unit VI test Flashcards
What is the symbol of the Republican Party?
The Republican symbol is an elephant.
What is the symbol of the Democratic Party?
The Democratic symbol is a donkey.
What color represents the Republican Party?
The color red is used to represent them.
What color represents the Democratic Party?
The color blue is used to represent them.
What is the Republican stance on economics?
Republicans believe in a flat tax which means that the tax rate will be the same regardless of wealth. They do not tend to support minimum wage that much and want to keep it low.
What is the Democratic stance on economics?
Democrats believe in progressive taxes meaning that the wealthy will be taxed more and those who do not have much money will be taxed less. They also support livable minimum wage.
What is the Republican view on social issues regarding marriage?
Republicans have traditional ideas that a man and a woman should be in marriage.
What is the Democratic view on LGBTQ+ rights?
Democrats tend to support LGBTQ+ and have attempted to pass laws protecting them.
What is the Republican belief regarding the size of government?
Republicans believe in a small government, so there is more freedom.
What is the Democratic belief regarding the size of government?
Democrats believe in a large government that has a higher jurisdiction.
How many members are there in the House of Representatives?
There is a maximum of 435 representatives that proportionally represent the 50 states.
What is the term length for members of the House of Representatives?
The terms of office is two years with no term limit.
What are the three qualifications to be a member of the House of Representatives?
- At least 25 years of age
- A United States citizen for at least seven years
- Must live in the state that he or she represents
Which party currently controls the House of Representatives?
The Republican Party controls it.
What are the main duties of the House of Representatives? (name 4)
- Introducing bills and resolutions
- Offering amendments
- Serving on committees
- Scrutinizing the work of the government
Who is Delaware’s Representative and her party?
Delaware’s Representative is Sarah McBride and her party is Democratic. Her high school was Cab Calloway (2009)
Who is the Speaker of the House?
Rep. Mike Johnson.
What is the main role of the Speaker of the House? As well as his duties?
To be the leader of the House and the presiding officer.
His duties include **Administering the oath
**Calling house to order
**Introducing bills,
** Recognizing members to speak on the floor.
Who is the minority leader of the House?
Hakeem Jeffries
What is the main role of the minority leader?
To represent Democrats on the House floor and keep the party united.
How many members are in the US Senate?
There are 100 members.
What is the term length for US Senators?
Their terms of office are six years long. Every two years, the members of one class of the senate face reelection (the senate is divided into three classes).
What are the three qualifications to be a US Senator?
- At least 30 years of age
- A United States citizen for at least nine years
- Must be a resident of the state that they represent at the time of election
Which party currently controls the Senate?
The Republican Party controls the Senate.
What are the main duties of the US Senate?
**Writing and passing laws
**Approving many presidential appointments
**Ratifying treaties with other countries
Who are Delaware’s US Senators?
- Christopher A. Coons - Democrat
- Lisa Blunt Rochester - Democrat
Who is the majority leader of the Senate?
Republican John Thune.
What is the main role of the majority leader?
To be the spokesperson for the Republican party’s positions on issues and coordinate their legislative strategy. He also schedules business on the House floor by calling bills from the calendar and keeps members of the caucus informed about the daily legislative program.
Who is the pro tempore of the Senate?
Chuck Grassley who is a Republican.
What is the main role of the pro tempore?
To substitute for the vice president in their absence. His other responsibilities include consulting with Senate leaders, appointing the director of the Congressional Budget Office, and making appointments with various national commissions and advisory boards. He also receives reports from government agencies.
Who is the President of the Senate?
The vice president of the United States who is currently J.D Vance.
Who is the minority leader of the Senate?
Charles Schumer who is a Democrat.
What is the main role of the minority leader in the Senate?
To be the spokesperson for the Democratic party’s positions on issues while also scheduling business on the floor.
What are the typical demographic characteristics of members of Congress?
- Male
- White
- Around 63 years of age
- Christian (mainly Protestant)
What was the founders’ solution to prevent a too powerful government?
The founders’ solution to a government possibly being too powerful was checks and balances. They create three branches of government: legislative, executive, and judicial, each with their own responsibilities. Each branch also checks upon other branches to ensure all branches are equally powerful. In terms of laws, the responsibility to write them falls upon the legislative branch, but the executive branch enforces them while the Judicial branch interprets them. Similarly, the executive branch nominates Judges and appoints ambassadors yet the legislative branch has to approve these nominations and confirms them while the Judicial branch can deem the executive branch unconstitutional. Moreover, the executive branch makes treaties and writes the budget but the legislative branch approves them. Lastly, the legislative branch has the power to impeach presidents and judges and remove them from office. So, the government will not become too powerful as different parts of the government overwrite each other and take away power.
Why do so few bills become laws?
It is a very complex process (structurally) as it has to pass both chambers (house & senate) and has to be signed by the president.
Why is the bill process so complex?
To ensure that quality and viable laws are made.
What is a drawback of the complex bill process?
It takes a long time.
What is the role of Congressional committees?
Screen bills and conduct oversight.
When was the Democratic party founded? and how many are members?
1824 and 48 million are Democrats.
How many Democratic seats are in the senate currently?
45 but 47 if two independents are counted
How many Democratic seats are in the House of Representatives?
215 seats (2 vacancies)
When was Republican party founded? How many members?
1854 and 36 million members.
How many Republican seats in Senate currently? House of representatives?
53 seats in Senate and 218 in House with 2 vacancies.
How many miscellaneous people in US (political parties)
35 million Independents and 4 million other parties.
Why do Democrats support regulation?
To protect consumers
Democratic- death penalty
Support is strong but substantial fraction opposes it
Democratic- health care
Supports universal healthcare, strong support of government involvement in healthcare, medicare, medicaid, patient protection and affordable care act (obamacare)
Democratic- immigration:
offers a pathway to citizenship and wants to stop deportations
Democratic- millitary
decreased spending
Why do republicans hate regulation?
It hinders free market capitalism and job growth.
Republicans- abortion
Should not be legal. Support Dobbs vs Jackson women’s health organization (2022)
Republicans- Death penalty
Supports it
Republicans- healthcare policy
Private companies= more efficient
Oppose patient protection and affordable care act (Obamacare)
Republican- immigration:
Generally against amnesty for any undocumented immigrants and for deportation.
Republicans- military
Increased spending
What two groups make up congress?
US House of Representatives and US Senate
What is term limit?
How many times you can serve
What is term length?
How long you can serve
President terms?
2 terms limit and 4 years per ti=erm.
Who is tie-breaker of US Senate?
President of US Senate
What do we value and why?
Division of power (separation of powers) because founders are afraid of all powerful dictator
Separation of powers
Idea that 3 dif branches of govt are in separate bodies.
legislative- congress makes laws
executive- president enforces laws
judicial- supreme court interprets laws
legislative branch powers
Writes laws
Approves presidential nominations
Approves budget
Can override presidential veto
Can impeach judges and remove from office
Can impeach president and remove from office
Confirms president’s nomination of judges
Approves treaties
Declares war
Can borrow money on the credit of the United States
executive branch powers
Enforces laws
Nominates judges
Can approve or veto congressional legislation (bills)
Can pardon criminals
Makes treaties with other nations
Writes the budget
Appoints ambassadors
Delivers the State of the Union address
how does executive check on legislative and judicial:
legislative-
Can approve or veto congressional legislation (bills)
Make treaties with other nations
Enforce laws
Writes the budget
Appoints ambassadors
Delivers the State of the Union address
judicial-
Nominates judges
Can pardon criminals
judicial branch powers
Interprets laws
Hears appeals from lower courts
Can declare presidential acts unconstitutional
Can declare laws unconstitutional
how does legislative brnach check on executive and judicial brnach?
executive-
Can override presidential veto
Approves presidential nominations
Approves budget
Can impeach president and remove from office
Declares war
Can borrow money on the credit of the United States
Approves treaties
Writes laws
Confirms the president’s nomination of judges
judicial-
Can impeach judges and remove from office
Confirms the president’s nomination of judges
how does judicial branch check on executive and legislative?
executive-
Can declare presidential acts unconstitutional
legislative-
Can declare laws unconstitutional
Interprets laws
what is total population of america?
341, 375, 000
what percentage of america is over 65 years old?
17.7% (60 million people)
what percentage of america’s population is under 18 years old?
21.7% (74 million)
are there more male or females in america?
females
percentage of females in US?
50.5% (172 million)
What percentage of America is White alone and not Hispanic or Latino?
What percentage of America is African American?
What percentage of America is Asian-American?
What percentage of America is mixed race?
58.4%, 13.7%, 6.4%, 3.1% (10 million)
What percentage of households have a computer?
What % of Americans have a bachelor’s degree or higher?
What percentage of Americans do NOT have health insurance?
What party is this group more likely to vote for?
94.8%, 35%, 9.5% (32 million people), 9.5% (32 million people)
What is the largest religion in America?
What percentage of Christians are Protestant?
Evangelical, Mainline P & Historically Black P
What is the largest single Christian denomination?
