American National Government

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Constituency

Back 1

The district making up the area from which an official is elected

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Delegates

Back 2

A representative who votes according to the preferences of his or her constituency

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Trustees

Back 3

A representative who votes based on what he or she thinks is best for his or her constituency

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Agency Representation

Back 4

The type of representations according to which representatives are held accountable to their constituents if they fail to represent them properly. In other words constituents have the right to hire and fire their representatives.

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Bicameral Legislature

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A legislative body consisting of two chambers, or houses.

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Who did the framers intend for the House to represent?

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"Close to the people"

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Who did the framers intend for the Senate to represent?

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Attuned more for the elite members of society, addressed manners of property rather than those of the population.

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Qualifications/Length of Term/Number Per State for the House of Reps?

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25 Years old, 7 as a US citizen, 2 year terms, 1 per 630,000 per state population, and the constituency is local.

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Qualifications/Length of Term/Number Per State for the Senate?

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30 years old, 9 as US Citizen, 6 year terms, 2 per state, both local and national constituency.

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Three Factors that affect who gets elected

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1.Who decides to run, and which candidate has the edge.
2. Incumbency advantage
3. How congressional district lines are drawn

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Voters Choice

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All depends on who is running, and who they can choice from

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Incumbency

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Holding a political office for which one is running

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Casework

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An effort by members of congress to gain the trust and support of constituents by providing a personal service. Ex. obtaining favorable treatment from federal bureaucracy.

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Patronage

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The resources available to higher officials, usually opportunities to make partisan appointments to offices and confer grants, licenses, or special favors to supporters.

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Pork- barrel Legislation

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Legislative bodies providing local projects, to insure their candidate can win the election. Often unneeded.

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Franking

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Members of congress allowed to spend 100,000 dollars to promote themselves through mail.

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Gerrymandering

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The apportionment of voters in districts in such a way as to give unfair advantage to one political party.

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Why is governing a challenge?

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Its difficult for a large, representative assembly to formulate, enact, and implement laws.

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What are the three underlying problems and challenges facing legislators?

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1. Matching Influence and Interest
2. Information
3. Compliance

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Matching Influence and Interest

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One congressman supporting another, if the other will support him later.

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Information

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Legislators must have information and knowledge on whatever policy the decide to vote on.

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Compliance

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Its necessary for Bureaucracy to comply with the laws enacted, or it has no effect.

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Party Caucus or Party Conference

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A normally closed meeting of a political or legislative group used to elect candidates, discuss strategy, or make decisions.

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Speaker of the House

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The chief presiding officer of the House of Representatives. Most important party and house leader.

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Majority/Minority Leader

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The elected leader of the party holding a more/less of the seats in the HOR or the Senate

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President Pro Tempore

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A ceremonial leader, usually a member with the greatest seniority.

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Standing Committee

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A permanent legislative committee that considers legislation within its designated subject area; the basic unit of deliberation in the HOR and Senate

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Jurisdiction

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Divides up institutional activities, thereby encouraging participants to specialize.

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Gatekeeping Authority

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The right and power to decide if a change in policy will be considered.

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Proposal Power

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The capacity to bring a proposal before the full legislature.

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After-the-Fact Authority

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The authority to follow up on the fate of a proposal once it has been approved by the full chamber.

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Oversight

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The effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies.

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Subcommittees

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100 specialized groups, have same powers as the full committee.

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Decisiveness on Committees

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Must get support of a committee majority

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Staff Agencies

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The agencies responsible for providing Congress with independent expertise, administration, and oversight capability.

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Congressional Caucuses

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A group of representatives who share certain interests, opinions, or social characteristics.

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Rules of Congressional procedure

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rules that govern all of the procedures from introducing a bill through submitting it to the President for signing

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Open/Closed rule

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either allows (Open) or prohibits (Closed) floor debate, and the introduction of amendments to a bill.

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Filibuster

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Members of the Senate continually holding the floor to prevent action on legislation they oppose. 3/5 of the senate to end a filibuster.

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Cloture

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A rule allowing a supermajority of the members of a legislative body to set a time limit on debate over a given bill

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"Holds"

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Senators put Holds, or stalling devices, on bills to delay debate

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Veto

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the president denying a bill into law

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Pocket veto

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A veto that is effected when congress adjourns during the time the president has to approve a bill but he takes no action

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Unorthodox Procedures in Congress

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Different versions of a bill created to hide its effects.

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The Distributive Tendency of Congress

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The tendency of Congress to spread the benefits of a policy over a wide range of members' districts.

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Constituency

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Members of Congress want to get re-elected, so the listen to their constituents wants.

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Intrest Group

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Groups with the ability to mobilize followers in many congressional districts have influence.

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Party Vote

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Roll-call vote where one side has a majority vote over the other side

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Roll-call Vote

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Votes in which each legislator's yes or no vote is recorded

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Committee Assignment

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Leaders give members committee assignment, which cannot be taken away, and often creates a bond.

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The Whip system

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A communications network in each house of Congress. Whips poll the members to see their intentions on specific legislative issues.

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Logrolling

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A reciprocal agreement is made between legislators, usually voting for or against a bill. Unites parties that have nothing in common but their desire to exchange support.

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The presidency

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The president picks certain bills that are part of his administration's program. Both parties in congress use these recommendations as the majority of their agenda.

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Advice and Consent: Special Senate Powers

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The president can make treaties and appoint executive officers, but only with the "Advice and Consent" of congress. treaties- 2/3, appointment requires majority.

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Impeachment

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The charging of a government official with "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors" and bringing them before congress to determine guilt.