exam 2 Flashcards
what does our congress do? what word describes the two house legislature?
make laws; bicameral
What are TWO SEPARATE POWERS OF THE US HOUSE?
Power of the Purse, Impeachment of officials (they charge officials only)
What is Power of the Purse
tax and spending bills have to start in House
What are THREE POWERS OF THE SENATE?
approve treaties, confirm presidential appointments, impeachment trials
When the Senate approves treaties and when the have an impeachment trial, what vote is necessary?
2/3rds vote
When Senate approves a presidential appointment, what vote is necessary?
simple majority vote
What qualifies you to be a US representative?
US citizen and resident of 7 yrs, 25 years of age, resident of your district/state
What qualifies you to be in the Senate?
US citizen and resident of 7 yrs, 30 yrs of age, resident of state
What five territories are represented by non-voting members of the US House?
District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, American Samoa
Reapportionment vs Redistricting
reapportioning is when, after the census, it is decided how many districts each state will be given, redistricting is the actual divisions, drawn out.
Gerrymandering
Redrawing of district lines to the advantage or disadvantage of any one group
pairing
Two current reps who are redistricted so they have to run against each other
WHAT ARE THE MAIN POWERS OF THE SPEAKER OF THE US HOUSE OF REPS? (5)
power of procedure, break a tie, assign members to committees, assign chairpersons to committees, assign bills to committees.
WHAT ARE THE POWERS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE? (2)
power of procedure, break a tie
WHAT ARE THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADERS POWERS? (3)
assign members to committees, chairpersons to committees, and bills to committees.
What do whips do?
count votes and Reps in town
What 4 things does congress do almost all the time?
run for re-election, serve constituents, think up new laws, Bureaucratic oversight
what is the nickname of the congressional committees?
little legislatures
WHAT ARE THE FOUR CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES, or little legislatures?
Standing committees, joint committees, select committees, and subcommittees.
Standing committees defin. and ex.
Permanent units for addressing bills. Agriculture, small business, homeland security, intelligence.
Conference committee
Any bill passed by both houses that is not the same goes here, in order to form a compromise. 5 members of senate and house and 3 in each must agree for it to pass out
how a bill becomes a law
in both house and senate, the bill is introduced, review by a standing com, subcom, and com, then reported out of com, the house rules com action, then bill is debated under rules and votes. after senate reports out of com it is debated and senate votes. THEN, if conference committee is needed, changes are made and passed, then pres can sign into law or veto
procedural rules in house
Rules committee, open rule, closed rule, rider.
procedural rules in senate
bills supposed to be considered in order. exception to the rule, filibuster (old and new), rule of cloture
Rules Committee
every bill goes here to be scheduled for a debate and have a rule assigned to it
Open rule
anyone at any time can propose and add an addendum/amendment to the bill
Closed rule
a vote must be passed before and amendment or addendum is added to a bill
how a bill becomes a law
in both house and senate, the bill is introduced, review by a standing com, subcom, and com, then reported out of com, the house rules com action, then bill is debated under rules and votes. after senate reports out of com it is debated and senate votes. THEN, if conference committee is needed, changes are made and passed, then pres can sign into law or veto
procedural rules in house
Rules committee, open rule, closed rule, rider.
procedural rules in senate
bills supposed to be considered in order. exception to the rule, filibuster (old and new), rule of cloture
Rules Committee
every bill goes here to be scheduled for a debate and have a rule assigned to it
Open rule
anyone at any time can propose and add an addendum/amendment to the bill
Closed rule
a vote must be passed before and amendment or addendum is added to a bill
rider
amendment to a bill that has nothing to do with it.
Trustee vs delegate
trustee-trust me:congressman votes on their personal opinion. Delegate (consensus): takes polls and votes majority. Current, most are trustees
Filibuster (old and new)
a delaying tactic. Old: taking control of senate floor by talking until you can’t talk anymore. New: get 41 senators to agree not to vote rule of cloture
Rule of cloture
3/5 vote to stop debate and schedule bill for a vote
WHAT ARE 6 STRATEGIES THAT CONGRESS MEMBERS USE TO DECIDE HOW TO VOTE?
personal opinion, constituent opinion, presidential pressure, party pressure, special interest pressure, log rolling (favor for favor)
What kinds of constituent services do people expect from their congressmen?
“casework”
partisan vs bipartisan
one party is interested, where bi is when majority of both parties agreee
Trustee vs delegate
trustee-trust me:congressman votes on their personal opinion. Delegate (consensus): takes polls and votes majority
Why is the presidency seen as the most powerful position in our government?
a lot of power placed in hands of pres, since so many people vote for him.
When did the first peaceful transition, or revolution, occur in US Politics?
Switching from Adams to Jefferson in the 1800 election
who was the first VP to take over for a pres?
John Tyler took over for William Harrison in 1841
Two main goals of our early presidents?
foreign relations, working with congress
What was President Washington’s basic definition of the US Presidency?
Mediator of the Agencies
Who coined phrase, “government is best, which governs least?”
Thomas Jefferson
who initiated and pushed through the Louisiana Purchase?
Thomas Jefferson
WHAT WERE 2 MAIN PROBS MADISON FOUND DURING WAR OF 1812?
too few finances and too few military units
What domestic matters did President/Congress concentrate on during the 1820’s and 1830’s?
Slavery and the debt
Which President started and completed a War with Mexico and expanded the American west?
James Polk
3 BOLD MOVES LINCOLN is known for
called up navy without congress, called up army without congress, suspended Habeus Corpus
