Congress Flashcards
Apportionment
The process of allocating congressional seats to each state according to the census
- State leg. get to redraw congressional districts (redistricting)
- Necessary + proper clause
House of Representatives
- Elected 2 year terms
- More responsive to the people due to short terms + direct election
- Initiates all revenue + tax bills
- Initiates impeachment
Senate
- Elected 6 year terms
- Meant to rep. state interests
- offers advice and consent on presidential appointments
- votes on impeachment
Trustee
Role played by a member of congress where they listen to constituent opinions and use their best judgment to come to a decision: favored by Edmund Burke
Delegate
Role played by a member of congress where they vote the way their constituents want them to regardless of their personal opinion
Politico
Role played by a member of congress that is a mix of trustee and delegate depending on the issue
Advantage of incumbancy
Name recognition, casework, seniority, redistricting, fundrasing, media
Redistricting
The process of state legislatures redrawing congressional districts
Gerrymandering
The drawing of congressional districts to produce a particular electoral outcome
Congressional Party Caucus
Gathering of party members where they elect party officers, committee assignments, formed because of similar interests and geographical location.
Speaker of the House
Elected by the House at the beginning of each new term, usually a member of the majority party.
- Decides points of order
-Refers bills and resolutions to appropriate house committees
-Schedules legislation for floor action - Appoints house members to select, joint and conference committees
Whip
Party leader who keeps close contact with members of their party, takes vote counts on key bills, prepares bill summaries, acts as a communications link within their own party.
President Pro Tempore
a senator, usually a senior member of the majority party, who is chosen to preside over the Senate in the absence of the vice president. He is also in the line of succession for the presidency after the Speaker of the House
President of the Senate
The Vice President is the presiding officer of the Senate, whose duties are to recognize members, put questions on a vote and to ONLY vote to break a tie.
Majority Leader
The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy, confers with other party leaders, and tries to keep members of the party in line.
Minority Leader
The principal leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate.
Seniority rule
Unwritten rule in both houses of Congress reserving the top posts in each chamber, particularly committee chairmanships, for members with the longest records of service
Standing Committees
A permanent committee in the House or Senate that considers bills within a certain subject area ex: agriculture
- has several sub committees
-kill or pass a bill
Joint Committees
A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the conduct investigations and taxation
Conference Committees
a joint committee appointed to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of the same bill. Sometimes referred to as “The Third House.”