ap test review Flashcards
(233 cards)
1
Q
What is the budget making process?
A
Creates the US federal budget, controlled by the Congressional Budget Office.
2
Q
What can states do if they disagree with a judicial ruling?
A
They can also attempt to pass a constitutional amendment.
3
Q
Define political efficacy.
A
- the citizens’ trust in their ability to change the government and belief that they can understand and influence political affairs.
4
Q
Congress:
Number of senators per state
A
2
5
Q
What is an open primary?
A
Elections to select party nominees where voters can choose to participate in either party.
6
Q
Give an example of Congress exercising oversight.
A
Requesting audits from agencies to ensure they are spending money appropriately.
Example: US Government Accountability Office.
7
Q
What is an appointment?
A
President appoints and removes staff from White House. Senate must confirm.
8
Q
Describe how interest groups use electioneering to achieve their goal.
A
- They want people to be elected that reflect their views
9
Q
Define realignment
A
A shift in party allegiances or electoral support
EX. Old democratic south switching to republican.
10
Q
Describe how stare decisis impacts judicial decision making.
A
Decisions usually stand, so things usually remain the same. The court can reverse its decisions, though (ex. Plessy v. Ferguson to Brown v. Board of Education).
11
Q
What is a census?
A
A tool for understanding demographic changes; Constitution requires an annual one.
12
Q
Describe what the Cabinet is and what it does. Give an example of a department.
A
It’s the board that advises the president; Department of State, Dept of Defense, Dept of Homeland Security, Dept of Education.
13
Q
Define suffrage
A
the right to vote in political elections
14
Q
Regarding powers/areas of specialization, what is the Senate known for?
A
Advice and consent, trial of impeachment, approval of treaties/foreign policy in general.
15
Q
How is the Court insulated from public opinion?
A
They have no term limits and are not elected.
16
Q
What is the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990?
A
Law that requires employers and public facilities to make ‘reasonable accommodations’ for people with disabilities.
17
Q
How can ideology of the Court change decisions/precedent over time?
A
A liberal leaning court will swing the precedent to the left, vice versa with a conservative court. Activist courts will make bold policy decisions, where a restrictive court will not make policy decisions, usually defaulting to stare decisis.
18
Q
What are lame duck sessions?
A
The period of time during which the sitting president’s successor has been already chosen; happens when pres is different party than Congress. Congress can deny appointments (ex, Obama being unable to appoint SCOTUS justice for remainder of term).
19
Q
What is the power of the judicial branch?
A
To determine the constitutionality and legality of actions.
20
Q
Define winner-take-all system.
A
- Most votes wins, leads to two party system
21
Q
What is franking privilege?
A
Privilege that allows members of Congress to mail letters to constituents postage-free.
22
Q
How can controversial/unpopular decisions challenge the Court’s legitimacy?
A
If people don’t like the court’s decision, they are likely to call it illegitimate and call for term limits or for the court to be elected.
23
Q
What is party dealignment?
A
Gradual disengagement of people and politicians from the parties.
24
Q
Congress:
Number of house representatives per state
A
1 (total number decided by state)
25
How does gerrymandering impact elections?
It allows a state to have more elected officials of a party than the popular vote would suggest is appropriate because the party in power sequesters the opposing party's supporters into a few concentrated districts.
26
What is stare decisis?
"Let the decision stand," just deferring to the precedent already set by the court. Precedent.
27
What is a filibuster?
Strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of legislation try to talk it to death.
28
Regarding powers/areas of specialization, what is the House known for?
All revenue bills must originate in the House, they have the ability to impeach (not try), and they elect the president in case of failure to reach a majority in the Electoral College.
29
Define prospective voting behavior.
- A voter votes based on what they think a candidate can do
30
What is the Welfare Reform Act of 1996?
Replaced Aid to Dependent Children, ended welfare programs.
31
What is the biggest part of America's discretionary spending?
Military.
32
What are interest groups?
Group of private citizens whose goal is to influence public policy.
