Unit 4 Flashcards
(141 cards)
0
Q
Number of members on senate
A
100
1
Q
Number of members on house
A
435
2
Q
Length of Terms in house of reps
A
Two-year terms (whole house elected every two years)
3
Q
Length of terms in senate
A
Six-year terms (one third every two years)
4
Q
Former qualifications for House of Representatives
A
25 years old, seven-year citizenship, live in District that they’re running for.
5
Q
Formal qualifications for Senate
A
30 years old, nine years citizen, live in the state they’re running for
6
Q
Informal qualifications for house
A
College-educated (law or business)
7
Q
Informal qualifications for Senate
A
College educated (Law or business)
8
Q
House of Representatives constituents
A
Grouped by district less people
9
Q
Senate constituents
A
Grouped by state more people
10
Q
House of Representatives prestige
A
Less prestige then the Senate
11
Q
Senate prestige
A
More prestige than the house
12
Q
House of Representatives debate
A
Has a set time limit that has been predetermined
13
Q
length of debate in senate
A
Cannot be a limited (can use filibuster)
14
Q
Policymaking in House of Representatives
A
budget
15
Q
Policymaking in senate
A
Foreign affairs
16
Q
Term limits in Congress
A
Ruled that Congress nor the states can impose term limits without a constitutional amendment, no term limits in federal congress. (State terms can be limited)
17
Q
advocates of term limits
A
Argue that it eliminates career politicians that may argue too much with constituents, brings new ideas to legislature, and is more responsive to the will of the people.
18
Q
Opponents of term limits
A
Think it is undemocratic because it limits choices to the voters, reduces effectiveness by losing experienced lawmakers
19
Q
Organization of Congress
A
Two houses (bicameral)
Two-year terms start January 3 of odd number years split into two one year sessions.
President can call special session in time of emergency
Each house chooses the leadership and makes rules
20
Q
Incumbency effects
A
Incumbents when 90% of the time in the house and 80% of time in the senate
21
Q
Advantages of being an incumbent
A
Name recognition, credit claiming (breaking), more visible, media exposure, fundraising ability, experience, franking privilege, voting record
22
Q
Pork barrel legislation
A
Projects attached to bills that are federally funded local projects
23
Q
Casework for constituents
A
Help constituents solve problems dealing with government bureaucracy
24
Franking privilege
Members of Congress can send mailings to constituents postage free
25
Apportionment
Allocation of seats in the house based on population (Every 10 years census)
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Reapportionment
Reallocation of seats in the house
27
Congressional Districting
State legislation redrawing congressional district lines (can be done at any time)
28
Gerrymandering
Draw district lines to favor one political party or group over another
29
Wesberry versus sanders
Said that congressional districts have to have generally the same population
30
Gerrymandering three rules
Has to be compact, continuous, generally equal population
31
Getting elected to the Senate's
Members originally chosen by state legislature
32
17th amendment
Allows for direct election of Senators by members of the state
33
Committee chairperson
Majority party member, chosen by party caucus
34
Duties of committee chairperson
Set agenda, assign subcommittee members, decide if hearings will be held and if witnesses are needed, manage floor for debate
35
Seniority system
Chairperson is a member of majority party and generally has the longest tenure on that committee
36
Committee membership
Based on party loyalty, percent of committee membership based on overall percentage of Democratic and Republican in each house
37
Standing committee
Permanent committees that deal with specific policy matters
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Select committee
Temporary committee appointed for a specific purpose (usually surrounds specific issue like Senate Watergate committee)
39
Joint committee
Made up of members from both houses
40
Conference committee
Temporary committee of both houses to resolve bills passed in the house and senate
41
Caucuses
Meeting of party members who share a common purpose (ex: congressional Black Caucus, woman caucus, democratic/Republican caucus
42
Privileges for members of Congress
Allowances to run offices in home state/district
travel allowances
franking privilege
immunity from arrest while conducting congressional business
immunity from libel and slander suit while debating in Congress
43
Legislative powers
Power to make laws
44
Expressed legislative powers
Most powers found in article 1 section 8
45
Legislative implied powers
Necessary and proper clause, allow Congress to extend powers necessary to carry out expressed powers
46
Denied powers
Article 1 section 4/10 amendment restricts powers
47
NonLegislative powers
Electoral powers, amendment powers, impeachment, executive powers of the senate, legislative oversight
48
Electoral powers
House selects president Senate Elects vice president
49
Amendment powers
Can propose amendments by 2/3 votes in congress
50
Impeachment
House brings charges against federal official
| Senate tries to find if they should be removed
51
Executive powers of senate
Senate must approve presidential appointments by majority vote and for treaties they need 2/3 vote
52
Legislative oversight
Review policies/ programs of executive branch
53
Bills
A proposed law that may begin in either house (except revenue bill must start in house of reps)
54
House of rep law process
Introduced by member of house
Assigned committee
Bill assigned to sub committee
Bill returned to committee for acceptation or rejection
Set rules for debate (time limited)
Vote taken on if bill passes and goes to senate
55
Senate law process
```
Introduced by senate member
Assigned committee
Assigned sub committee chair discretion
Returned to committee for approval / rejection
No rules
Unlimited debate
Vote taken If passes goes to house
```
56
Conference committee
Formed with members of house and senate, irons out differences in bill. Cannot add anything new
Returned again to house/ senate
57
Presidential action on laws
Sign the bill to make it law
Veto
Bill becomes law without signing
Pocket veto
58
Pocket veto
Legislation goes to president with less than 10 days left in congress is vetoed after congress is over and ends possibility of congress override
59
Override
Overtake presidents veto by 2/3 vote in both houses
60
Caucus
Subgroups in Congress might form voting blocks
61
Committee system
Chairperson can prevent bills from being reported out of committee
62
Filibuster and cloture
Unlimited debate in the senate to stall voting on a bill, cloture: way for the senate to break filibuster by 60 senators voting to end
63
Pork barrel legislation
Providing federal funds to fund a local project
64
Logrolling
"I'll support your bill if you support mine "
65
Riders
Additions to legislation that have nothing to do with the topic of the bill typically don't pass on their own merit bills with lots of riders are known as "Christmas tree bills"
66
Amendments
Additions or changes to legislation that deal specifically with the legislation
67
Lobbying
Trying to influence legislators to support a reject legislation
68
Roles of congress; policymaker
Made public policy through passing legislation
69
Roles of congress; representative
Represent constituents voice in Congress use delegate or Trustee model
70
Delegate model
Look at constituents for guidance on how they should go on issues ignore personal opinion
71
Trustee model
After listening to constituents they vote based on the best course of action in the long term for the nation (personal opinion)
72
Roles of congress; constituent servant
Help constituents with problems
73
Roles of Congress; committee member
Serve on committees typically were they have some level of expertise
74
Roles of Congress; politician/party member
Work to support platform and get reelected
75
Constituents influence on Congress
Have to listen to voters of hoping to get reelected
76
Party influence
Want to be viewed as loyal party member vote along party lines
77
President
Lobbies members to support or reject legislation
78
Lobbyist and interest groups
Provide members with info to support their cause
79
Formal qualifications for president
35 years old
natural born citizen of the US
resident in the US for 14 years
80
InFormal qualifications for president
Political or military experience married white male protestant
81
22nd amendment
Restricted president to only serve two terms (the max a president can serve as 10 years)
82
Presidential succession
Constitution doesn't describe the order of secession however after Harrison died the VP took over for president
83
25th amendment
Upon JFK death amendment was ratified to explain rules. if president dies, resigns, or is impeached the VP takes over with majority approval
84
Presidential disability
If the president cannot perform duties VP becomes "acting president"
85
President disability determination
- Pres. informs Congress of inability to perform duty
| - VP/majority of cabinet and form Congress in writing if president is disabled
86
Impeachment
- Constitution gives house power to impeach
- Senate conduct Trial to determine outcome of the charges levied by the house Chief Justice of Supreme Court presides over senate during trial
87
Vice presidential duties
Preside over senate and Cast tie-breaking vote when necessary
Determine presidential disability under the 25th amendment
88
Vice Pres. nomination
President chooses nominee at national convention usually from a different faction of the party and a different geographic region
89
Presidential executive powers
Enforce and execute laws, treaties, and court decisions
Issue executive order to carry out policy
Appoint or remove officials
Preside over cabinet and executive branch
90
Presidential legislative powers
Give State of the Union address to both houses of Congress advise problems or recommend solution
issue annual budget to be approved by Congress vetoes or signs bill
influence to get legislation passed
Call special session
91
Presidential diplomatic powers
```
Appoints ambassadors and other officials
Negotiates treaties and executive agreements
Meets with foreign leaders
receives foreign dignitaries
recognizes foreign government
```
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Presidential Military powers
Commander in chief of the Armed Forces
| final decision on national and foreign defense issues provides domestic order
93
Presidential judicial powers
Appoints federal judges
| Grants, reprieves, pardons, amnesty
94
Presidential party powers
```
Leader of party
