Congress Flashcards
Trustee representation
Elected representative who’s obligation is to act in accordance with their own conscious as to what policies are in the best interest of the public
27th amendment
Congressional salaries
Congress sets it’s own salary each term but it goes to affect in the next term
Bicameral legislature
Legislature divided into two houses the US Congress and every other legislative branch, but Nebraska, is organized this way
Implied powers
Powers of the federal government that go beyond those enumerated in the Constitution for the necessary and proper clause
Incumbents
Those already holding office they have a better chance of being reelected
Constituents
A voting member of the public with power to elected and appointed members to office who are then accountable to them
Casework
Activities of members of Congress that help constitutes as individuals cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to
Franking privileges
Allows members of Congress to transmit mail without postage
Reapportionment
The process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years on the basis of the census results
Redistricting
The process of drawing US electoral district boundaries primarily the responsibility of state legislatures happening every 10 years with results of the census
Gerrymandering
Manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency to favor one party or class
Wesberry vs. Sanders
Order the house districts to be near equal in population
Bill
A proposed law drafted in precise legal language anyone can draft a bill but a member of Congress formally submits it for consideration
Quorum
The minimum number of members who must be present to permit a legislative body to take official action
Line-item veto
The power possessed by 42 state governments to veto only certain parts of a bill while allowing the rest of it to pass
also a power of the president
Clinton v. New York
Declared line item veto unconstitutional as the president was abusing power and stepping out of executive bounds
Legislative veto
The ability of Congress to override a presidential decision although the War Powers Resolution asserts it’s authority it is possible that of challenged Scotus would find it in violation of separation of powers
Appropriations
Appropriations bill
an act of Congress that actually funds programs within limits established by authorization bills usually covers one year
Earmarks
A measure that appropriates money for a project in a specific district added in a bill in a way that allows it to avoid the conventional appropriations process therefore your marks are not counted in the budget
Pork barrel legislation
The mighty list of federal projects, grants, and contracts available to cities, businesses, colleges, and institutions available to a congressional district
Logrolling
An act of exchanging favors for mutual gain
17th amendment
Senators are elected by the public not the House of Representatives
Filibuster
A strategy unique to the Senate we’re by opponents of a piece of legislation try to talk it to death based on the tradition of unlimited debate 60 members can halt a filibuster
Cloture
60 Senator vote to halt a filibuster
Continuing resolution
When Congress cannot reach an agreement and pass appropriation bills these resolutions allow agencies to spend at the level of the previous year
Pigeon hole
Expression describing how most bills introduced in each session of Congress are buried put away or never acted upon
Pocket veto
Type of veto a chief executive may use after legislature has adjourned where the chief executive does not sign or reject a bill within the time allowed to do so
Speaker of the house
Mandated by the Constitution chosen by majority party it’s formal and informal powers over the House of Representatives they are second in line to the presidencyk
Presides over house
Committee assignments
Appoints legislative leaders and leadership staff
Assigns bills to committees
President pro tempore
Officer of the Senate who presides over the chamber and absence of the normal presiding officer, the vice President
Majority leader
The principal ally of the speaker of the house or the party’s manager in the Senate
responsible for scheduling bills, influencing committee assignments, and rounding up votes on behalf of the parties legislative positions
Minority leader
The principal leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate
Whip
Work with the majority or minority party leaders to count votes and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial
Congressional caucus
A group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic most are composed of members from both parties and from both houses
Legislative oversight
Congresses monitoring of the bureaucracy and it’s administration (also president) of policy performed mainly though hearings
Standing committees
Separate subject matter committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas
House rules committee
An institution unique to the house of representatives that reviews all bills (except revenue budget and appropriations bills) coming from the house committee before they go to the full house
Select committees
Congressional committees appointed for a specific purpose such as the Watergate investigation then dissolved
Joint committee
Congressional committees on a few subject matter areas with membership drawn from both houses
Conference committee
Congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House passed a particular bill in different forms party leadership appoints members for each house to iron out the differences and bring back a single bill
Subcommittee
A subdivision of the house are Senate committee to consider specified matters and reports back to the full committee
Seniority system
A simple rule for selecting committee chairs in effect until the 1970s members who would serve the longest and his party controlled the chamber regardless of party loyalty mental state or competence not entirely in effect today but still considered
Committee chairs
The most important influencers of the Congressional agenda they play dominant rolls in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills when they’re brought before the full house
Roles of members of congress
Policy makers Representatives Constituent server Committee member Party member
Descriptive representation
Representing constitutions by mirroring their personal, politically relevant characteristics
Not really possible
Substantive representation
Representing the interests of groups
for example members of Congress with the background of wealth and privilege can be champions for the interests of the poor
The job
Is very hard About 170,000 office space in Washington substantial congressional staff for each individual member allowances for travel franking privileges other small privileges power
MD representatives
House: Elijah Cummings and John sarbanes
Senate: Barbra Mikulski and Ben Cardin
Lack of women in congress?
