
similar tp select
membership drawn from both chambers
focus attentionon major issues
iran-contra
conference committees
resolve differences in house and senate similar bills; compromise bills
house rules
establish rules before debate of legislation to prevent gridlock
closed and open rule
house homeland
deals with domestic and international terrorism
senate finance
jurisdiction over medicare and medicaid
senate foreign relations
decisions on foreign aid and policy and renewing trade privileges
house ways and means
busiest when congress is drafting tax legislation
overlooking the drafting process
house/senate budget
ensures balance between revenue and spending
tax cuts social security etc
house/ senate appropriations
sets budget for federal agencies
closed rule
sets strict time limits for debate and limit amendments to the bill
open rule
more flexible time limits for debate and permits amendments from members