33
What is judicial review?
SCOTUS has the power to determine the constitutionality of a legislative act.
34
What is a hold?
An informal measure by which a legislator can inform their party leader that they don't wish a bill to reach the floor. Can kill legislation.
35
What is the Majority Leader?
Principal ally of the Speaker of the House responsible for scheduling bills.
36
Who is the President?
Person who holds the office of head of state of the US government.
37
What are linkage institutions?
Channels through which issues and people's policy preferences get on the government's agenda.
38
Describe demographic characteristics that can be used to predict the likelihood of whether an individual will vote.
- Age, education and income
39
What is Committee Leadership?
The leaders of different committees that set timelines for and head the various committees in the Senate and House. Sets agenda for individual committees; can bury policy - Chairpersons are always the majority party.
40
Aside from SCOTUS, who determines the federal court's jurisdiction?
Congress.
41
What are three enumerated powers of Congress (Article I, Section 8) that significantly increase their power?
Taxation, regulating commerce (commerce clause), military powers - declaring war.
42
What is discretionary spending?
Spending that is up to the government to decide every year; non-mandatory, spent through appropriation bills that are new every year.
## Footnote
ex: spending on defense budget
43
What is pork barrel spending?
Government spending for localized projects to bring money to a representative district.
44
Describe how unified vs. divided government can impact judicial appointments.
If the government is unified, judicial appointments usually go through with few problems. If the government is divided, it is harder to get judicial appointments to go through (ex. Supreme Court seat held open for remainder of Obama's term).
45
What is Winner Take All?
Electoral system where legislative seats are awarded only to the candidates who came in first.
46
What is the Senate?
2 representatives from each state; advantageous for smaller states.
47
What is a divided government?
When one party controls the executive branch and the other controls one or both of the congressional chambers. More vetoes, can create a president who can't really do much governing. Can deny appointments of lame duck pres, etc.
48
What is the function of a select committee? Give an example of one.
A committee established for a short period of time to deal with a certain issue; Select Committee on Watergate.
49
What is a Government Corporation?
Undertakes commercial activities on behalf of the government.
## Footnote
Example: United States Postal Service - provides a service to the people, but charges for it.
50
What is the Iron Triangle?
The relationship between Congress, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups; Congress gives funding to the bureaucracy, who then implement the laws of Congress.
51
Congress:
How many members are in the Senate
100
52
What is mandatory spending?
Required government spending by permanent laws.
53
Define interest group. Give an example.
- group of people trying to impact policies, NRA
54
What is lobbying?
Communication directed to a government decision maker with hope of influencing their decision.
55
Define the 17th Amendment and explain how it expanded the opportunity for political participation.
-The direct elections of senators
-Allowed the people to have direct control over who is put in power
56
Does judicial activism or judicial restraint give the Court more power?
Judicial activism, because it bleeds over into legislative powers, expanding the court's power.
57
What is a pocket veto?
A bill fails to become law because the president does not sign it, but it cannot go back to Congress within 10 days because Congress is not in session. It is not subject to override, so Congress would have to reintroduce it as new legislation.
58
What is a joint committee?
Congressional committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership from both houses.
59
constituencies for senate
all citizens of a state
60
What is the Commander in Chief?
The president has the authority to send troops into combat. If president sends troops for >60 days, congressional approval is needed.
61
What are congressional caucuses?
Association of congressional members who advocate a political ideology or interest.
62
What is a public authority?
A public authority responsible for regulating activity in a certain area; they are not independent from other arms of the government.
## Footnote
Example: FDA.
63
Define linkage institution. Include three examples of linkage institutions in your definition.
- Anything that links you to the government. Media, political parties, interest groups
Define political party
- Factions divided based on political ideologies, group that sponsors candidates to win elections
64
How is patronage different from the civil service system/merit system?
The merit system appoints people based on their merit; patronage grants appointments based on political support.
65
What is the seniority system?
Rule for picking committee chairs based on length of service.
66
Why did Hamilton argue this was the best type of executive?
