Unit 2 Flashcards by Camryn Rutherford

Trustee Voting

Call issues as they see them regardless of hometown views

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Four Voting Options

Trustee
Delegate
Partisan
Politico

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Delegate Voting

Vote the way the hometown thinks

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Partisan Voting

Owe allegiance to political party

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Politico Voting

Combine the other three

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Opening Day in the House of Representatives

No organization
Clerk from prior term presides until until another is chosen
Chamber called to order, roll call, speaker is chosen, that person takes over

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Speaker of the House comes from which party?

Majority Party

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Congressional Perks

Tax breaks to keep up residences 
Cheap 
Insurance
Travel
Franking Privilege - Free use of mail
Research help at library of congress

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HoR Numbers

435 Members
2 year Term
Unlimited ReElection

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Each State Guaranteed _____ seats

One

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Every ten years, after census, congress must _____ seats in HoR

Rearrange

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Gerrymandering

State legislate redraws a line to benefit a political party

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Senate Requirements

30 years old
US citizen for 9 years
Live in state you represent

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Opening day in the Senate

Continuous body - no major change, only 1/3 are reelected
Swear in new members
Appoint committee members

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Why is the Speaker of the House more powerful?

Elected presiding officer
Leader of the majority party
2nd in line to president
Puts motion to the vote
Can debate and vote any matter
Decides outcome of most votes taken

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Who is the President of the Senate?

The Vise President
Not a senator
Cannot vote unless there is a tie
Usually the VP is absent

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Who is the President Pro Tempore?

Fills in when VP is absent from Senate
Elected by Senate
3rd in Line to presidency

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How are party officers chosen?

Selected by a party caucus/party conference

Closed meetings in Senate and HoR just before opening day

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Job of Party Leaders?

Legislative strategists
Carry out decisions
Steer floor action

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What is a whip? What do they do?

Assistant to leader
Liaison between party leaders and members
Chosen by party caucus
Check on number of votes, who is voting which way, make sure members are present for important votes, make sure members are voting along party line

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What is the seniority rule?

Those who are more experienced will most likely have better positions
HoR and Senate and both Parties use this
Unwritten custom started in late 1800s

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What is a committee?

A smaller organization that focuses on a particular issue

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What is a standing committee?

Permanent
19 in House
17 in Senate
Representatives are assigned to 1 or 2
Senators are assigned to 3 or 4

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Appropriations means…..

Study These Flashcards

Budget

Key Committees in the House

Rules (screening) Ways and Means (taxes) Appropriations (budget) Armed Services

Key Committees in the Senate

Foreign Relations Appropriations (budget) Judiciary Armed Services

Most committees are divided into what?

Sub committees

In the HoR what does a bill have to go thorough to be discussed on the floor?

Rules Committee

What is a Select/Special Committee in Congress?

Panel of members set up for a specific purpose and for a limited time (Ex: Watergate, 9/11)

What is a joint committee in Congress?

Members of House and Senate join together | Ex: Joint Economic Committee

What is a Conference Committee in Congress?

Iron out the differences in the House and Senate Bills. | The House and the Senate get together (after both houses approve the bill) and make sure the bill fits them both.

What is a rider?

Attachments to a bill

Where do most bills originate?

Executive branch Private Citizens Private Interest Groups

Why is debate time unrestricted in the Senate

To encourage the fullest possible discussion of the matter

What is a Fillibuster?

An attempt to talk a bill to death | Stalling topic used by minority groups

Only two ways to end a Filibuster in the senate?

Surrender | Cloture - 60 senators must vote for a cloture

What is Pigeonholeing in Congress?

Refuse to report the bill to the full senate or house for final consideration

Five committee options for a bill in congress?

``` Report Favorably Pigeonhole Ammend Report Unfavorably Report Committee Bill ```

What does the Rules Committee in the House and Senate do?

Sets a time for bills to appear on floor | In HoR they set a time limit for debate

When a bill goes to the Pres what are the four options?

- Signs the bill - Made into law - Veto - Refuse to sign (can be overrode by 2/3 vote in Congress) - Allow the bill to do nothing for ten days, then it automatically becomes a law (if congress is in session) - Pocket Veto - if Congress sends a bill to Pres. then adjourns within ten days it automatically dies

What is a line item change?

President can reject individual items in appropriations bills Added in 1996 Supreme Court ruled Unconstitutional in Clinton vs New York

What do liberal constructionists think?

Loose as a goose with Congress powers | Broad interpretation of Congress's powers

What do strict constructionalists think?

Very strict Only exercise expressed and implied powers "Government is best which governs least"

Congress has the expressed power to tax or

Collect taxes for common good

Congress has the expressed power to borrow or

Take loans for the US | No limit

Congress has the expressed power of commerce

Power to regulate foreign and interstate trade

Congress has the expressed power of currency or

Coin money

Congress has the expressed power of bankruptcy

Create laws about bankruptcy

Congress has the expressed power of Foreign Relations

Act on matters affecting the security of the nation

Congress has expressed war powers

Declare war | Shared with president

Congress has expressed naturalization powers or

Determine how a person becomes a US citizen

Congress has expressed postal power to

Establish a post office

Congress has expressed power of copyrights and patients or

Grant copyrights and patients

Congress has expressed weights and measurements powers or

Establish accurate uniform measurements

Congress has expressed power over territories and other areas

Acquire, manage, and dispose of federal areas

Congress has expressed judicial power

Power to create federal courts below supreme courts

List Congress's non legislative powers

1- Power to choose the president - if the Electoral college fails 2- Removal of the President - HoR Impeaches, Senate holds trial, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court presides over the hearing. 3- Confirmation - senate approves of presidential appointments 4- Ratification - Senate has the power to ratify treaties with foreign countries 5- Amendment Process - Shared with state legislature

Describe the three influencing groups in Congress

- Political parties - Lobbyists - Representatives of interest groups (NRA, Pro-Life, etc) - Political Fundraising Organization - People who work to advance their beliefs by offering funding for congress people's campaign

Unit 2 Flashcards

(58 cards)