Congress Unit Flashcards
Majority Party
Political Party in each house of Congress with the MOST members
Minority Party
Political Party in each house with the 2ND MOST
Party Caucus Dem. (Conference Rep.)
Formal gathering of all party members
Role of Party Caucus
Nominate Party Officers
Review Committee Assignments
Discussing Party Policy
Sets Themes and Discipline
Coordinate Media
Who are given party chairs in Cacaus?
Recognized Party Leaders to work directly with the Senate and House to succeed.
Speaker of the House
The only officer listed specifically in the Constitution; Is the most powerful position that typically belongs to the member of the majority party. Usually longtime server
Who is the Speaker of the House
Mike Johnson
Where does the Speaker of the House come after in the gov’t?
Vice President in making decisions.
Minority/Majority Floor Leaders
Elected by mi. ma. groups in Congress and act as second authority after SOTH
Senate Minority Floor Leader
Chuck Schumer
Senate Majority Floor Leader
John Thune
Whip
Party leaders who keep close contact with all members of the party (“whips” group into line. In absence of floor leader, they take charge
Senate Minority Whip
Dick Durban
Senate Majority Whip
John Barrasso
House Majority Whip
Tom Emmer
House Minority Whip
Katherine Clark
Presiding Officer
Leader of Senate
Leader of the Senate
Vice President
President Pro Tempore
Most senior member of the majority party leader Senate
Who is the President Pro Tempore
Chuck Grassley
Committee System
Where bills go and are used for specialization
Standing Committee
Bills are referred for consideration for particular pieces and areas of legislation.
Subcommittee
within a standing committee are subcommittees that are more specialized
Prestige Committees
Standing Committee that are most recognizable and important.
What are the Prestige Committees
Ways and Means, Rules, Budget, Commerce, Appropriations. Etc.
Joint Committee
A Standing Committee that includes both members of both houses to conduct investigations/special studies
Conference Committee
A Special Joint Committee to reconcile differences passed in the House and Senate
Select/Special Committee
Temporary committee appointed for special purposes
Discharge Petition
A petition that gives a majority the authority to bring issues to the floor
Senator Requirments
30 years 9 years citizenship
HOR Requirements
25 years 7 years citizenship
Powers of Congress
- Declare War
- Raise army and navy
- coin $$
- tax
- regulate commerce
HOR Powers
-power to impeachment
Senate Powers
- try impeachment
-approve appointees
House Majority Floor Leader
Steve Scalise
House Minority Floor Leader
Hakeem Jefferies
Ways and Means Committee
Writes taxes
What is the most under-represented demographic in Congress?
Women
Logrolling
vote trading; voting to support a colleague’s bill in return for a promise of future support
Trustee Representation
Legislatures are trusted by their people to make the right desions even if it is against party views
Instructed Delegate View
Legislature that mirrors the party that voted for them for decisions
Politico
The legislature does both Trustee representation and Instructed Delegate View
Oversight
When Congress follows up on laws enacted to ensure they ar being enforced the ways they wanted
Oversign responsabilities
committee hearings, adjusting budgets, examining presidential actions, and special commissions
House Rules Committee
Only the house, makes rules for debate.
Rule for debate in Senate
Body approve rules by unanimous consent
Apportionment
Dividing representatives for states by populations
Markup
A session where reps. will offer changes before the bill goes to the floor
Hold
Senator requests more info on bill before taken to the floor
Filibuster
Halting senate actions on bill by unlimited debate
Cloture
Ends filibuster with 3/5s vote
4 choices the president has when signing a bill
Veto, Sign, Pocket Veto, Nothing (in 10 days bill becomes a law)
Reconciliation
Limiting budget debate to avoid a filibuster
Pork
Legislation that allows reps. to bring money and jobs to their district through programs
Earmarks
Special funds for districts in states
Why is pork bad?
Focuses on small groups not nationally
War Powers Resolution
President can only send troops for 60 days during peacetime
Constitutional review
Act of congress confirming/rejecting presidential appointments
CRS
Congressional Research Service responds to info requests and studies
CBO
Legislative Branch, the Congressional Budget Office evaluates the cost of everything relating to analysing the presidential budget and economic projection
GAO
Government Accountability Office Legal opinions, accounting, and claims, studies.
OMB
Executive Branch, Office of Management and Budget who assist the president in proposing a budget
A1 S7 Clause 1
Gives power for Congress to make tax law originating the HOR
A1 S9 Clause 7
Gives power for congress to withdraw $$ from treasury can only be done by LAW
Mandatory Spending
LAw bonded spending (social security)
Discretionary Spending
Spending determined by budget process and plan