Because it would force accountability; if there was only one executive, they would have no one to hide behind if they mess up.
67
The House, with its large number of members representing smaller districts, necessitates more structured debate to move bills efficiently. Shorter terms make it harder to .....
establish strong coalitions.
68
What are Political Action Committees (PAC)?
Extensions of an interest group that contributes money to political campaigns.
69
What is monetary policy?
Manipulation of the supply of money in private hands by the government.
70
What is a class action lawsuit?
Lawsuits permitting a small number of people to sue on behalf of all similarly situated individuals.
71
What does bicameral mean?
A legislature divided into 2 houses; US Congress and every US state legislature except Nebraska's are bicameral.
72
Describe how parties have modified their policies and messaging to appeal to various demographic coalitions.
- The parties must change to appeal to a greater base
73
How does a member of Congress vote if they're acting as a trustee?
Legislators that follow their own conscious; their constituency trusts their decision making.
74
What were the significant facts of Shaw v. Reno (1993)?
A district in NC was drawn to essentially include a large portion of the black population in the state, with hopes that a black representative would then be elected to Congress. However, the district was only as wide as the highway in some places, being neither compact nor particularly contiguous. White voters sued under the equal protections clause of the 14th amendment. The Supreme Court ruled that the district must be redrawn.
75
What are the advantages of incumbency in Congress?
Name recognition, credit claiming, casework for constituents, and media exposure.
76
Define issue network
an alliance of various interest groups and individuals who unite in order to promote a single issue in government policy.
77
What is fiscal policy?
Policy that describes the impact of the federal budget on the economy.
78
Describe the purpose of third parties in American politics.
- To give an alternative choice
79
Describe how voter registration laws and procedures is an example of federalism and how they can serve as a barrier.
- Each state dictates their own registration requirements and they can enact their own forms of voter suppression
80
What is divided government?
One party controls the executive, and the other party controls one or both houses of Congress.
81
Describe how gender impacts who a voter chooses to vote for.
- Women vote democrat and men have a tendency to vote for republicans
82
What is discretionary spending?
Spending set by the government through appropriations and bills.
83
What are executive agreements?
Agreement between the executive branch and a foreign government that can act as a treaty without Senate ratification - NOT binding on future presidents. Cannot supersede any US laws.
84
What was the precedent set in Baker v. Carr (1961)?
The 'one person, one vote' precedent was set, meaning that districts had to have proportionate populations (not physical sizes) to be constitutional. It also set the precedent that the Supreme Court could rule on state redistricting cases.
85
What is Medicaid?
Federal and state funded program that provides healthcare for the needy.
86
What are entitlements?
Policies for which Congress has obligated itself to pay a level of benefits to a number of recipients (e.g., Social Security).
87
According to Federalist 78, why was judicial review necessary?
Fed 78 says that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land, and that contrary laws must be struck down. Judicial review gives SCOTUS the power to strike these unconstitutional laws.
88
Describe how race and ethnicity impact who a voter chooses to vote for.
- Blacks vote for democrats, hispanics have a large influence and can go either way
89
Define iron triangle
- relationship between congress, the federal bureaucracy and interest groups during the policy creation process.
90
What is a select committee?
Congressional committees appointed for a specific purpose.
91
Define rational choice voting behavior.
Assumes that voters will make decisions based on their own benefits, carefully weighing all choices
92
Describe how election type (mid-term or presidential) can impact voter turnout.
- Presidential, more people know about the candidates and there is more media coverage
93
What is a closed primary?
Only registered party members can vote.
94
What are informal/inherent powers?
Powers that exist for the national government because it is sovereign.
95
What is reapportionment?
Process of reallocating seats in the House every 10 years based on the results of the census.
96
What is bureaucracy?
Government administration and non-elected members of the government.
97
What is Social Security?
Government system that provides monetary assistance to people with inadequate income.
98
What is judicial activism?
Makes bold policy choices from the bench; 'legislating from the bench.'
