Term
| Why are committees used more in the House than the Senate? |
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Definition
The House is larger so committees make it
more efficient |
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Term
| What are some of the advantages of being an incumbent? |
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Definition
Incumbents have name recognition, a record
to run in, experience in campaigning and
fundraising and have an easier time finding donors. Franking privileges also help |
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Term
| What was 1992 known as the year of in congress? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is each chamber's role in impeachment? |
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Definition
| House impeaches, Senate is the Jury |
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Term
| Who normally draws districts for the House? How often? |
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Definition
State legislatures draw districts every 10
years |
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Term
| What happened in Texas when districts were drawn in 2000? |
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Definition
| In TX, Republicans won an advantage for the first time since the civil war because Democrats fled the state to try to obstruct the map drawing until the next election |
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Term
| What is the role of the Rules Committee in the House? |
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Definition
The Rules committee schedules bills for
debate, determines rules/procedures by which
the Bill can be considered |
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Term
| What is a pork project? Ex. of? |
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Definition
| Pork projects are “pet projects” that bring home the bacon to a law makers district. Ex. A museum, bridge, etc |
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Term
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Definition
| Logrolling is “vote trading”/ back scratching |
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Term
| What is the difference between closed and open rule for amendments? |
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Definition
Closed rule says that NO amendments can
be made during floor debate. Open rule allows for changes/edits to be made on the floor |
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Term
| What role does majority/minority party and seniority play in the committee system? |
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Definition
The majority party has more members on a
committee |
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Term
| What role does majority/minority and seniority play in chairmanships? |
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Definition
| Chairman are always from the majority party and are usually the most Senior majority party member on the committee |
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Term
| What recent reforms were made about majority/minority and seniority in committees and chairmanships? |
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Definition
| New limits say that you can only be chairman 3 consecutive terms then you must rotate |
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Term
| What percent of bills actually become laws? |
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Definition
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Term
| Why is congress bicameral? |
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Definition
2 chamber b/c of parliament, most
colonies were bicameral, it was a
compromise (VA/NJ) and a check and
balance |
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Term
| What powers did the legislature have and not have under the Articles? |
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Definition
Could not tax or regulate trade. Could
declare war/peace. Had a post office.
Military powers weak |
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Term
| Compare the Virginia House of Burgesses and the Mass. General Court |
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Definition
VA H of B a representative democracy.
MAGCT was more participatory |
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Term
| What are the 4 models of decision making? |
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Definition
Trustee- own views
Delegate- the voters
Partisan- the party
Poltico- mix of all 3. |
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Term
| What are the President’s options when he receives a bill? Does he still have the line item veto? |
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Definition
| President can sign it, veto it, sit on it for 10 days. If Congress is in session, it becomes a law. If they are out of session it is pocket vetoed. Line item veto declared unconst. In 1998. |
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Term
| What is a filibuster? What is it? How to stop it? Who has it? |
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Definition
Talking a bill to death. Senate has it.
It can be stopped by a cloture motion 3/5
vote. |
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Term
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Definition
| Caucuses are like study groups |
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Term
| What is the party caucus? |
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Definition
The Party Caucus is a meeting of all party
members. They choose party leaders,
coordinate their agenda. |
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Term
| What does the War Powers Act do? |
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Definition
meant to restrict the President’s war making ability after Vietnam
-48 hours to engage troops before telling
Congress
-60 days to make undeclared war
-Maximum 30 day extension may be given to
bring troops home. |
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Term
| IL and Congress: Who? How many? |
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Definition
| We have 18 Reps (D. LaHood) in Illinois and two Senators (Durbin/Kirk) |
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Term
| What are the main three different types of committees used in Congress? |
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Definition
1.) Standing Committees: permanent and legislative
2.)Joint Committees: made up of both House and Senate members
3.)Special/Select Committees: temporary and investigative |
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Term
| Who introduced Contract w/ America? What was it going to do the role of Congress as agenda setter? |
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Definition
| The Contract With America was introduced by Newt Gingrich. It was meant to restore Congress as the agenda setter |
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Term
| What are the steps of a bill becoming a law? |
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Definition
| Idea-committee- subcommittee- whole committee vote- scheduled-debated-vote- start over in next chamber- president’s desk after conference committee works things out |
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