Chapter 11 Test Flashcards
What chamber of Congress is more Democratic?
The House, because it is based on population
How does the census affect the composition of Congress?
Through reapportionment when district lines are redrawn to reflect population changes
What are some major differences between the House of Representatives and Senate?
Chart page 246 (know 3)
How do political parties influence the leadership of Congress?
Party leaders are chosen through a caucus or conference and the majority party leaders run the House and the Senate
Why were the congressional elections of 1994 significant?
They marked the first Republican takeover of Congress since 1954
What are the roles of the majority leader in the Senate and the speaker in the House of Representatives?
The majority leader in the Senate controls the flow of legislation there, the Speaker of the House presides in that chamber and makes decisions about legislation, debate, and service on committees
What are the responsibilities of the whips in Congress?
To assist majority and minority leaders in communicating with party members about legislation and their attendance during key votes
What are the four types of congressional committees and what function does each serve?
1) Standing committees- permanent and most powerful
2) Select committees- temporary and usually created for a specific purpose
3) Joint committees- permanent and are composed of members of both houses
4) Temporary committees- drawn from both chambers to work out a compromise
Why are committee chairmanships inmportant?
They decide whether to schedule hearings on a bill, write legislation, control a staff budget, and listen to anyone who wants to influence the bill
What is the primary function of Congress?
To make laws that govern America
How does the president affect the enactment of laws?
He can sign them, veto them, or ignore them
What are the stages a bill goes through to become a law?
1) Introduced in either the House or the Senate
2) Sent to a committee for review
3) If approved, it’s voted on by the full chamber
4) If approved by both houses but with differences, it’s sent to a conference committee
5) If approved, it’s sent to the president
Why did the Constitution begin with a discussion of Congress in Article I?
Having just overthrown a king, the framers valued Congress as a counterbalance to presidential power
What financial benefits do members of Congress receive?
In addition to salaries, members of Congress have franking privileges as well as allowances for staff offices and travel
Why does the Senate often take longer to pass legislation than the House takes?
Being a smaller body, the Senate is more informal, works more slowly, can debate at length, and it’s work schedule is decided by the majority leader
