Congress

Question 0

What is one important effect of a bicameral legislature?

Answer 0

Balances large and small states

Question 1

What are some basic differences between parliament and congress?

Parliament (3) Congress (2)

Answer 1

Parliament- members vote together, renomination depends on loyalty, select prime minister
Congress-doesn’t select president, electoral college

Question 2

Under our original constitution, members of the house and senate were selected in different ways, how?
HOR(1)
Senate(2)

Answer 2

HOR-popular vote

Senate-state legislatures 1913, 17th amendment

Question 3

Name ten powers enumerated to congress under Art. 1, sec. 8?

Answer 3

Collect taxes, regulate commerce, establish courts, declare war, naturalization rules, coin money, weights/measures, post office, patents, punish piracy, raise and support army.

Question 4

Why was the issue of slavery discussed mainly in the senate and not the house?

Answer 4

2 sides were equally balanced

Question 5

Explain the term “filibuster” and what must take place for it to be practical? How are they stopped?

Answer 5

Delay legislative action, nonstop talking

60 votes-cloture

Question 6

Characteristics of a typical congress member? (5)

Answer 6

Middle-aged, white, Protestant, lawyer, male

Question 7

How has membership in the house changed since the 1950’s

Answer 7

Less male and less white

Question 8

What’s the difference between a marginal and a safe district and explain why they have become less marginal?

Answer 8

Marginal- less than 55% vote
Safe- more than 55% vote
Incumbents can use their powers to get programs passed for the benefit of their constituents and districts

Question 9

Which political party suffers when there is an anti-incumbent mood in American?

Answer 9

Democrats

Question 10

Differentiate and give me samples of the following voting behaviors
Representational
Organizational
Attitudinal

Answer 10

Representational- vote to represent constituents (tax cuts for auto factory in a certain are)
Organizational- along party lines- party position (welfare for Dems, and tax cuts for Reps)
Attitudinal- go along with your thinking (gay marriage abortion)

Question 11

Explain the voting behavior of senators, compared to the average voter, over the past two decades.

Answer 11

70s- liberal
80s- conservative
90s-liberal
2000s- conservative

Question 12

Explain the role of the following senate leaders
President Pro tempore (2)
Majority leader (2)
Minority leader (2)
party whip (1)

Answer 12

President pro tempore- most seniority, honorific
Majority leader-schedule business, recognized 1st in floor debate
Minority leader- informs members when bills are scheduled for a vote, goal is usually to oppose majority bills
Party whip- round up votes

Question 13

Explain the role of the following house leaders
Speaker (5)
Party whip
Floor leader

Answer 13

Speaker- keep party members informed, assign bills to committees and appoint select and conference, lead HOR, most powerful,schedule
Part whip- pressure part members to vote with party
Floor leader- assist whip to round up votes

Question 14

How are committee assignments made

Answer 14

Seniority

Question 15

What is the key to selecting party leaders in the senate

Answer 15

To achieve regional and ideological balance

Question 16

What are some implications of the numerical superiority of the house

Answer 16

More powerful

Question 17

What is a party caucus

Answer 17

Association of members of congress created to advocate a political ideology or economic interest

Question 18

Differentiate between these types of party caucuses
Intraparty
Personal interest
Constituency caucuses

Answer 18

Intraparty- members share a similar ideology
Personal interest- members share an interest in an issue
Constituency caucuses-established to represent groups, regions or both

Question 19

Explain the following types of committees
Standing
Select
Joint
Conference

Answer 19

Standing- permanent bodies w/ specified legislative responsibilities
Select-groups appointed for a limited purpose and duration
Joint-those on which both representative and senators serve
Conference-a joint committee appointed to resolve difference in senate and house versions of the same price of legislation before final passage

Question 20

What was the main purpose of the general accounting office

Answer 20

Investigate agencies/ audits

Question 21

Which type of bills are most likely to pass through congress

Answer 21

Appeals to most people and is easily understood

Question 22

What are the steps for a bill to become a law. (10)

Answer 22

Draft, introduce, refer to committee, mark up, order the importance of bill, publish report, set date for debate, go through both houses, president signs or veto, ?override- if needed

Question 23

What are multiple referrals and sequential referrals

Answer 23

Multiple- goes to more than one committee at a time

Sequential- goes to more than one committee, but in order

Question 24

Distinguish between a public and private bill

Answer 24

Public- deals with general concern like defense of the environment
Private- deals with specific, private, or personal or local matters, specific people

Question 25

Explain what a joint resolution is (2)

Answer 25

Formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses and the president

Constitutional amendment do NOT need presidential approval

Question 26

Where must all revenue and appropriation bills originate

Answer 26

House

Question 27

What happens at mark-up session

Answer 27

Make changes to the original bill

Question 28

When are discharge petitions used

Answer 28

When a bill is stalled in committee

Question 29

Explain the following
Open rule
Closed rule
Restrictive rule

Answer 29

Open rule- bill is amended on the floor
Closed rule- time limit on debate
Restrictive rule- permits some amendments but not others

Question 30

When are riders usually added to a bill

Answer 30

To get the bill passed

Question 31

What is a Christmas tree bill

Answer 31

A bill that has many non important amendments tacked on

Question 32

Explain the following debating requirements in the house
Quorum
Quorum call

Answer 32

Quorum- minimum number of members who must be present for business
Quorum call- roll call to see whether the minimum number of representatives or senators required to conduct business

Question 33

Explain the following debating requirements in the senate
Double tracking
Cloture

Answer 33

Double tracking- procedure to keep the senate going during a filibuster in which the disputed bill is shelved temporarily so that the senate can get on with business
Cloture- stopping a filibuster, 60 votes

Question 34

Discuss the different methods of voting
Voice vote
Division
Teller vote
roll call vote

Answer 34

Voice vote- members should “yea” or “nay”
Division- members stand are counted
Teller vote-members pass between two tells “yeas” and “nays”
Roll call- members answer “yea” or “nay” to their name

Question 35

What are some perks for constituents and members of congress

Answer 35

Constituents- get bills passed that help their district or state
Members- get credit for passed legislation and therefore gain popularity

Question 36

Why are there more opportunities for corruption in a decentralized political system like ours?

Answer 36

Separation of powers is easier to achieve

Question 37

Is Zac an inpatient, homosexual, asshole

Answer 37

YES