GOVT Exam #2 Flashcards
Organization of the House
-reelection every 2 years
-based on pop’l of state
-435 members
-more quick and responsive to the American people
-considered the “lower chamber”
What is reapportionment?
the re-drawing of congressional districts based on population. Will be redrawn so that 435 members of the House are proportionally representative of different areas
Organization of the Senate? Re-election? How many members per state? Upper or lower chamber?
-reelected every 6 years
-more deliberate body
-2 members/state… 100 total members
-considered the “upper chamber”
-re-election is staggered so that 33% of the Senate is re-elected every 2 years
What did the Permanent Apportionment Act of 1929 do?
Permanently established the number 435 for members of the House after a battle over the census in the 1920s
It’s why we continue to have 435 members even after almost 100 years of growth
How did Brutus affect the makeup of Congress?
Brutus’ key concern was that representatives of gov’t should represent society itself… or ELSE it would become an aristocracy
-Brutus had an issue with how wealth influenced leadership so much
Are congressional elections more influenced by national or local issues?
National (i.e. wars)
What is the constituency as it relates to Congress?
The citizens that make up a member’s (of Congress) voting district. Who they represent
Why is accurate representation difficult in Congress?
It is difficult for Congress to maintain a level of collective representation versus individual Congress members to represent their own constituents
How is the Speaker of the House chosen?
they’re elected by the entire body of the house
What are some reasons a Speaker of the House stops serving?
- his or her party loses
- he or she is voted out OR steps down
What are the Speaker of the House’s responsibilities?
- presiding officer of the house
- administrative head
- elected representative of a single congressional district
-appoint members & chairs to the committee
-create select committees to fulfill purposes, then disband them
What is a Whip? What purpose do they serve?
A whip is an official of a political party whose task is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. This means ensuring that members of the party vote according to the party platform, rather than according to their own individual ideology or the will of their donors or constituents.
What is the difference between a Bill and a Law?
A bill is a law before it becomes a law, merely a proposal that has to undergo a thorough process to be written as a law
What are the requirements for a bill to become a law? (in order)
- sponsored by member of Congress
- House FIRST (simple majority)
- Senate SECOND (simple majority)
4.Conference Committee - Final Approval (President)
Can the president veto a bill after it passes through the House and Senate?
Yes, but Congress can override the veto with a 2/3 majority vote.
What are multiple referrals?
sending the bill to multiple committees
What are markups in the law-making process?
revisions, additions, deletions before sending a bill back to a committee
What is the authorization process in law-making?
the ENTIRE process of providing statutory authority for gov’t programs (excludes the funding provided)
What is the appropriation process in law-making? Where does it originate?
approving the FUNDING to carry out what’s approved. originates in the Hosue
Why do some laws require a “suspension of the rules”?
In the case of immediate, non-controversial laws needing to be passed, “suspension of the rules” is a procedure to allow for this. Needs:
-only 40 min debate
-2/3 majority of Congress required
What is a rule in the law making process?
terms or conditions under which a bill is considered (ex: how long a person speaks, amendments allowed, etc.)
What is a filibuster?
used to defeat/delay passage of bills (unlimited talking time), originated in Senate
