Multiple Choice 3 Flashcards
What are requirements to be a member of the house?
25 years old, 7 year citizenship
What are requirements to be a member of the senate ?
30 years old, 9 year citizenship
How long are the terms for the senate and the house?
House: 2 years
Senate: 6 years
Which constitutional amendment allowed senators to be directly elected? How were senators previously selected?
-17th amendment
They used to be appointed by state legislatures
What is pork barrel spending?
When a member of congress tries to get money for a project within their own district of state
What is logrolling?
Members of congress trading votes to get their earmarks passed
What are enumerated powers of just the house
All bills to raise revenue have to start in the house
What are enumerated powers of just the senate?
The senate has to approve presidential appointees
What is oversight?
The ability of congress to ensure laws are being followed with the original Intention or to investigate members of the executive branch
What are constituencies
Bodies of voters in an area who elect a representative or senator
What is apportionment?
The process of determining the number of representatives for each state using census data
What is redistricting?
States redraw boundaries of the electoral districts
What is gerrymandering?
The international use of redistricting to benefit a specific interest or group of voters, usually a political party
What are majority- minority districts?
A majority voters of minority ethnicity within a district
What is an incumbent?
A person that is already holding office ( as opposed to running for the first time)
What is the incumbency advantage and what are some advantages they have?
The advantages held by those already in office. They usually already have name recognition , casework and more money
What is the franking privilege?
Free use of mail for communications with constituents
What is casework?
- Ability to use the office to aid constituents with federal services
What is the majority party?
- the party with the most seats in each chamber
What is the minority party?
Party with the second most seats in each chamber
What jobs do party leaders have?
- Set legislative goals
- choose leaders
-Assign committees - Unify party message
What role does the speaker of the house have
Most powerful person in the house of reps
What is the role of the majority leader in both the house and the senate
In the house, they are the second most powerful person
In the senate, they are the most powerful person
What is the role of the minority leader in both the house and senate?
They are the top person of the minority party in both chambers
What is the role of the whip in both the house and the senate ?
Person that keeps track of the vote count and rally support for legislation
What is the role of the vice president in the senate?
They are the official leader of the senate under the constitution, but they cast the tie breaking vote if there is a tie vote
What is the role of the president pro tempore?
They preside over the senate when the vice president is not there
What is the role of a commitee chair?
The person in charge of the standing commitee
What is a standing committee?
- a permanent commitee in congress where most of the work gets done
What is a joint committee ?
A fairly weak committee where both chambers gather information
What is a conference committee?
A temporary committee that has to come up with an identical bill to pass both chambers when they have different versions of a bill
What is a select committee?
A temporary committee that is normally for investigating
What is a discharge petition?
A house procedure to get a bill out of committee
What is the role of the house rules committee
A commitee that makes rules for debate( ONLY HOUSE OF REPS)
What is a veto?
When the president objects a bill
What is a unanimous consent agreement?
-If all senators agree to debate a bill
What is a filibuster?
Unlimited debate with intention to talk a bill to death
What is closure?
Limiting debate to get a vote
What is a hold?
When a senator delays passing of a bill
What is a hold?
When a senator delays passing of a bill
What is mandatory spending?
Spending that is required by existing laws in the budget
What is an entitlement program?
A program that people qualify for under the law
What is discretionary spending?
The rest of government spending for programs and policies
What is the budget process?
Submitted budget by the president
Congress passed the budget
Goes back to president to sign
What is a budget deficit?
When the government spends greater than government revenue
What is a budget surplus?
Government spending less than government revenue
What is the national debt?
Total amount of money owed by the federal government
What is social security?
Created to be payment to senior citizens
What is the delegate role?
Voting the way your constituents want you to vote
What is the trustee role?
Member of congress sho voted based on their own knowledge and judgement
What is the politico role?
You have to balance your judgement and your political party when it comes to voting
What is gridlock?
Congress fails to get a lot done especially because of party politics
What is divided government?
When the president is of one party and at least one chamber had a different majority party
What is bipartisanship?
Agreement between parties to work together to pass legislation
What is descriptive representation?
Members of congress mirroring the makeup of the country ( diversity)
