Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

AP US Government > Congress > Flashcards

Congress Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
AP® U.S. History flashcards AP® U.S. Government flashcards U.S. Government Basics flashcards American Government 101 flashcards U.S. Geography flashcards
1
Q

Trustee representation

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

27th amendment

A

Congressional salaries

Congress sets it’s own salary each term but it goes to affect in the next term

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Bicameral legislature

A

Legislature divided into two houses the US Congress and every other legislative branch, but Nebraska, is organized this way

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Implied powers

A

Powers of the federal government that go beyond those enumerated in the Constitution for the necessary and proper clause

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Incumbents

A

Those already holding office they have a better chance of being reelected

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Constituents

A

A voting member of the public with power to elected and appointed members to office who are then accountable to them

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Casework

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Franking privileges

A

Allows members of Congress to transmit mail without postage

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Reapportionment

A

The process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years on the basis of the census results

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Redistricting

A

The process of drawing US electoral district boundaries primarily the responsibility of state legislatures happening every 10 years with results of the census

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Gerrymandering

A

Manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency to favor one party or class

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Wesberry vs. Sanders

A

Order the house districts to be near equal in population

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Bill

A

A proposed law drafted in precise legal language anyone can draft a bill but a member of Congress formally submits it for consideration

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Quorum

A

The minimum number of members who must be present to permit a legislative body to take official action

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Line-item veto

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Clinton v. New York

A

Declared line item veto unconstitutional as the president was abusing power and stepping out of executive bounds

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Legislative veto

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Appropriations

A

Appropriations bill

an act of Congress that actually funds programs within limits established by authorization bills usually covers one year

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Earmarks

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Pork barrel legislation

A

The mighty list of federal projects, grants, and contracts available to cities, businesses, colleges, and institutions available to a congressional district

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Logrolling

A

An act of exchanging favors for mutual gain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

17th amendment

A

Senators are elected by the public not the House of Representatives

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Filibuster

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Cloture

A

60 Senator vote to halt a filibuster

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Continuing resolution

A

When Congress cannot reach an agreement and pass appropriation bills these resolutions allow agencies to spend at the level of the previous year

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Pigeon hole

A

Expression describing how most bills introduced in each session of Congress are buried put away or never acted upon

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Pocket veto

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Speaker of the house

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

President pro tempore

A

Officer of the Senate who presides over the chamber and absence of the normal presiding officer, the vice President

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Majority leader

A

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Minority leader

A

The principal leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate

32
Q

Whip

A

Work with the majority or minority party leaders to count votes and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial

33
Q

Congressional caucus

A

A group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic most are composed of members from both parties and from both houses

34
Q

Legislative oversight

A

Congresses monitoring of the bureaucracy and it’s administration (also president) of policy performed mainly though hearings

35
Q

Standing committees

A

Separate subject matter committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas

36
Q

House rules committee

A

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

37
Q

Select committees

A

Congressional committees appointed for a specific purpose such as the Watergate investigation then dissolved

38
Q

Joint committee

A

Congressional committees on a few subject matter areas with membership drawn from both houses

39
Q

Conference committee

A

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

40
Q

Subcommittee

A

A subdivision of the house are Senate committee to consider specified matters and reports back to the full committee

41
Q

Seniority system

A

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

42
Q

Committee chairs

A

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

43
Q

Roles of members of congress

A 
Policy makers 
Representatives
Constituent server 
Committee member
Party member
44
Q

Descriptive representation

A

Representing constitutions by mirroring their personal, politically relevant characteristics

Not really possible

45
Q

Substantive representation

A

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

46
Q

The job

A 
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
47
Q

MD representatives

A

House: Elijah Cummings and John sarbanes
Senate: Barbra Mikulski and Ben Cardin

48
Q

Lack of women in congress?

A

17% of both houses
Fewer women become major nominees
Less ambitious to run for office (childcare responsibilities)
Feel they are less likely to win

49
Q

Why do incumbents win elections

A

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

50
Q

Incumbents- advertising

A

Between elections incumbents maintain contact with constitutions members concentrate on staying visible and take trips to the home districts and use lots of technology

51
Q

Incumbents credit claiming

A

Use two ways to serve the community casework and porkbarrel

52
Q

Incumbents position taking

A

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

53
Q

Incumbents- Weak opponents

A

Likely to face week opponents because people don’t want to challenge members of Congress

54
Q

Incumbents campaign spending

A

Very excessive spending by recognition one fourth of the money is from PACs but most is self donated

55
Q

Role of party id in congressional elections

A

Good predictor of outcomes most members represent constituencies in which their parties the majority

56
Q

Defeating incumbents

A

Incumbents tarnished by scandal are vulnerable
congressional membership is reapportioned after each census which could result in redistricting and open seats have more competition

57
Q

Stability and change in congress

A

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

58
Q

Shaw v. Reno

A

No racial gerrymandering

Cannot be the sole factor

59
Q

Differences between house and senate

A 
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
60
Q

Party leadership in perspective

A

Not all powerful
Must still respond to parties and cannot usually punish people
Keeps order but still decentralized

61
Q

Delegate representation

A

Elected representative who’s obligation is to act in accordance with the expressed wishes of the people they represent

62
Q

Impeachment

A

House passes articles of impeachment and senate convicts the accused

63
Q

Congressional amendment powers

A

Propose an amendment with a 2/3 vote

64
Q

Senate executive powers

A

Power to review and approve or rejects presidential appointees

65
Q

Congressional staff personal

A

For individual members
Casework
Keep up with legislative functions

66
Q

Congressional staff committee

A 
Organize hearings
Research options
Draft committee reports
Write legislation
High levels of expertise
67
Q

Staff agencies

Congressional research service

A

Library of congress respond to info requests

68
Q

Staff agencies

Governmental accountability office

A

Review executive to make sure they are inline with congress and settles claims against the government

69
Q

Staff agencies

Congressional budget office

A

Projections on economic performance analyze presidential budget and cost of policies

70
Q

Presidents and congress

A

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

71
Q

Party influence

A

Cohesive during elections of official leaders
but divide during civil rights, social welfare, and economic policy
Congress has become more polarized

72
Q

Constituency v. Ideology

A

Vote on roll calls similar to those who share policy positions
Public issues: vote with constituents
Mixed or low coverage: vote with party

73
Q

Other lawmakers and staff

A

Lobbyists

Must register money spent and what they seek to influence

74
Q

Bill to law process

A

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

75
Q

Amendments decided by house rules

A

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

76
Q

Veto

A

President says no to legislation

Bills become law after ten days with no signature or veto

AP US Government (22 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions