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AP Civics & Government > XI - Congress > Flashcards

XI - Congress Flashcards

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1
Q

Congress

A

Legislative branch composed of 535 members responsible for policy making

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2
Q

Senate

A

Upper chamber
Designed to represent states equally
Direct popular election
100 members serving 6 year terms

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3
Q

House of Representatives

A

Lower chamber
Representation based on population
Direct popular election
435 members serving 2 year terms

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4
Q

Senate requiremnts

A

Age 30+
Citizen for 9 years
Must live in the state you decide to represent

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5
Q

House of Rep requirements

A

Age 25+
Citizen for 7 years
Must live in the state you decide to represent

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6
Q

Representation in Congress

A

Both women & minorities are underrepresented

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7
Q

Congressional elections tend to be won by

A

incumbents

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8
Q

incumbents

A

Holder of an office or position

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9
Q

Stats on incumbents

A

House -> 90% won by incumbents

Elections for Senate tend to be more competitive

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10
Q

Why is it unusual for incumbents to lose election even though voters disapprove of Congress?

A 
Advertising/ visibility 
Credit claiming
Position taking
Weak opponents
Campaign spending
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11
Q

Advertising/ visibility of Congress

A

Members able to freely mail to constituents of a district/ state

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12
Q

Credit Claiming

A

Casework

Pork barrel projects

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13
Q

Casework

A

Service to individual constituents

Food stamps, paperwork

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14
Q

Pork barrel projects

A

Federal money for projects within district or state

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15
Q

Position taking

A

Taking a strong position on an issue knowing how most of the constituents feel

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16
Q

Weak opponents

A

No funding
No recognition
No experience

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17
Q

Congressional districts

A

Typically controlled by one political party

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18
Q

State legislatures redraw districts

A

every 10 years based on population census

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19
Q

District demographics are often redrawn to

A

ensure safe Congressional seats for party in control

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20
Q

Gerrymandering

A

Manipulating district boundaries to help ensure a political advantage for one party over another

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21
Q

Modern Gerrymanders districts

A 
Florida 14th
Illinois 4th
Maryland 2nd
Pennsylvania 7th
Texas 35th
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22
Q

How to defeat incumbents?

A

Bad economy, political/personal scandal
Changes in midterms from shifting public mood
Redistricting
Open seat

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23
Q

Changes in midterms from shifting public mood

A

The party that holds the presidency tends to lose seats in Congress

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24
Q

Redistricting

A

Every 10 years Congressional districts are redrawn to deal with population changes reflected in census

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25
Q

Open seat

A

Incumbent is not running for re-elections often due to retirement

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26
Q

Pro incumbents winning re-elections

A

Experience

Expertise

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27
Q

Con incumbents winning re-election

A

Career politicians in safe seats

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28
Q

Framer set up a

A

bicameral legislature

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29
Q

What compromise led to the bicameral Congress?

A

Connecticut Compromise

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30
Q

In order for a bill to become law, it has to

A

pass both houses

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31
Q

Enumerated & implied powers of Congress

A 
Passing federal budget
Raising revenue
Coining money
Declaring war
Passing laws that deal with wide variety of issues
32
Q

Reserved power for House in Representatives

A

Revenue bills start here

Power to impeach

33
Q

Rules Committee

A

schedules when a bill will be voted & amount of debate time allowed

34
Q

Reserved powers to Senate

A

Confirmation of many president nomination
Ratification of treaties
Impeachment trials

35
Q

filibuster

A

When an opponent of a bill takes the floor in a debate and keeps talking in order to delay or prevent a vote

36
Q

Cloture

A

If 60 Senators vote to halt the debate a filibuster can be ended and a vote will be held

37
Q

Leadership in Senate

A

VP-> President
President Pro Tempore
Majority & Minority leader
Majority & Minority whips

38
Q

Leadership in House of Representatives

A

Speaker of the House
Majority & Minority leader
Majority & Minority whips

39
Q

Congressional leadership positions are chosen by

A

Political parties

40
Q

What impact the policy making process?

A

Chamber rules

41
Q

Majority leader

A

Convince own party to vote according to party lines

42
Q

Whips

A

communicating between parties to ensure stability

43
Q

Minority leader

A

Leader of the party with lesser seats

44
Q

Committee chairs

A

Those who head a committee

45
Q

Speaker of the House

A

Chosen by majority party
Powerful position
Main leadership role
Appoint Committee chairs

46
Q

Vice President

A

Serves as head of Senate

Only votes when there is a tie

47
Q

Committees

A

Determine congressional agenda
Help create legislation
Conduct hearings
Debate bills

48
Q

Standing committees

A

Deal with bills in different legislative areas

49
Q

Committees examples

A

House - Agriculture, Rules, Armed Services, Ethics

Senate - Appropriations, Budget, Veterans’ Affairs, Finance

50
Q

Joint committees

A

Members from both House & Senate serve

51
Q

Conference committees

A

Created to reconcile competing versions of same bill passed by House & Senate

52
Q

Select committees

A

Created to deal with specific policy issue

53
Q

Discharge petitions in House

A

Way to force a bull out of committee to the house floor for a vote

54
Q

Why is getting on committee important to Congressional leaders?

A

Create policy for constituents/ areas they are passionate about
Gain influence in Congress
Help with reelection

55
Q

Committee chairs

A

Influence committees’ agenda, schedule, hearing, etc.

Gate keeping role

56
Q

Seniority system

A

Largely influential when selecting committee assignments & leadership positions

57
Q

Informal organization of Congress

A

is through caucuses

58
Q

Congressional caucuses

A

Basically congressional interest groups consisting of members of similar ideology, demographics, geography or interests

59
Q

Caucuses examples

A

Congressional Black Caucus

House Freedom Caucus

60
Q

Caucuses can influence policies by

A

Working toward advancing policies they support/ towards opposing laws they think are bad

61
Q

Who support the work of Congress?

A

Large networks of Congressional staff & interns

62
Q

Congressional staff & intern responsibilities

A

Work with constituents, draft legislation, meet with lobbyists, summarize bills, prep legislators for committees, etc.

63
Q

Who can introduce a bill?

A

Only a member of Congress

64
Q

How can the President try to persuade Congress to take up a specific legislative agenda?

A

Propose bill

Lobby Congressional leaders

65
Q

How can Congress choose to remain indepedent?

A

Refusal to confirm appointments of “lame duck” presidents of opposing party

66
Q

Who holds legislators accountable?

A

Congressional leaders constituents at ballot box

67
Q

Polarization of politics

A

Many votes are split firmly along party lines

68
Q

Different views of role of representatives

A

Trustee model
Instructed delegates
Polico model

69
Q

Trustee model

A

Legislators should use their best judgment as to what is in the best interest for the people

70
Q

Instructed delegate model

A

Legislatures should match policy choices of their constituents

71
Q

Politico model

A

Hybrid of Trustee & Instructed delegates

72
Q

Lobbyists & interest groups seek to

A

Influence Congressional leaders

73
Q

Why is the US a representative democracy?

A

Large size

Direct democracy is impractical

74
Q

How is Congress unrepresentative?

A

Largely elites

Racial, gender, socio-economic groups underrepresented

75
Q

Members of Congress may

A

Look out for needs of their constituents vs those of national interest

76
Q

Logrolling affect

A

If you help vote for a bill I support, I will vote for a vote you support.

AP Civics & Government (36 decks)

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