Congress Flashcards
What is one important effect of a bicameral legislature?
Balances large and small states
What are some basic differences between parliament and congress?
Parliament (3) Congress (2)
Parliament- members vote together, renomination depends on loyalty, select prime minister
Congress-doesn’t select president, electoral college
Under our original constitution, members of the house and senate were selected in different ways, how?
HOR(1)
Senate(2)
HOR-popular vote
Senate-state legislatures 1913, 17th amendment
Name ten powers enumerated to congress under Art. 1, sec. 8?
Collect taxes, regulate commerce, establish courts, declare war, naturalization rules, coin money, weights/measures, post office, patents, punish piracy, raise and support army.
Why was the issue of slavery discussed mainly in the senate and not the house?
2 sides were equally balanced
Explain the term “filibuster” and what must take place for it to be practical? How are they stopped?
Delay legislative action, nonstop talking
60 votes-cloture
Characteristics of a typical congress member? (5)
Middle-aged, white, Protestant, lawyer, male
How has membership in the house changed since the 1950’s
Less male and less white
What’s the difference between a marginal and a safe district and explain why they have become less marginal?
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
Which political party suffers when there is an anti-incumbent mood in American?
Democrats
Differentiate and give me samples of the following voting behaviors
Representational
Organizational
Attitudinal
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)
Explain the voting behavior of senators, compared to the average voter, over the past two decades.
70s- liberal
80s- conservative
90s-liberal
2000s- conservative
Explain the role of the following senate leaders President Pro tempore (2) Majority leader (2) Minority leader (2) party whip (1)
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
Explain the role of the following house leaders
Speaker (5)
Party whip
Floor leader
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
How are committee assignments made
Seniority
What is the key to selecting party leaders in the senate
To achieve regional and ideological balance
What are some implications of the numerical superiority of the house
More powerful
What is a party caucus
Association of members of congress created to advocate a political ideology or economic interest
Differentiate between these types of party caucuses
Intraparty
Personal interest
Constituency caucuses
Intraparty- members share a similar ideology
Personal interest- members share an interest in an issue
Constituency caucuses-established to represent groups, regions or both
Explain the following types of committees Standing Select Joint Conference
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
What was the main purpose of the general accounting office
Investigate agencies/ audits
Which type of bills are most likely to pass through congress
Appeals to most people and is easily understood
What are the steps for a bill to become a law. (10)
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
What are multiple referrals and sequential referrals
Multiple- goes to more than one committee at a time
Sequential- goes to more than one committee, but in order
Distinguish between a public and private bill
Public- deals with general concern like defense of the environment
Private- deals with specific, private, or personal or local matters, specific people
Explain what a joint resolution is (2)
Formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses and the president
Constitutional amendment do NOT need presidential approval
Where must all revenue and appropriation bills originate
House
What happens at mark-up session
Make changes to the original bill
When are discharge petitions used
When a bill is stalled in committee
Explain the following
Open rule
Closed rule
Restrictive rule
Open rule- bill is amended on the floor
Closed rule- time limit on debate
Restrictive rule- permits some amendments but not others
When are riders usually added to a bill
To get the bill passed
What is a Christmas tree bill
A bill that has many non important amendments tacked on
Explain the following debating requirements in the house
Quorum
Quorum call
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
Explain the following debating requirements in the senate
Double tracking
Cloture
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
Discuss the different methods of voting Voice vote Division Teller vote roll call vote
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
What are some perks for constituents and members of congress
Constituents- get bills passed that help their district or state
Members- get credit for passed legislation and therefore gain popularity
Why are there more opportunities for corruption in a decentralized political system like ours?
Separation of powers is easier to achieve
Is Zac an inpatient, homosexual, asshole
YES
