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Political Science > Exam 1 > Flashcards

Exam 1 Flashcards

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1
Q

what is Gerrymandering?

A

an OLD practice whereby the party in power creates districts that favor their party

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2
Q

why does congress value specialization?

A

to make sure complex issues are being addressed

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3
Q

peoples impressions of congress are; ______ view on congress and ______ on their representative

A

negative

positive

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4
Q

the year 1992 was “the year of the woman” in congress because it marked the first time that

A

a large number of women were elected to congress

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5
Q

powers specifically granted to the House and the Senate are called?

A

enumerated powers

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6
Q

where does most detailed legislative work take place?

A

in committee meetings

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7
Q

in order to end a senate debate

A

3/5 majority of senators must end a filibuster by supporting cloture

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8
Q

the greatest political risk to members of congress comes from..

A

having cast a handful of votes on salient issues

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9
Q

one perk that enables members of congress from districts far from Washington to remain in personal contact with their primary and reelection constituents is…

A

the franking privilege

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10
Q

The founding period:

Aristotle

A

the purpose of civil society is happiness

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11
Q

what is social contract theory?

A
  • people trade liberty for the protections of society
  • w/o government, people exist in a “state of nature” (hobbs)
  • people posses natural rights to life, liberty and property (locke)
  • rulers are bound to protect everyones rights and rulers who fail to do so have broken the social contact (rousseau)
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12
Q

the constitutional convention was a what?

A

gag order (cant talk about it)

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13
Q

What thins led to convention of 1787?

A
  • post war period saw hard economic times
  • the new (state) governments had to repay way war debt
  • taxes had negative effects on farmers
  • shay’s rebellion
  • Annapolis convention of 1786
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14
Q

what was the constitutional convention?

A

delegates from 12 states meet to amend the articles of confederation
-decide to scrap articles and write a new constitution

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15
Q

what were the features of the articles of confederation?

A
  • first constitution of the US
  • in effect from 1777-1789
  • formally ratified in 1781
  • lose federation among states
  • required unanimity to amend
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16
Q

problems with the articles of confederation?

A
  • unable to regulate commerce (provide steady economy)
  • unable to provide for a coherent foreign policy
  • unable to raise taxes
  • able to pass laws but unable to make states follow them
  • no mean of national defense
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17
Q

Two central functions of the Texas legislature?

A

To allow representation of various interest ps and to provide forum where parties with conflicting goals can reconcile their differences through the law making process

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18
Q

What is a bicameral legislature?

A

A legislature with tow chambers

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19
Q

Difference between the house and the senate representation in Texas?

A

Legislators in the house represent smaller districts with fewer constituents and have shorter terms than senators

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20
Q

The governor may use the threat of a special session on what purpose?

A

To incentivize the legislature to focus on policy areas of concern to the governor

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21
Q

Why does the speaker of the house have more power than the the lt governor?

A

The lt governor is chosen statewide meanwhile the speaker is chosen from among the house.

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22
Q

How long are the terms of the Texas house of reps?

A

2 years

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23
Q

What is the purpose of staggering terms of office for senators?

A

It prevents the disruption that a political or economic upheaval might cause

24
Q

After which historical era did diversity within the Texas legislature slowly begin to increase?

A

Civil rights era

25
Q

What event marked the start of a viable Republican Party in modern Texas?

A

The 1961 election of John tower to the U.S Senate

26
Q

Why were reelection rates for the incumbents in 2010 different than in previous years?

A

Tea party candidates successfully challenged incumbent republicans who were not considered conservative enough

27
Q

What are types of bills that can be introduced?

A

General, local, special

28
Q

How does a concurrent resolution differ from a law?

A

A concurrent resolution is a formal statement of opinion but does not carry force of law

29
Q

Which branch impeached and which branch tries the case?

A

The house of reps may impeach and the senate tries the case

30
Q

What does it mean that legislators have certain immunities?

A

The legislators may not be sued for slander or otherwise held accountable for statements made during legislative proceedings

31
Q

What makes the lt governor such a powerful figure in the legislature?

A

He can assign bills to specific committed

32
Q

What is the duty of the speaker of the house?

A

He or she must maintain order during debate on floor

33
Q

What does pro tempore mean

A

For the time being

34
Q

What is the difference between a standing committee and a special committee?

A

The standing committee is a permanent committee meanwhile special committee is a subcommittee for the standing committee

35
Q

Of the temporary committees in both houses, which tends to play the largest role in affecting legislation?

A

Conference committees

36
Q

Which of the following is true regarding the committee system in tx legislature?

A

The committee system serves to channel the supposed to well financed interest groups

37
Q

What’s logrolling?

A

Vote trading

38
Q

Who can formally introduce a bill for consideration in the legislature?

A

Only members of the legislature

39
Q

What is the practice informally referred to as “voting the district”?

A

Legislators, knowing what issues matter to their constituents, cast votes in line with those preferences

40
Q

Under what circumstances is a legislator likely to be unengaged and become open to the influences of other members, interest groups, and lobbyists?

A

When a representative from an urban district is faced with a proposed law affecting agricultural policy

41
Q

What are legislative days?

A

Days when interest group leaders organize visits by members of their group to the Capitol offices of their representatives

42
Q

Why are lobbyists usually better positioned than legislators to develop policy expertise?

A

Extremely low pay provided to legislators requires them to have other full time occupations that take their attention from legislatings

43
Q

How does the Capitol press corps impact the legislative session?

A

The stories that press corps reporters write may affect outcomes and alter the legislative process

44
Q

What is the person who introduces a bill for consideration known as?

A

The sponsor of the bill

45
Q

The shortness of the legislative session has led to what practice?

A

Members of the legislature pre-filing bills before the legislative session even begins

46
Q

What occurs when a committee pigeonholes a bill?

A

The committee moves that bill to the bottom of the committee’s agenda, effectively killing it

47
Q

When a bill is read for the 3rd time, the bill may be amended but it requires how much majority approval?

A

2/3

48
Q

Filibuster is what?

A

Trying to kill a bill by “talking it to death”

49
Q

What is the purpose of a conference committee?

A

To resolve the often significant differences in the two versions of a bill passed by the house and the senate

50
Q

What happens if the governor receives a bill to sign and chooses to do nothing with the bill?

A

The bill automatically becomes law after the 10 day period of gubernatorial consideration has been passes

51
Q

What is a point of order?

A

An objection that claims an error in the format content, or procedural path of a bill

52
Q

Under which circumstances can a point of order be raised on an amendment?

A

An amendment changes the bills original purpose slightly

53
Q

What is likely to happen to a bill that is found to be in violation of the rules?

A

It goes to a committee to fix its mistakes and is then sent to the floor where there may not be enough time to address it

54
Q

What is the practical effect of the “constitutional order of business”?

A

There is a frantic scramble to deal with large numbers of bills during the final few weeks of the session

55
Q

The federalist paper no 51. Is about what?

A

The separation of powers

56
Q

Federalist paper no. 23?

A

Too much power in central government

57
Q

Federalist paper no. 10

A

Factions (interest groups)

Political Science (5 decks)

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