Unit 2 Learning Targets Flashcards
Describe the different structures, powers, and functions of each house of Congress
Congress is comprised of both the Senate and House of Representatives.
Basically, at state level, Congress holds at House of Reps while at the federal level, Congress holds at Senate.
The U.S.Senate consist of 100 senators which are representing 50 states while the House of Representative consist of 435 voting members and 6 non-voting members.
In conclusion, both the Senate and House of Representative have the responsibility of creating law and checking the Executive powers.
I can identify the structural differences between the House and Senate
Senators represent their entire states, House members represent individual districts. Senate members have 6 year terms, House members have 2 year terms. Senate members are elected by state legislatures, House members are elected by voters
Describe how the different chamber sizes and constituencies influence debate
Because it’s larger, the House is way more structured than the Senate hence a more formal process for debate
Explain how the structure, powers, and functions of both houses of Congress affect the policy-making process
Powers
Enumerated powers require both houses of Congress to work with each other. These powers are to tax, borrow money, regulate commerce, raise an army, create and make rules for federal courts, etc.
The Congress has also the power of the purse which was given to them to influence the president or put conditions on funding.
Structure
Rules in the House of Reps:
Since the House of Representatives has 435 members, the process of debating the bills is limited. The Senate only has only 100 members, so there are fewer rules governing it.
The House Rules Committee is responsible for determining or closing rules for amending bills. Open rules allow an amendment to be added to bills & closed rules prevent amendments from being added
Explain the various chamber-specific procedures, rules, and roles that impact policy-making
House
• Roles of Speaker of the House, party leadership, & committee leadership
• Role of Rules Committee, Committee of the Whole, and discharge petitions in the House
Senate
• Roles of President of the Senate, party leadership & committee leadership
• Filibuster & cloture
• Unanimous consent & holds
• Treaty ratification & confirmation role
I can describe the Congressional budget making process
The president submits the budget proposal to Congress. Proposed funding is divided among 12 subcommittees, which hold hearings. Each is responsible for funding for different government functions such as defense spending or energy and water.
I can explain how pork barrel legislation and logrolling affect lawmaking in both chambers
Pork-barrel legislation is when the government passes laws to appropriate money to fund local federal projects. Logrolling is when two or more lawmakers agree in advance to support each other bills. These two aspects of government exist to help increase government spending money as well as to ensure support in the federal and local government systems. These two functions also encourage lawmakers to vote on issues that they wouldn’t usually vote on as a way to have other members vote in favor of something that they strongly believe in. Essentially, pork-barrel legislation and logrolling exist to get things done, members make deals to help each other out, money goes where it is needed, and the government and nation are able to function properly.
Explain how congressional behavior is influenced by election processes, partisanship, and divided government.
• Members of Congress seek to be reelected by their constituents, which affects their voting behavior & the issues they devote time to while in office.
• Partisan divisions within Congress may result in legislative gridlock, or lead to increased negotiation and compromise.
• Likewise, divided government can lead to congressional refusal to approve presidential appointments or to vote for presidential initiatives.
• Congressional redistricting to favor one party over another, or gerrymandering, is motivated by partisanship and can also further entrench it.
I can describe the ideological divisions within Congress that can lead to gridlock or create the need for negotiation and compromise
• Gerrymandering, redistricting, and unequal representation of constituencies that have increased partisanship & decreased accountability, addressed by such Court decisions as the “one-person, one-vote” ruling in Baker v. Carr and the no-racial gerrymandering decision in Shaw v. Reno
• Elections that have led to a “divided government,” including partisan votes against presidential initiatives and congressional refusal to confirm appointments of “lame-duck” presidents of the opposite party.
Explain how the president can implement a policy agenda
The president can influence congress to implement a policy agenda. He does this through a “I scratch your back, you scratch mine” method.
Explain how technology has changed the president’s relationship with the national constituency and the other branches
Presidents have used changes in communication technology to enhance their power by appealing directly to the American public
Explain how the bureaucracy carries out the responsibilities of the federal government
The bureaucracy is responsible for implementing, administering, and enforcing policies, laws, and regulations at the federal level. This is done through a variety of different agencies, such as departments, commissions, and government corporations, each with their own specific areas of responsibility
Explain how the federal bureaucracy uses delegated discretionary authority for rule making and implementation
Laws may lack clear, concrete details on how they should be enacted, so the federal bureaucracy has discretionary authority to make decisions on what actions to take—or not take—when implementing laws, as well as rulemaking authority to create regulations about how government programs should operate
Explain how Congress uses its oversight power in its relationship with the executive branch
Oversight and methods used by Congress to ensure that legislation is implemented as intended are represented by ..
• Committee hearings
• Power of the purse
.. as a means to curtail the use of presidential power, “congressional oversight” serves as a check of executive authorization and appropriation
Explain how the president ensures that executive branch agencies and departments carry out their responsibilities in concert with the goals of the administration
• Presidential ideology, authority, and influence affect how executive branch agencies carry out the goals of the administration
• Compliance monitoring can pose a challenge to policy implementation.
