Exam 1 Flashcards
Marbury v Madison
Chief Justice John Marshall established the concept of judicial review
Citizens United v Federal Election Commission
Held that the First Amendment protects corporate, union, and nonprofit fund of independent political speech
Bicameralism
Congress is divided into two chambers, the House and the Senate
Institutionalization
Development of the more component parts within the institution (in this case Congress)
Speaker of the House
John Boehner (R-OH)
House Majority Leader
Eric Cantor (R-VA)
House Minority Leader
Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)
Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid (D-NV)
Senate Minority Leader
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Senate President pro tempore
Patrick Leahy (D-VT)
Which article of the Constitution addresses Congress?
Article 1
Separation of powers
Power is divided between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches
Checks and balances
Each branch has certain checks on the others to keep a balance of power
Constitution as an “invitation to struggle”
ENTER LATER
Federalism
ENTER LATER
“Pork” spending
ENTER LATER
Filibuster
ENTER LATER
Articles of Confederation
Predecessor to the Constitution; failed b/c it limited the power of the government (Congress could declare wars but had to ask for soldiers; Congress had no power to tax)
Shay’s Rebellion
ENTER LATER
Annapolis Convention of 1786
Washington, Madison, and others saw need for change so they decided to send delegates to Philadelphia to consider possibilities
Constitutional Convention
Lasted 4 months, needed only 9 states to approve changes to articles, had a powerful federal gov but w/separation of powers
Connecticut Compromise
Bicameral legislature with the House benefitting large states and the Senate benefitting small states
President v. Congress- who has more power?
On the whole, Congress; but not all the time, it depends on the president
Andrew Jackson
A vigorous and opinionated president who split the nation
Abraham Lincoln
Civil War president who assumed some extra-constitutional powers to become a strong leader
When was the Golden Age of Congressional Government?
From Andrew Johnson to Theodore Roosevelt
What characterized the Golden Age of Congressional Government?
- Whig philosophy of limited government
- Congress as identifier and solver of problems
Which president began the growth of presidential power?
Teddy Roosevelt
How did Teddy Roosevelt increase presidential power
- Invented executive orders
- Used the “bully pulpit”
- Called it the “Jackson-Lincoln theory of the presidency”
Which president reverted back to the Whig model?
FDR during the depression, when the country was in need of vigorous leadership
What are Nelson Polsby’s three characteristics of institutionalization?
- Well-bounded
- Complex
- Relies on rules and precedents
What makes Congress well-bounded (based on Polsby)?
- Membership stability
- Number of terms for members
- Leadership: serve more terms, specific career path
What makes Congress complex (based on Polsby)?
- Development of committee system
- Development of party leadership
- Increase in financial resources
How does Congress rely on rules and precedents (based on Polsby)?
- Evidence from contested elections
- Use of seniority for committee leadership
- Politeness and decorum norms
What do the “inside” roles of Congressional leadership involve?
Influencing votes, communicating with members, knowing parliamentary procedures, organizing activities
What do the “outside” roles of Congressional leadership involve?
Publicizing issue agendas, serving as party’s link to public/press, raise money, recruiting candidates for the next election
In which chamber is leadership more important?
The House
Dennis Hastert
Famous Speaker of the House
Sam Rayburn
Famous Speaker of the House
Newt Gingrich
Famous Speaker of the House
Tip O’Neil
Famous Speaker of the House
Jim Wright
Famous Speaker of the House
Tom Foley
Famous Speaker of the House
Nancy Pelosi
Famous Speaker of the House
John Boehner
Famous Speaker of the House
Majority Leader
- Different from speaker
- Elected by secret ballot of party
- Does not chair committees
- Experienced legislator
What is the job of the Majority Leader?
Floor defender, negotiator, spokesperson, duties sometimes overlap with Speaker
Minority Leader
Leader of the “loyal opposition”
What is the job of the Minority Leader?
- Promote unity in party
- Monitor legislative activities
- Reach out to voters
- Win back control of the House
What is the job of a Whip?
In theory: encourage party discipline
In practice: count votes, seek information, communicate with party members
In which chamber are whips less important?
The Senate
Party Caucus refers to which party?
Democrats
Party Conference refers to which party?
Republicans
Cannon Revolt
First time committees and chairs gained power was after this; Joseph Cannon was voted out of the Rules Committee as Speaker
Standing Committee
Permanent committee
Select Committee
Temporary committee
Joint Committee
Consists of members from both houses
Conference Committee
Members of each chamber meet to resolve differences in bills
An average member sits on how many committees?
About 3
Johnson Rule
Ensures that all majority party Senators are appointed to one “A” committee before a Senator receives a second assignment
How does the committee assignment process work?
- Accomodate new members
- Levels of committees (A and Super A are best)
- Average members sit on 3
- Choices determined by reelection, influence, and policymaking
- Johnson Rule in Senate
- Members must lobby leadership
What are the 3 steps to the assignment to a committee?
Party assignment panel -> Party caucus/conference vote -> Pro forma vote by chamber
What is the committee process?
Overlapping jurisdictions solved by referrals, subcommittees first, hearing, markup, report
“The power of the Speaker of the House is the power of ________”
“scheduling”
