Pt 2: Chapter 11 Notes Flashcards
1
Q
What is the federal government’s total expenditures?
A
$3.55 trillion ($3,500 billion)
2
Q
The expenditures for the legislative branch?
A
$7 billion
3
Q
The expenditures for the executive branch?
A
$7 billion
4
Q
The expenditures for the executive branch?
A
$3,500 billion
5
Q
What are the 3 big programs that use up a majority of our federal spending (rank them highest to lowest)
A
- Social security - 24%
- Healthcare - 24%
- Defense Dept - 17%
6
Q
What are the 3 biggest incomes for the federal govt and how are they ranked? (highest to lowest)
A
- Individual income - 46%
- Payroll - 34%
- Corporate income - 11%
7
Q
What is was the highest ever marginal rate?
A
94%
8
Q
What is the current highest marginal rate?
A
35%
9
Q
Lower-income individuals pay a higher rate
A
Regressive tax
10
Q
Higher-income individuals pay a higher rate
A
Progressive tax
11
Q
Whats the saying about Congress?
A
Hate the Congress… Love your congressman
12
Q
Approval/disapproval rating for Yarmuth?
A
62% approval
26% disapproval
13
Q
Overall Congress approval rating? Disapproval?
A
15% approve
70% disapprove
14
Q
Over ___ of House incumbents who seek re-election win, the number is just slightly lower for the Senate
A
95%
15
Q
What are some reasons why House incumbents are likely to get reelected?
A
- Take care of Constituents
- Fund-raising advantage
- Redistricting
16
Q
Each member of the house represents roughly _____ people
A
700,000
17
Q
How many members of the Senate?
A
100 members
18
Q
The Senate is referred to as?
A
“The Upper House”
19
Q
Qualifications for Senate:
- How old?
- How long a citizen?
- Where should you be from?
A
- 30 years of age
- US citizen for 9 years
- Inhabit state you represent when elected
20
Q
How many women in Senate? African Americans?
A
17 women, 1 African American
21
Q
How many members of the house?
A
435 voting members + 5 non-voting
22
Q
What is the House referred to as?
A
“The Lower House”
23
Q
Qualifications for the House:
- How old?
- How long a citizen?
- Where should you be from?
A
- 25 years old
- US citizen for 7 years
- Inhabit state you were elected in
24
Q
Who is our Senator?
A
Good ole Mitch McConnell
25
Who is the president of the Senate?
Joe Biden
26
Who is our Pro Tempore of the Senate?
Orin Hatch
27
Who is our Speaker of the House?
Its up in the air rn
28
This is when Congressmen work hard to get their share of federal spending projects for their constituents
Pork-barrel spending
29
Responding to their constituents' individual requests. The representative's staff is always ready to assist someone who is seeking information about a gov't program or looking to get a federal benefit.
Service strategy
30
The responsibility for redrawing House election district rests with the respective state legislatures
Redistricting
31
The party that controls the legislature typically redraws the boundaries in a way that favors the candidates of its party
Gerrymandering
32
Senate and house incumbends can fall victim to disruptive issues which are what?
When voters are angry about existing political conditions the incumbents are at greater risk
33
Why is the midterm election a problem to incumbents?
The president's party usually loses House seats during these elections, which is partly due to the drop-off of voter participation in the midterm election because the electorate is much smaller and people who only vote in pres elections have weaker party ties
34
What is the primary election challengers problem with incumbents trying to get reelected?
Those who are moderate usually lose to a strong challenger from the extreme wing of their party b/c extremists are more likely to go out and vote than moderates
35
Senators often find themselves running against who? Threatening their seat
High ranked politicians like governors who have more resources for a strong campaign
36
House incumbents are less likely to face strong challengers why?
Because the seat isnt attractive enough and face appointments who have dont enough money to raise a strong campaign
37
What is the threat of Super PACS to incumbency?
These contribute money fro outside the state or district and target the race by donating money to the challenger. Incumbents barely survive the inflow of money
38
The Speaker of the House is elected by ?
House Membership
39
The Speaker of the House is by default...
a member of the majority party
40
The Speaker of the House is said to be
the second-most-powerful official in Washington
41
The Speaker of the House develops ? and persuades party members in the House to?
Develops the party's opposition on issues and persuades party members in the House to support them
42
What are the formal powers of the Speaker of the House?
The right to speak during the first house debate on legislation and the power to recognize speakers during the debate
43
The Speaker of the House influences...
House Rules Committee
44
This controls the scheduling of bills
House Rules Committee
45
Who is the most powerful senator?
Majority party leader
46
Who presides over the Senate and what does his job include?
VP; Joe Biden
| Has power only to cast a tie-breaking vote
47
Who presides over the Senate in the VP's absence?
Senate president Pro tempore
48
This is largely a honorary position held by the majority party's senior member
pro tempore
49
This committee does most of the work in Congress. Permanent and responsible for particular areas of public policy
Standing committee
50
Each standing committee has a ______ with each having a defined jurisidciton
subcommittee
51
Each chamber has one of these committees that handles foreign policy issues, commerce, etc
Senate standing committee
52
Each of these committees has legislative authority in that it can draft and rewrite proposed legislation and can recommend to the full chamber the passage or defeat of the bills it handles
House standing committee
53
A few in Congress that have designated responsibility but, unlike standing ones, do not produce legislation
Select committee
54
Joint committees formed temporarily to work out differences in House and Senate versions of a particular bill
Conference committee
55
This means that bills introduced must be referred to the proper committee
Committee jurisdiction
56
Committee membership looks like what
Mirrors the party ratio of the body
57
Who are the committee chairs?
Typically senior members of the majority party
58
Committees have been described as this
"little legislatures"
59
Why have committees been described as little legislatures?
Each are secure in its jurisdiction and membership, and each wielding considerable influence over the legislation it handles
60
Most work on legislation is done where
In committee
61
From committees to the floor what is defined?
Rules for debate
62
During the leadership and floor action what happens?
Debate, changes to the bill, and vote by the full membership
63
What happens after full membership vote?
Conference committees will work out a compromise version if 2 bills are passed that are similar. After that the president signs or vetos
64
What are the 3 major functions of congress?
Lawmaking, representation, and oversight
65
Congress makes laws doing what
Authorizing federal programs
66
Why would fragmentation being a weakness for Congress?
Limit on Congress' role, the president typically has the more prominent role
67
Why would fragmentation being a strength for Congress?
Ability to deal with narrow problems, but not broad ones, simultaneously
68
The responsibility of a legislature to represent various interests in society
Representative function of congress
69
Representation of states and districts by Congress how?
Will vote in a way that will not antagonize local interests on narrow issues because of reelection needs
70
Representation of the nation through parties is done how?
Congress focuses on the big issues instead of local interests and these clear cut views are defined clearly in each party
71
Congress has the responsibility to see that the executive branch carries out the laws faithfully
Oversight function
72
How is oversight primarily done?
By committees
73
How are committes set up in regards to oversight?
Facilitated by the parallel structure to the executive bureaucracy. Ex: House and Senate judiciary committees oversee the work of the Dept. of Justice
74
T/F: Oversight is constantly pursued and done perfectly
False. too demanding to do adequately
75
What are advantages of Congress?
Culturally representative of a nation and diverse interests are represented
76
Disadvantages of Congress?
National interest is often subjugated to special interests, disproportionate influence of the minority on party interests, and Congress's structure makes it easier to block leg than enact it
