congress test Flashcards
article one
delegated powers
enumerated powers
implied powers
enumerated powers
pass a federal budget
tax
borrow money
coin money
declare war
regulate interstate commerce
implied powers
elastic clause (necessary and proper clause)
economic issues
environmental issues
social issues
incumbency rate
house: 90%
Senate: 60%
advantages of incumbents
advertising
credit claiming
position taking
weak opponents
campaign spending
advertising
the goal is to be visible for voters
senators have more experienced competition
senators have more diverse constituency (lower incumbency rate)
credit claiming
service to individuals in their district makes voters feel like their constituents are looking out for them
pork barrel spending
federal projects/grants made available in a congressional district that helps the state
a congressman gives funds to their own district for re election
position taking
portray themselves as hard working, dedicated individuals
partisan stand on issue
weak opponents
usually inexperienced in politics
unorganized and underfunded
campaign spending
challengers need to raise large sums to defeat incumbent
house races cost 1 million = Senate cost 10 times that
PACs give money to incumbents
incumbents spend 2 to 1 to challengers
defeating incumbents
may face redistricting
may face scandal
may be victim of major political tidal wave
midterm elections see changes
open seats
no incumbents running for seat
term limits advantages
less career politicians will result in more responsive politicians
newer ideas introduced
demographics reflect the country
limit influence of interest groups
increase public interest
less pork barrel spendings
house would be less elitist
term limits disadvantages
the legislator may not be as responsive towards end of their term
less experience
fear of unknown with newly elected
politicians may do good job = constituents want them to stay
party polarization
increases ideological division between republican and democrats
cause of party polarization
clear differences on issues
more ideological primary and midterm election voters
effects of party polarization
policy gridlock
fewer bills passed
more fiibusters
tougher confirmation proceedings
the house
435 members
2 year terms
initiate all revenue bills, more influential on budget
house rule committee
limited debates
7 years citizenship
the senate
100 members
6 year terms
give advice and consent, more influential on foreign affairs
unlimited debates (filibusters)
9 years citizenship
non legislative powers of senate
confirmation powers
ratify treaties
show examples of elitism
confirmation powers
provide advice and consent
confirm judicial nominations
confirm cabinet heads
confirm executive agency heads
both have power
budget/power of purse
discretionary spending
mandatory spending
the house leadership
speaker of the house
Mike johnson
elected by house members
major role in committee assignments and legislation
assisted by majority leader and whips
the Senate leadership
before was vice president
now is majority leader
John thune
works with minority leader
president pro tempore also (under majority leader)
Senate debate
unlimited
cloture (vote to end filibuster = 60 senators)
filibuster
house debate
limited
Senate impeachment
holds the trial
house impeachment
charges for the impeachment
trustee
vote on how they personally believe is best (regardless of constituent opinion)
delegate
do what the constituent wants (regardless of their own opinion)
politico
depends (sometimes trustee or delegate)
reapportionment
process by which representatives are assigned to states after census
redistricting
process of setting new boundary lines for congressional districts after reapportionment
how to gerrymander
cracking and packing
cracking
splits voters for the opposing party into multiple districts
diluting their voting strength in each district
packing
concentrating large numbers of voters for the opposing party into a single district to reduce their voting power in other districts
Baker v carr
1962
apportionment issue can be settled by federal courts
led to the one person, one vote principle for equal representation
declared malapportionment unconstitutional
shaw v. reno
1993
congressional districts cannot be drawn based on only race
majority minority districts
our state distrcit
4
William timmons
SC Senators
Lindsey graham (senior senator)
Tim Scott (junior senator)
only democratic district of SC
district 6
James clyburn
succession order
president
vice president
speaker of the house
types of committees
standing
select
joint
conference
standing committee
permanent, fixed membership and jurisdiction
subject matter committees handle different policy areas
(specific issues)
20 in HOR
17 in Senate
most important standing committee
ways and means (handle taxes)
second important
appropriations and budget
select committees
special temporary committees created by Congress to study issues of immediate national importance
ex) global warming
alternative energy
9/11
joint committee
made up of members from both House and Senate
usually with administrative function
handles routine organizational matters
conference committees
temporary committee set up to resolve differences in House and Senate version of a bill
no bill can be sent to president until both pass in identical form
3 big things congressional committees do
consider bills (mark up bills)
oversight of executive
conduct investigations
oversight
involves hearing and other methods of checking the actions of the executive branch
the house rules committee
a standing committee set up to decide date on calendar when bill will be present and the rules of debate and is controlled by the Speaker
open rule
states that there can be debate on the floor, Amendments may be added, and there is more lenient time limit
closed rule
there is a time limit and no debate
the congressmen are made to just vote
germaneness requirement
discussions (and any amendments) must be relevant, on topic
role of a committee chairman
decides when committee meets
which bills to consider
how long to consider each bill
can delay or kill a bill
where meetings will be held
which witnesses will testify
controls the committee budget
manage floor debate when bill comes up for vote
speed or slow passage of bill
caucuses
the informal organization of congress
a group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristics
basically a congressional interest group
private bill
deal with individual people or places
public bill
deal with general matters and apply to entire nation
process of bill
Bill is proposed on House floor and is assigned a committee/subcommittee
Committee marks up holds hearing about bill and bill passes
If in House, then bill goes to rule committee (open or closed) before being voted on by entire House
Full House votes and simple majority passess bill
Bill read on senate floor and assigned committee/subcommittee and repeat step 2
No rules committee in senate (unlimited debate)
Full senate votes and simple majority passes bill
If senate bill differs from HOR bill, then form conference committee and get agreeable bill for both
Once agreeable bill is formed, bill then voted on by Full House and Full Senate and passes
Bill goes to President to be signed or vetoed and if vetoed, then veto override process (⅔ in congress) starts
war powers act
clashes with the executive branch and legislation
congressional leadership needs to be told within 24 hrs
Congress can vote to bring troops home
logrolling
congress members exchange votes, bill might pass for frivolous (not serious) reasons
pork barrel legislation (riders)
usually contain controversial subject matter
often attached to bills dealing with different subjects matter
discretionary spending
spending that has to be authorized every year by Congress and preisdent
mandatory spending
spending that does not have to be approved annually
2/3 of federal spending
appropriations
gives government agencies the authority to spend money for specific purpose (budget)
example of congressional oversight
correcting, changing, eliminating, or altering policy
public complaints and disclosure often used
sunset laws
sunset laws
used to automatically terminate a program or an agency
(used largely at state level)
criticisms of congress
pork barrel spending
logrolling
christmas tree bills
other name for president
chief legislator
types of resolutions
simple resolutions
joint resolutions
concurrent resolutions
concurrent resolution
requires actions by both House and senate
sed to express opinion and set date for the adjournment of congress
no president approval
joint resolution
may be used to correct mistake in bill, appropriate money for special purpose, propose constitutional amendments
need president approval
simple resolution
covers matter affecting one house of congress
may be a statement for or denial of support on issue
offer advice on matter
adopt a new rule or procedure
why few bills become laws
without strong support and willingness to compromise
many introduced have no chance
lawmaker may want to go on record in support of idea or policy (satisfy interest group to get funds)
attract media attention
unanimous consent agreements
senate
an agreement in the Senate that sets the terms for the consideration of a bill
typically used to restrict debate and to expedite action
filibuster
delays the passing of a bill
prevents a vote through long speech
discharge petition
a way in the House to get a bill out of committee and possibly around rules committee and voted on house floor
needs 218 signatures
challenges leadership so not really used
pigeonholed bill
a bill that has been lost in the shuffle and not dicussed with little attention paid to it