99
What is a Whip?
Party leaders who work with the majority or minority leader to count votes.
100
What does a conference committee do?
A temporary committee between the House and Senate to resolve differences on a bill.
101
Define the 15th Amendment and explain how it expanded the opportunity for political participation.
Prohibits voter discrimination based on race, gender, religion, and previous servitude
-Eliminating discrimination in the voting process which gave black people the legal right to vote
102
What is Bureaucratic Discretion?
The ability of the bureaucracy to make and enforce rules within their appointed authority.
103
What are executive orders?
The president can order something into law without congressional approval. Congress can write a law that overrides, but POTUS will likely veto, so supermajority can override it.
104
Who is the President of the Senate?
Head of the Senate is technically the Vice President who only votes if there is a tie, the Majority Leader of the Senate has similar job to Speaker. Sets legislative agenda for the Senate (Majority Leader).
105
Describe the function of political parties for the electorate (voters).
- To give them viable candidates that represent their views
106
Define the 24th Amendment and explain how it expanded the opportunity for political participation.
-Outlawed poll tax
-Eliminating voter discrimination again ethnic minorities and low-income individuals
107
What is mass media?
All forms of communication that reach a large portion of the population.
108
Define proportional system.
- Not in america, leads to multiparty system
109
What is the term for members of the House? For the Senate?
The House is 2 years, Senate 6 (but the elections are still every two years, for one third of the Senate).
110
constituencies for house of representaives
citizens in a geographic district in state
111
Where did that power come from?
Article III Section 1 of the Constitution and the holding in Marbury v. Madison.
112
How does Congress ensure that bureaucrats implement the law as intended?
It monitors them to ensure constitutionality; they can override unsatisfactory regulations and impeach members of the bureaucracy.
113
Define retrospective voting behavior.
- When a voter looks back on a candidate's performance in a party and casts a ballot based on how well they did
114
What are signing statements?
Essentially a line-item veto; the president can override parts of a bill while passing others. They could be limited if the Supreme Court ruled them unconstitutional.
115
Who is the National Party Chairperson?
Appointed by committee as head of party.
116
What is a union shop?
Provision requiring employees to join the union within a short period.
117
What is the Speaker of the House?
The head of the House of Representatives; one of the most important political offices in the country. Essentially decides the legislative agenda for their party and the House because they're in charge of assigning leg to committee.
118
What is cloture?
Limits debate to an additional 30 hours with a 3/5 majority. Defeats a filibuster.
119
How can POTUS use the power of the bully pulpit to advance policy wishes?
They can speak out on an issue and basically sic voters on an official; if they don't vote a certain way, POTUS will smear them and ensure they won't be reelected.
120
What is a two-party system?
Several political parties exist, but only 2 major political parties compete for power.
121
What is the New Deal Coalition?
Alliance of Southern conservatives, religious, and ethnic minorities who supported the Democratic Party.
122
What is soft money?
Distributed from national political party organization that was not regulated by law.
123
Describe lobbying and the impact it has on policy.
- Giving direct information to an elected representative
124
What role do committees serve in Congress?
They markup legislation and refine it before the entire body votes on it; essentially, legislation is delegated to them to 'deal with'.
125
What is a discharge petition?
Brings a bill out of committee without a report. Expedites voting on a bill.
126
Describe how religious beliefs/affiliation impact who a voter chooses to vote for.
- Jewish people vote democrat and if you're religious you vote more
127
What is a blanket primary?
Elections to select party nominees where voters can select candidates from all parties.
128
What is the chamber size for the House? For the Senate?
435 for the House, 100 for the Senate.
129
What were the significant facts of Baker v. Carr (1961)?
Baker felt that his vote didn't count as much as people living in rural areas because his district had many more people, but not a proportionate amount of representatives. His urban district had grown in population, but the rural ones had not, and no redistricting had occurred to fix this. He sued under the 14th amendment equal protection clause, because he felt his vote was not being protected equally.
130
What is an iron triangle?
The relationship between Congress, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups; Congress gives funding to the bureaucracy, who then implement the laws of Congress; the bureaucracy gives special favors to interest groups, who lobby for Congressional support; interest groups give electoral support to Congress.
131
What is a veto?
Allows the president to prevent legislation from becoming law. Supermajority in both chambers can override.
132
How did the 22nd Amendment restrict the power of the president?
It sets a limit on how many terms the president can serve.
133
What are amicus curiae briefs?
Legal briefs filed by interested groups to support or reject arguments in a case.
134
What are cloture motions?
Prevents filibustering and ends debate in the Senate by a 3/5 vote.
135
According to Federalist 78, why is life tenure needed?
To protect from the wills of the people; the justices must not be beholden to a constituency, they must be beholden to the Constitution only.
136
Describe how political efficacy can be used to predict the likelihood of whether an individual will vote.
- Direct impact
137
What was the Voter Revolution of 1994?
Republican Party success in 1994; a net gain of 54 seats in the House and 8 in the Senate.
138
What is legislative veto?
Ability of Congress to override a presidential decision.
139
Describe how candidate characteristics impact who a voter chooses to vote for.
- It changes year to year but mainly a candidate who can articulate themselves and reflects the demographics of an area
140
What are Riders on a bill?
An addition or amendment added to a bill that may not pass on its own merits.
141
Congress:
House of representatives have how many members?
435
142
What is a Conference Committee?
Congressional committees formed when Senate and House pass a bill in different forms.
143
What is plurality?
Largest number of votes received by any candidate.
144
What is the bully pulpit?
Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) greatly expanded the power of the executive and ushered in the 'modern presidency.'
145
Congress:
Length of term of Senate
6 years
146
What president greatly expanded the power of the executive?
Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) greatly expanded the power of the executive and ushered in the 'modern presidency.'
147
What is a Right-to-Work Law?
State law forbidding requirements that workers must join a union to hold their jobs.
148
What is judicial restraint?
Leaves legislation to other branches and focuses on the constitutionality of legislation.
149
What can POTUS do if he disagrees with a judicial ruling?
They can choose to not enforce the ruling.
150
How does a member of Congress vote if they're acting as a delegate?
Legislator strictly adheres to the wishes of their constituency.
151
Describe how interest groups use litigation to achieve their goal.
- They use the courts to sue testify and file amicus cases
152
What is a trustee?
Legislator who uses their best judgment to make policy in the interests of the people.
153
154
What is The SEC?
Securities and Exchange Commission; federal agency that regulates stock fraud.
155
Describe current structural barriers that impact voter turnout in the U.S.
- Age requirement, citizenship, registered
156
Describe how the winner-take-all system is a barrier for third parties (and independent candidates).
- They can't win elections
157
What is mandatory spending?
Money that must be given to a certain program; required by a permanent law.
## Footnote
ex: Social Security
158
How does the Necessary and Proper clause impact the amount of power Congress has?
It stretches it, because it allows them to do anything necessary to carry out their specific powers. SCOTUS cases have further expanded Congress' power under this clause by reaffirming that anything that is argued necessary to an enumerated power is constitutional.
159
What is redistricting?
Redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following a census, to accommodate population shifts.
160
What are party coalitions?
Groups and interests that support a political party.
161
What is the National Party Convention?
Meeting of party delegates every 4 years to choose a presidential ticket.
162
Define party-line voting behavior.
- Voting based on party alignment
163
How do differences in the House and Senate impact the policymaking process?
The Senate is smaller and allows for more debate, and they also have the ability to filibuster, which can kill legislation. In the House, committees are more responsible for the bills and there is less debate.
164
What is the Ways and Means Committee?
Charged with reviewing and making recommendations for government budgets.
165
How does the President control the bureaucracy?
By appointment of members; executive orders to compel agencies to do/not to do something; increasing/decreasing budget.
166
What is Proportional Representation?
Electoral system that awards legislative seats to political parties in proportion to the number of votes won.
167
What was the holding in Marbury v. Madison 1803?
SCOTUS has the power of judicial review.
168
Who is the President Pro Tempore?
High-ranking senator of the majority party who presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President.
169
How does the Constitution reflect that the Senate is designed to represent states equally,
while the House is designed to represent population?
170
Describe how voting incentives/penalties/fines can impact voter turnout
- This will increase voter turnout
171
Congress:
How long is the term for someone in the house of representatives?
2 years
172
Why is the House more formal than the Senate?
435 reps make it harder to organize, has more formal rules.
173
Describe the function of political parties in government.
- To organize and pass legislation
174
What kind of executive was set forth in Federalist 70?
An energetic, singular executive.
175
Describe how justices get on the Court.
They are appointed by the President and then confirmed by the Senate.
176
What is unanimous consent?
A vote to set aside particular rules to expedite the decision on a bill or other measure. Can expedite legislation.
177
What is the Rules Committee?
Determines the rules of debate for bills in the House.
178
Describe how party identification and ideological orientation impact who a voter chooses to vote for.
- Democrats vote for democrats and republicans vote for republicans
179
Describe what regulatory commissions do. Give an example of a commission. How are they different than independent agencies?
A public authority responsible for regulating activity in a certain area; they are not independent from other arms of the government; ex. FDA.
180
What is gerrymandering?
Drawing of congressional districts to favor one political party or group over another.
181
Define critical election
- a sharp change in the existing patterns of party loyalty among voters
- due to changing social and economic conditions
-the majority party is often displaced by the minority party
182
Why is the Senate less formal than the House?
Only 100 Senators, easier to make decisions on bills.
183
What is the Rules Committee?
Responsible for deciding the rules of debate on a bill in the House. Can kill or expedite a bill by limiting debate.
184
constituencies meaning
a group of people who live in a specific geographic area and are represented by an elected official. This area, often called an electoral district, allows its residents to vote for someone to represent their interests in government. Essentially, it's the people who elect a representative
185
What is electioneering?
Direct group involvement in the electoral process.
186
What is Patronage?
Granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support.
187
What are policy networks?
Explain differences in policy making and power in different policy sectors.
188
What is advise and consent power?
Allows Senate to constrain President's powers of appointment and treaty making.
189
Define the 19th Amendment and explain how it expanded the opportunity for political participation.
Women's right to vote
-Allowing women to vote
190
What is party realignment?
Displacement of majority party by minority party during critical election periods.
191
What is a filibuster?
A tactic used to delay or block action on a bill or other measure. Can stop/kill legislation if successful.
192
Why does Congress defer to bureaucrats to make rules and regulations?
Bureaucrats are often experts and know how to best implement the policy that Congress writes.
193
How do the differences in chamber sizes and constituencies influence the formality of debate in the House and the Senate?
The House's large size makes debate more formal, as there are many more people to be heard. The Senate is smaller, and the longer terms make it the more prestigious of the two chambers, so debate is less formal.
194
What is legislative intent?
When creating legislation, the judiciary branch may be considered when interpreting the law.
195
What is grassroots?
Average voter at the local level.
196
Describe how interest groups provide education for voters and office holders.
- They provide information on who to support and why
197
What is casework?
Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals.
198
What is the free-rider problem?
Problem faced by unions when people benefit from activities without joining.
199
What is the main role of a standing committee? Give an example of a powerful one in the House and one in the Senate.
To recommend action on their jurisdiction; HoR -- Rules Committee Ways and Means Committee (main taxation committee), Senate: Finance Committee, Judiciary committee (holds judicial appointment confirmation hearings).
200
What is the 10th Amendment?
Powers not delegated to the US by the Constitution are reserved to the states or the people.
201
What is a super PAC?
Form of a PAC that can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money.
202
Describe what bureaucratic agencies do. Give an example of an agency.
Implementation, administration, and regulation; once a law is passed, they deal with the specifics of how it will be carried out; ex. NASA, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
203
What is Congress's role in the creation of the federal budget?
