Unit 2 Flashcards
How does the United States Congress reflect republicanism
The US Congress reflects Republicanism by giving people the opportunity to have the ultimate power and elect representatives
Define Bicameral
Two chambers
What can congress do with the federal budget?
They can pass the fed’l budget and distribute the money however they see fit
How can congress do upon the topic of war?
They vote to declare war if needed
Which part of Art.1 Sec 8 is most useful to congress when it wishes to use its implied power
Make any laws necessary to carry out these powers
What are structural similarities between the two chambers of congress
Each chamber has a majority leader and a majority whip, as well as a minority leader and minority whip.
What are the two chambers of congress
The House of representatives and the senate
What are the chamber’s debate rules like?
House: Lots of rigid rules –> new, and more people
Senate: more lenient rules –> less people, more experienced
What is the role of the speaker of the house
Have control over the majority’s agenda
Majority/minority whip
To swing votes to the other side
President of the Senate (VP)
Tiebreaker
Majority/minority leaders
Lead their party
Filibuster and clouture
Filibuster: A senator’s power to talk and talk and talk to waste time
Cloture: To end a debate for a vote
Role of rules committee, committee of the whole and discharge positions of the house
Rules: Set the rules of debate on a certain bill
Whole: Only 100 are needed for a quorum
Discharge: bringing a bill out of committee without a report
Treaty ratification and confirmation role of the US senate (Senate only)
- Senate can ratify treaties
- Senate confirms nominations made by POTUS
Show the steps for a bill to become a law
Bill is proposed in one chamber –> is debated in that chamber –> moves to the other chamber if passed –> moves to president if passed –> president signs –> law
For a bill to pass, what happens if a bill passes through the other chamber but with changes?
The bill goes to the originating chamber to be passed before going to the president the originating chamber can either go with it or argue it
Discretionary vs mandatory spending
Discretionary: Money the government decides to spend on
Mandatory: money that goes to things already in place
Pork-barrel legislation and logrolling
Pork-barrel: Special legislation designated to convince congresspeople to cote on the federal budget
Logrolling: Lawmakers create deals to vote for each other’s pork barrels to ensure they’re passes