17% of both houses
Fewer women become major nominees
Less ambitious to run for office (childcare responsibilities)
Feel they are less likely to win
Why do incumbents win elections
Voters are less aware of how congressman vote
members of Congress do not gain or lose votes with fluctuations in the economy
have a name recognition and privileges
Note: incumbents in the Senate win by narrower margins because there’s more media coverage, less contacts with the constituents, they represent more people, and their challenges are known
Incumbents- advertising
Between elections incumbents maintain contact with constitutions members concentrate on staying visible and take trips to the home districts and use lots of technology
Incumbents credit claiming
Use two ways to serve the community casework and porkbarrel
Incumbents position taking
Most engage in position taking on matters of public policy when they vote and answer to constituents
occasionally take partisan stands
may affect the outcome of elections
Incumbents- Weak opponents
Likely to face week opponents because people don’t want to challenge members of Congress
Incumbents campaign spending
Very excessive spending by recognition one fourth of the money is from PACs but most is self donated
Role of party id in congressional elections
Good predictor of outcomes most members represent constituencies in which their parties the majority
Defeating incumbents
Incumbents tarnished by scandal are vulnerable
congressional membership is reapportioned after each census which could result in redistricting and open seats have more competition
Stability and change in congress
Incumbents usually stay which allows them to gain expertise and also insulate some from political change so there have been a proposals of term limitations
Shaw v. Reno
No racial gerrymandering
Cannot be the sole factor
Differences between house and senate
Filibuster and house rules Senate v. House 100 members v. 435 6 years v. 2 Larger constituency v. Smaller Less centralized v. More Foreign affairs/less specialized v. Budgets/more specialized Moderate turnover v. Small Less seniority v. More Unlimited debate v. Limited debate and floor amendments
Party leadership in perspective
Not all powerful
Must still respond to parties and cannot usually punish people
Keeps order but still decentralized
Delegate representation
Elected representative who’s obligation is to act in accordance with the expressed wishes of the people they represent
Impeachment
House passes articles of impeachment and senate convicts the accused
Congressional amendment powers
Propose an amendment with a 2/3 vote
Senate executive powers
Power to review and approve or rejects presidential appointees
Congressional staff personal
For individual members
Casework
Keep up with legislative functions
Congressional staff committee
Organize hearings Research options Draft committee reports Write legislation High levels of expertise
Staff agencies
Congressional research service
Library of congress respond to info requests
Staff agencies
Governmental accountability office
Review executive to make sure they are inline with congress and settles claims against the government
Staff agencies
Congressional budget office
Projections on economic performance analyze presidential budget and cost of policies
Presidents and congress
Partners in legislative process but adversaries in outcomes
Presidents have agendas and have regular meetings with leaders
Works at margins to pass legislation
The facilitator- coalition building, favorable configurations
Party influence
Cohesive during elections of official leaders
but divide during civil rights, social welfare, and economic policy
Congress has become more polarized
Constituency v. Ideology
Vote on roll calls similar to those who share policy positions
Public issues: vote with constituents
Mixed or low coverage: vote with party
Other lawmakers and staff
Lobbyists
Must register money spent and what they seek to influence
Bill to law process
Can go from senate to house also
HOUSE OR REPS
HOUSE COMMITTEE (subcommittee->committee) can pigeon hole, kill, or send off
HOUSE RULES COMMITTEE how long it will be debated & amendments that can be made
ENTIRE HOUSE
Introduced in the SENATE and president protempore send it to a
SENATE COMMITTEE (subcommittee->committee)
ENTIRE SENATE debates (filibuster)
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE iron out differences
BACK TO BOTH HOUSES
PRESIDENT
Amendments decided by house rules
Open rule- permits amendments and often has less strict time limits allowing for input from other members
Closed rule- set strict time limits on debates and for bids amendments from the floor except those from the presenting committee
Riders/ earmarks
Veto
President says no to legislation
Bills become law after ten days with no signature or veto