Congress is in charge of the budget and spending. The president usually submits a budget request, but Congress marks it up and ultimately has the final say in how money is spent. They also collect taxes and borrow money on the United States' behalf.
204
House of Representatives
representatives elected by each state, # depends on population size; advantageous for larger states
205
What is legislative oversight?
Congress' monitoring of the bureaucracy and its administration of policy.
206
the Senate, with fewer members representing entire states, can operate more informally, with longer terms facilitating .....
easier coalition formation
207
What is the Committee of the Whole?
A meeting of the body under modified rules. Changes the rules under which a bill is debated.
208
What can Congress do if they disagree with a judicial ruling?
They can attempt to pass a constitutional amendment.
209
What is the Civil Rights Act of 1964?
Law that made racial discrimination against any group in hotels, motels, and restaurants illegal.
210
What is an Iron Triangle?
Entities composed of bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees.
211
What is treaty negotiation?
The president can make treaties with other countries. In order for the treaty to take effect, it must be ratified by a supermajority in the Senate.
212
What is the incumbency effect?
Tendency of those already holding office to win reelection due to advantages.
213
What is the State of the Union?
It's a speech regarding what is happening in the country; yes, the president must give one; it is one of the few times the president can address all branches at one time and the American public.
214
What are ideological divisions within Congress?
When there is significant differences in ideology between the two parties in Congress. Can cause gridlock, essentially stopping up policy making.
215
What does the policymaking process look like?
A piece of legislation is brought up; sent to committee, where legislators might request bureaucratic reports, expert testimony, they amend the bill and it's sent back for a full vote.
216
Who is the Speaker of the House?
Office mandated by the Constitution; chosen in practice by the majority.
217
What was the precedent set in Shaw v. Reno (1993)?
It set the precedent that districts must be compact and contiguous, and that state legislators cannot draw a district solely or primarily based on race.
218
What are amendments?
Revolutions of change to a bill, law, or constitution.
219
What is a budget deficit?
When the government spends more money than it makes in a year.
220
What is a straight ticket voter?
Voter voting for all candidates of the same party.
221
Define the 26th Amendment and explain how it expanded the opportunity for political participation.
-Lowered voting age to 18
- allowing younger people to vote
222
How else can Congress control the bureaucracy?
Impeachment of bureaucrats.
223
How does a member of Congress vote if they're acting as a politico?
Legislators act as trustees until their constituency voices a particularly strong opinion on an issue, at which point they function as a delegate.
224
How are coalitions in Congress affected by term length differences?
House members are more bound to their constituents' wishes because they face reelection every two years. They also tend to get less work done because they have to refocus on campaigning just a short while into their term. The longer terms in the Senate allow for some insulation from their constituents' wishes, and allow for more work to be done because they don't have to campaign as frequently.
225
What are single member districts?
Only one representative is chosen from each district.
226
Define political action committee (PAC).
An organization that raises money privately to influence elections or legislation, especially at the federal level.
227
What is reciprocity (logrolling) in Congress?
Exchange of political favors for support of a bill.
228
Explain the benefits and potential problems of interest group influence on elections and policy making.
-it could lead to a beneficial social change
- if they're promoting something that discriminates against a marginalized group then they have the resources and abilities to fund and promote specific candidates as well as being able to bribe a lawmaker into promoting harmful legislation.
229
What is a pardon?
Allows president to forgive sentences, usually in high profile cases. Can pardon impeachments.
230
What is Oversight?
The act of overseeing something; Congress oversees the bureaucracy and ensures they are operating functionally and spending money appropriately.
231
What impact does cutting taxes have on a budget deficit?
It increases the deficit because it decreases the revenue of the government without decreasing the spending.
232
Why has there been a shift from patronage to merit?
The Pendleton Act of 1883 - bureaucracy was corrupt and inefficient.
233
What is a government corporation?
Undertakes commercial activities on behalf of the government; ex. United States Postal Service - provides a service to the people, but charges for it.
