Legislative Branch Flashcards
Powers of Congress
Lawmaking
Budgeting
Oversight
16th Amendment
Grants Congress power to take personal incomes
17th Amendment
Senate directly elected by the people
Cases of Partisan Gerrymandering
Shaw v Reno
Bakar v Carr
House Leadership
Speaker of the House Majority Leader Majority Whip Minority Leader Minority Whip
Senate Leadership
Vice President President Pro Tempore Majority Leader Majority Whip Minority Leader Minority Whip
What does a “Whip” do?
They mobilize votes within their party
VP role in Senate
“President of the Senate”
Breaks ties
Who is the President Pro Temp
Senator in the majority party with the most tenure
Who holds the #1 position in the Senate?
Majority Leader
Law Making Process
Bill –> Committees –> House & Senate Floors –> Conference over written difference (if) –> Bill pass both houses –> POTUS –> Law (or Veto)
Where do bills typically die?
in COMMITTEE
Filibuster
Congress members debate over a proposal to delay or prevent a decision
What is needed to override a veto?
2/3 vote in both houses
Roll-call vote
Yeas and Nays
Cloture
motion to bring debate to and end and to commence vote/decision
Vote needed for impeachment
Majority House to impeach –> 2/3 Congress for removal
Advise and Consent
2/3 vote in SENATE
confirm nominations
check on executive branch
Trustee Representation
Influenced by people’s opinion but at the end of the day decide what they think is best
Delegate Representation
votes align with the views of those who elected them
Logrolling
“quid pro quo”
exchange of favors between legislators to pass legislation
hypothetically mutually beneficial
Divided Government
Majority in one house of Congress is different from the other
