congress notes Flashcards
congress makeup
house and senate
the house members terms and general role
435 members
2 year terms
initiates all revenue bills and more influential on budget and tax reform
the senate members terms and general role
100 members
6 year terms
gives “advice and consent” more influenctial on foreign affairs
have unlimited debates
“Upper chamber”
house age requirement citizenship requirement and % up for election every 2 years
25
7
100
senate age requirement citizenship requirement and % up for election every 2 years
30
9
33
house method of election
size of constituency
presiding officer
impeachment
people/district
single-member district
speaker of the House
initiates impeachment
senate method of election
size of constitutency
presiding officer
impeachment/ roles
people/ state (17th amendment)
state
Vice-president
ratifies treaties
confirms president appointment
impeachment trial
trustees
use best judgment to make policy in the interest of the people
instructed delegates
mirror preferences of constituents
politicos
adopt both trustee and delegate roles to be both repressentatives and policymakers
speaker of the house
presides over the house
elected by majority party in house every 2 years
sets overall agenda and coordinates policy
determines committee assignments
majority house leader
schedules legislation for floor consideration
plans daily weekly and annual legislative agendas
works to advance goals of majority
minority house leader
party’s top choice for Speaker if party control flips
meets with speaker and majority leader to discuss agreements on issues
the senate vp
president of the senate
votes to break ties
senate president pro tempore
presides in VP’s absences
held by member of majority party with longest service
senate majority leader
serves as chief senate spokesman for the party and manages and schedules legislative and exec business
senate minority leader
acts as minority party’s chief spokesperson
whips
deputies responsible for maintaining party loyalty and counting heads on key votes
exert pressure on members to vote the party position
enumerated vs implied powers
powers specifically stated in constitution for congress vs not specifically addressed
commerce clause
congress gets power to regulate interstate and international commerce
gibbons v. ogden
federal government has exclusive power over interstate commerce
every form of commercial activity
legislative oversight
monitoring of the bureaucracy and its administration of policy through committee hearings
standing committees
most important type; subject matter committees that handle bills in different policy areas