Unit 2: exam - congress

Question 1

which article is congress detailed

Answer 1

article 1

Question 2

why is congress the longest in the consitution

Answer 2

they thought it would be the most powerful

Question 3

who/what does the house represent

Answer 3

districts (closer to the people)

Question 4

who/what does the senate represent

Answer 4

their state

Question 5

powers of congress (overview)

Answer 5

1. legislative authority
2. Budgeting (power of the purse)
3. oversight

Question 6

legislative authority

powers of congress

Answer 6

• most important
• ability to pass laws
• both enumerated and express (necessary and proper clause expanded it)
• economic policy, foregin policy, national security, etc

Question 7

budgeting

powers of congress

Answer 7

• sets the national budget
• Appropriates money for agencies and programs
• power of the purse
• significant power over policy
• pork barrel spending/earmarks: allocation of money

Question 8

logrolling

congress

Answer 8

trading votes (u vote for my law i vote for yours)

Question 9

oversight

pwoers of congress

Answer 9

keeps an eye on the executive branch to ensure they are operating legally and in alliance with congressional goals

Question 10

checks the legislative branch can impose on other branches

congress

Answer 10

• declare war
• create federal court systems below SCOTUS
• (senate) advise and consent - Article II, section 2
• impeach

Question 11

what does advise and consent include

congress - senate

Answer 11

• ratify treaties
• Confirm federal judges
• confirm executive appointments

Question 12

process of impeachment

congress

Answer 12

• article II: section 2
• house brings charges (with majority vote)
• trial is conducted by the senate (2/3 vote to convict): Article 1; section 3

Question 13

why is someone impeached

congress

Answer 13

“treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdeameanors”

Question 14

consitituency

Answer 14

def: body of voters in a particular area who elect a representative or senator
- house of rep: district based by population
- senate: state wide

Question 15

how many seats are in the house

Answer 15

435

Question 16

which is more formal and why

Answer 16

senate: more people, more rules

Question 17

where is the necessary and proper clause in the constitution

Answer 17

article 1, section 8

Question 18

what are three areas of congress that are legislated with the necessary and proper clause

Answer 18

1. economics
2. Environmental issues
3. social issues

Question 19

(S or R)
- filibusters, unanimous consent agreements, holds

Answer 19

senate

Question 20

(S or R)
- ratifying treaties

Answer 20

senate

Question 21

(S or R)
- tax/revenue bills, impeachment, discharge petition

Answer 21

house of rep

Question 22

(S or R)
- rules committee, committee of the whole

Question 23

(S or R)
- confirm nonimations

Answer 23

senate

Question 24

what are the 5 enumerated powers of congress

Answer 24

1. pass the federal budget (power of the purse)
2. raise revenue (income taxes and tariffs)
3. coin money
4. declare war
5. raise and maintain an armed force

Question 25

requirements to serve in the house of rep.

Answer 25

* 25yrs old * 7 yrs a citizen * Resident of the state they want to serve

Question 26

requirements to serve in the senate

Answer 26

- 30yrs old - 9yrs a citizen - resident of the state they want to serve

Question 27

why do senators serve longer terms

Answer 27

they are more insulated from political pressure, they don't have to constantly reflect the changing opinions of their state

Question 28

when does redistricting occur, and why does it occur

Answer 28

after the census, to properly portion out citizens so they get the right amount of representation

Question 29

gerrymandering

Answer 29

the intentional use of redistricting to benefit a specific interest group or voters

Question 30

partisan gerrymandering

Answer 30

gerrymandering that benefits a political party

Question 31

Baker v. Carr - facts

Answer 31

* Tennessee hasn't redrawn it's district lines in a while - leading to the small rural communities having more power than the large urban areas (each district had one person) * Why did Tennessee not redrawn it's borders? SCOTUS said it was not justiciable: the court had no business in areas of redistricting (thought it was solely a state matter)

Question 32

Baker v. Carr - Constitutional principle

Answer 32

14th amendment (state infringements on liberty) - equal protections clause

Question 33

Baker v. Carr - arguments

Answer 33

by refusing to redraw the districts and reapportioning representatives...all citizens in Tennessee were not protected under the law (as they weren't equally represented as expected by the 14th amendment), the question is in deed judiciable

Question 34

Baker v. Carr - decision

Answer 34

* issue of reapportionment were justiciable * SCOTUS did have authority to rule on questions of legislative reapportionment

Question 35

Baker v. Carr - impact

Answer 35

* 1 person 1 vote * altered political representation across (making sure rural votes werent stronger than urban votes) * SCOTUS is now involved in political questions

Question 36

committee system (overview)

Answer 36

* the majority party controls committees * control what bills hit the floor * exercise oversight and conduct investigations

Question 37

select committee

Answer 37

temporary - conducts investagations

Question 38

standing committees

Answer 38

Permeant - hearings, oversight, where majority of work is conducted

Question 39

Conference committees

Answer 39

compromises bills between the house and senate

Question 40

joint committee

Answer 40

Includes members of the house and Senate (and both parties)

Question 41

how does a bill become a law

Answer 41

1. member of congress introduces it 2. goes to a committee (where most die) 3. floor consideration 4. resolve any differences between the senate and house (as it has to be identical to be passed) 5. the president either signs or vetos it

Question 42

what organization assists the president in making the federal budget

Answer 42

Office of management and budget (OMB)

Question 43

the ____ of the federal budget has already been allocated

Answer 43

majority (mandatory spending)

Question 44

how does the gov take in revenue

Answer 44

taxes and fees

Question 45

budget surplus vs deficit

Answer 45

a deficit is when we spend more than we have, a surplus is when revenue is more than we spend

Question 46

roles of legislatures

Answer 46

1. trustee - making decisions based off of knowledge and judgement (trust me ik best) 2. delegate - carrying out constituent's wishes (i'm at ur service) 3. politico role - based on the current politics