Choose vp
Strengthen party by getting people elected
Appoints party members to gov positions
Influences policies of party
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95
Congressional checks on president
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Override
Power of the purse
Impeachment
Approval of president appointments
Legislation limiting presidents power
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96
Power of the purse
Congress approves and appropriates money for executive agencies
97
Legislation limiting presidents power
War powers act limits presidential power of the military
98
Judicial checks on president
Judicial review of executive action
99
Political checks on president
Public opinion
Media attention
Popularity - president approval rating
100
The bureaucracy
Systematic way or organizing complex, large organizations that Handle and carry out day to day tasks of government
101
Principles for bureaucracy
Hierarchical authority job specialization formal rules
102
Hierarchical authority
Pyramid with authority on top
103
Job specialization
Each worker has defined duties and responsibilities
104
Formal rules
Establish regulations and procedures that must be follow
105
Beginning of bureaucracy
Standards for office have basic qualifications, political acceptability
106
Spoil system of bureaucracy
Practice of giving the offices and political favors to supporters and friends
107
Reform of bureaucracy
Competitive exams propose to be given bureaucratic job, failed to give funding
108
Pendleton act
Civil service act 1883 passed to replace spoil system with merit based system for the hiring and promotion of the members
109
Hatch act of 1939
Prohibits government employees from engaging in political activities while on duty running for office seeking political funding off duty. or if in sensitive positions may not be involved off duty.
110
Civil service reform act of 1978
Office of personnel management to recruit train establish classes and salary for employees
111
Cabinet departments
15 executive departments, advise president, operate specific policy area, headed up a secretary, not as influential as the past
112
Independent executive agencies
Similar to departments but no cabinet status (Ex:nasa, small business administration)
113
Independent regulatory agencies
Independent from executive created to regulate (securities and exchange commission, Federal Reserve board)
114
Government corporations
Created by Congress to carry out business like transactions charged for their service (EX:Amtrak, UsPS)
115
Executive office of the president (EOP)
Established in 1939 by Congress became president closest advisers every president reorganized EOP
116
White House staff
Personal and political staff members responsible for day to day operations of executive branch includes Chief of Staff and Press Secretary
117
National Security Council
National security act of 1947 advises president about domestic/foreign national security issues
118
Office of management and budget (OMB)
Agency that is in charge of helping president prepare annual budget
119
Budget creation process
Agencies and departments submit funding request to the OMB .the OMB creates budget with presidents direction; submitted for Congress approval
120
Office of faith-based community initiatives
Created by George W. Bushto encourage and expand private efforts to deal with social problems facing society
121
Office of national drug control policy
Agency that organizes the effort to combat the national drug problem
122
Office of policy development
Advises the president on domestic policy issues
123
Council of economic advisors
Advises the president on economic issues
124
Office of US trade Rep.
Advise as president about foreign trade and trade agreements
125
Office of administration
Provides personal support to the president
126
Council of environmental quality
Coordinates federal environmental efforts
127
Iron triangles
Alliances between bureaucratic agencies interest groups and congressional committees/subcommittees
128
Issue networks
Individuals in Washington from interest groups, congressional staff, think tanks, universities, media that advocate public policy
129
Appellate jurisdiction
Can review cases already heard by lower courts
| also can review/Enforce orders of federal regulatory agencies
130
US Court of Appeals
Created by Congress, 13 districts, panel of three judges hear cases
131
Rule of four
Four of nine justices must agree to hear a case
132
Petition for writ of certiorari
Party from a case heard in a lower court requesting Supreme Court to review case
133
Writ of certiorari
Document that calls the case up from lower court
134
Brief
Details, facts of the case, arguments being made, and relevant decisions from other cases
135
Amicus curiae briefs
Interested parties file briefs to try to influence Supreme Court
136
Majority opinion
Majority of the justices agree to the decision and reasoning
137
Dissenting opinion
Justices who disagree with majority
138
Concurring opinion
Justices who agree with majority decision but do not agree with reasoning
139
Precedent
Similar cases have been decided, create guides for current decisions. lower courts are expected to follow the decisions of higher courts
140
Per curium
Decision without explanation to dissolve immediate case, no value as president because no reasoning to guide lower courts
