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congress test Flashcards

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1
Q

article one

A

delegated powers
enumerated powers
implied powers

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2
Q

enumerated powers

A

pass a federal budget
tax
borrow money
coin money
declare war
regulate interstate commerce

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3
Q

implied powers

A

elastic clause (necessary and proper clause)
economic issues
environmental issues
social issues

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4
Q

incumbency rate

A

house: 90%
Senate: 60%

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5
Q

advantages of incumbents

A

advertising
credit claiming
position taking
weak opponents
campaign spending

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6
Q

advertising

A

the goal is to be visible for voters
senators have more experienced competition
senators have more diverse constituency (lower incumbency rate)

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7
Q

credit claiming

A

service to individuals in their district makes voters feel like their constituents are looking out for them

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8
Q

pork barrel spending

A

federal projects/grants made available in a congressional district that helps the state

a congressman gives funds to their own district for re election

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9
Q

position taking

A

portray themselves as hard working, dedicated individuals
partisan stand on issue

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10
Q

weak opponents

A

usually inexperienced in politics
unorganized and underfunded

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11
Q

campaign spending

A

challengers need to raise large sums to defeat incumbent
house races cost 1 million = Senate cost 10 times that
PACs give money to incumbents
incumbents spend 2 to 1 to challengers

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12
Q

defeating incumbents

A

may face redistricting
may face scandal
may be victim of major political tidal wave
midterm elections see changes

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13
Q

open seats

A

no incumbents running for seat

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14
Q

term limits advantages

A

less career politicians will result in more responsive politicians
newer ideas introduced
demographics reflect the country
limit influence of interest groups
increase public interest
less pork barrel spendings
house would be less elitist

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15
Q

term limits disadvantages

A

the legislator may not be as responsive towards end of their term
less experience
fear of unknown with newly elected
politicians may do good job = constituents want them to stay

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16
Q

party polarization

A

increases ideological division between republican and democrats

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17
Q

cause of party polarization

A

clear differences on issues
more ideological primary and midterm election voters

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18
Q

effects of party polarization

A

policy gridlock
fewer bills passed
more fiibusters
tougher confirmation proceedings

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19
Q

the house

A

435 members
2 year terms
initiate all revenue bills, more influential on budget
house rule committee
limited debates
7 years citizenship

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20
Q

the senate

A

100 members
6 year terms
give advice and consent, more influential on foreign affairs
unlimited debates (filibusters)
9 years citizenship

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21
Q

non legislative powers of senate

A

confirmation powers
ratify treaties
show examples of elitism

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22
Q

confirmation powers

A

provide advice and consent
confirm judicial nominations
confirm cabinet heads
confirm executive agency heads

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23
Q

both have power

A

budget/power of purse
discretionary spending
mandatory spending

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24
Q

the house leadership

A

speaker of the house
Mike johnson
elected by house members
major role in committee assignments and legislation
assisted by majority leader and whips