Christian (65%) , 34%, Catholic = 23%
What is the largest non-Christian faith?
Which group has more followers Muslims or Hindus?
Jews 2%, Muslim 1.1%
Hindu 1.%
What is the median age for House of Representatives?
What is the median age for US Senators?
Why do you think the US Senate is older?
58.6 years, 63.6 years, Age Restrictions = must be 30 years old for US
How educated is Congress?
How does that compare with general public?
96% college educated, Way above the general public = 34%
What percentage of Congress is Protestant?
Over or underrepresented?
What percentage of Congress is Catholic?
Over or underrepresented?
What percentage of Congress is Mormon?
Over or underrepresented?
55.5% (295 members – HofR 237 & S 58), Overrepresented (Population 33%), 28.2% (150 members – HofR 126 & S 24), Overrepresented (Population 23%), 1.7% (9 members – HofR 6 & S 3), Underrepresented (Population 2%
What percentage of Congress is Jewish?
Over or underrepresented?
What % of Congress is Muslim?
Over or underrepresented?
What % of Congress is Hindu?
Over or underrepresented?
6% (32 members – HofR 23 & S 9), Overrepresented = 2% of the US population, 8% (4 – HofR 4 & S 0), Underrepresented = 1.1% of the US population, .8% (4 – HofR 4 & S 0), Underrepresented = 1% of the US population
What percentage of H of R is female?
Democrat?
Republican?
Over or underrepresented?
29% - 125 members (125/433 = 29%) , 94, 31, 29% - Underrepresented = 50.5% of the US population
What percentage of Senate is female?
Democrat?
Republican?
Over or underrepresented?
26% - 26 members (26/100 = 26), 16, 10, 26% - Underrepresented = 50.5% of the US population
What % H of R is African American?
What % Senate is African American?
Over or underrepresented?
12.4% (54 members), 5% (5 members), Underrepresented b/c 13.7% of US population
What % H of R is Hispanic or Latino?
What % Senate is Hispanic or Latino?
Over or underrepresented?
8% (35 members), 7% (7 members), Underrepresented b/c 19.51% of US population
,
What % H of R is Asian American?
What % Senate is Asian American?
Over or underrepresented?
2.53% (11 members), 3% (3 members), Underrepresented b/c 6.4% of population
What % H of R is Native Americans ?
What % Senate is Native Americans ?
Over or underrepresented?
.46% (2 members), 1% (1 member), Underrepresented b/c 1.3% of US population
White, non-Hispanic or Latino Americans represent _
Are they over or underrepresented compared to the American public at large?
74% of all members of Congress, Over b/c 58.4% of US population
Underrepresented
slightly-
heavily-
Overrepresented (3)
slightly (2) -
Ethnic minorities0
AA = 13.7% of Pop but 11% of C
Religious minorities
Muslims = 1.1% of Pop but .8% C
heavily (1)-
Women = 50.5% of Pop but 29% of C
Latinos = 19.5% pf Pop but 8% of C
overrepresented-
Whites
R =92% & D = 56%
Christians
R = 98.1% & D = 75%
Males
R = 85% & D = 58%
Guess how many bills go to committee annually?
7,000 to 10,000
Guess how many bills become laws?
3 to 5% (300 to 500)
Member of Congress – Responsibilities
Legislator: make laws
Representative: provide services to and help constituents with problems
Committee member: screen bills, provide oversight
Partisan: party loyalty, support party agenda
Bipartisan = Cooperation b/w 2 parties
Politician: get re-elected, & make deals
When was this cartoon was aired?
Saturday morning
Who was the audience of cartoon?
Kids
Why was it appealing to kids?
Singing & cartoon
What was the purpose of the cartoon?
Civic lessons
How a Bill Becomes A Law
Bill is introduced in HR and senate,
Referred to House committee and subcommittee
referred to senate committee and subcommittee.
committee vote.
house and senate debates and votes on passage
House-Senate conference committee writes compromise bill. Bill goes back to both Houses. House and Senate Vote on final passage; approved bills sent to President. President bill into Law or Signs Vetoes it.
Markup session:
process by which committees or houses debate, amend, and rewrite proposed legislation
Filibuster:
an action like a prolonged speech that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly
Cloture:
a motion to bring an extended debate to an end
Franking privilege:
can send mail by using their signature instead of a postage stamp
Pork Barrel:
govt. spending related to a local project that brings $$ to a rep.’s district
Seniority system:
granting privileges to members of Congress that have served the longest
Incumbency advantage:
incumbent (person currently in office) has better chance of winning re-election
Speaker of the House:
leadership position with most power in Congress