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25
the Senate leadership
before was vice president now is majority leader John thune works with minority leader president pro tempore also (under majority leader)
26
Senate debate
unlimited cloture (vote to end filibuster = 60 senators) filibuster
27
house debate
limited
28
Senate impeachment
holds the trial
29
house impeachment
charges for the impeachment
30
trustee
vote on how they personally believe is best (regardless of constituent opinion)
31
delegate
do what the constituent wants (regardless of their own opinion)
32
politico
depends (sometimes trustee or delegate)
33
reapportionment
process by which representatives are assigned to states after census
34
redistricting
process of setting new boundary lines for congressional districts after reapportionment
35
how to gerrymander
cracking and packing
36
cracking
splits voters for the opposing party into multiple districts diluting their voting strength in each district
37
packing
concentrating large numbers of voters for the opposing party into a single district to reduce their voting power in other districts
38
Baker v carr
1962 apportionment issue can be settled by federal courts led to the one person, one vote principle for equal representation declared malapportionment unconstitutional
39
shaw v. reno
1993 congressional districts cannot be drawn based on only race majority minority districts
40
our state distrcit
4 William timmons
41
SC Senators
Lindsey graham (senior senator) Tim Scott (junior senator)
42
only democratic district of SC
district 6 James clyburn
43
succession order
president vice president speaker of the house
44
types of committees
standing select joint conference
45
standing committee
permanent, fixed membership and jurisdiction subject matter committees handle different policy areas (specific issues) 20 in HOR 17 in Senate
46
most important standing committee
ways and means (handle taxes) second important appropriations and budget
47
select committees
special temporary committees created by Congress to study issues of immediate national importance ex) global warming alternative energy 9/11
48
joint committee
made up of members from both House and Senate usually with administrative function handles routine organizational matters
49
conference committees
temporary committee set up to resolve differences in House and Senate version of a bill no bill can be sent to president until both pass in identical form
50
3 big things congressional committees do
consider bills (mark up bills) oversight of executive conduct investigations
51
oversight
involves hearing and other methods of checking the actions of the executive branch
52
the house rules committee
a standing committee set up to decide date on calendar when bill will be present and the rules of debate and is controlled by the Speaker
53
open rule
states that there can be debate on the floor, Amendments may be added, and there is more lenient time limit
54
closed rule
there is a time limit and no debate the congressmen are made to just vote
55
germaneness requirement
discussions (and any amendments) must be relevant, on topic
56
role of a committee chairman
decides when committee meets which bills to consider how long to consider each bill can delay or kill a bill where meetings will be held which witnesses will testify controls the committee budget manage floor debate when bill comes up for vote speed or slow passage of bill
57
caucuses
the informal organization of congress a group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristics basically a congressional interest group
58
private bill
deal with individual people or places
59
public bill
deal with general matters and apply to entire nation
60
process of bill
Bill is proposed on House floor and is assigned a committee/subcommittee Committee marks up holds hearing about bill and bill passes If in House, then bill goes to rule committee (open or closed) before being voted on by entire House Full House votes and simple majority passess bill Bill read on senate floor and assigned committee/subcommittee and repeat step 2 No rules committee in senate (unlimited debate) Full senate votes and simple majority passes bill If senate bill differs from HOR bill, then form conference committee and get agreeable bill for both Once agreeable bill is formed, bill then voted on by Full House and Full Senate and passes Bill goes to President to be signed or vetoed and if vetoed, then veto override process (⅔ in congress) starts
61
war powers act
clashes with the executive branch and legislation congressional leadership needs to be told within 24 hrs Congress can vote to bring troops home
62
logrolling
congress members exchange votes, bill might pass for frivolous (not serious) reasons
63
pork barrel legislation (riders)
usually contain controversial subject matter often attached to bills dealing with different subjects matter
64
discretionary spending
spending that has to be authorized every year by Congress and preisdent
65
mandatory spending
spending that does not have to be approved annually 2/3 of federal spending
66
appropriations
gives government agencies the authority to spend money for specific purpose (budget)
67
example of congressional oversight
correcting, changing, eliminating, or altering policy public complaints and disclosure often used sunset laws
68
sunset laws
used to automatically terminate a program or an agency (used largely at state level)
69
criticisms of congress
pork barrel spending logrolling christmas tree bills
70
other name for president
chief legislator
71
types of resolutions
simple resolutions joint resolutions concurrent resolutions
72
concurrent resolution
requires actions by both House and senate sed to express opinion and set date for the adjournment of congress no president approval
73
joint resolution
may be used to correct mistake in bill, appropriate money for special purpose, propose constitutional amendments need president approval
74
simple resolution
covers matter affecting one house of congress may be a statement for or denial of support on issue offer advice on matter adopt a new rule or procedure
75
why few bills become laws
without strong support and willingness to compromise many introduced have no chance lawmaker may want to go on record in support of idea or policy (satisfy interest group to get funds) attract media attention
76
unanimous consent agreements
senate an agreement in the Senate that sets the terms for the consideration of a bill typically used to restrict debate and to expedite action
77
filibuster
delays the passing of a bill prevents a vote through long speech
78
discharge petition
a way in the House to get a bill out of committee and possibly around rules committee and voted on house floor needs 218 signatures challenges leadership so not really used
79
pigeonholed bill
a bill that has been lost in the shuffle and not dicussed with little attention paid to it

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