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83 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Who forced the states to do something about malapportionment and gerrymandering?
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1964 Supreme Court (Baker vs Carr)
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What did the court rule in 1964?
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said districts must be drawn so one person's vote would be worth as much as another's
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As recently as 1991, blacks made up 25% of the southern population, but only held what percentage of southern congressional seats?
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4%
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What is a majority-minority district?
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congressional districts designed to make it easier for minority citizens to elect minority representatives
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How does that differ in the House and Senate?
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party influence has declined in Congress
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the 12th Congressional District in North Carolina is no wider than what, at some points?
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some points on the interstate highway it traced
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What gerrymandering problem remains?
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districts of the same size can bedrawn to favor one party or another
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What court case, brought by white North Carolinians, contended that the state's congressional map violated their rights to equal protection?
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Shaw vs Reno
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Who elects the leaders in the House and Senate?
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full party membership
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What did the Supreme Court rule twice?
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that race had been used so heavily and with so little justification in drawing the lines of districts that they were "racial gerrymanderers"
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What is the difference between descriptive representation, and substantive representation?
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- the statistical correspondance of the demographic characteristics
- the correspondance between representatives opinions and those of their constituents |
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Describe the position of president pro tempore of the Senate.
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he or she presides over the day to day activities of the senate
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Those who favor descriptive representation feel these districts are a legitimate way of ensuring what?
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that citizens of a given racial or ethnic background are represented by persons of the same background
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What is the key question for those who favor substantive representation?
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whether representatives work to support the interests and opinions of the voters in their districts
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Who are the real leaders in the Senate? Who chooses them?
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majority/minority leaders; the members of the parties in the Senate
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What is the challengin question of this issue?
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Whether the substantive interests of minority voters are adaquately represented by nonminority representatives in Congress
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Today, how does a candidate win a party's nomination?
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by gathering enough voter signatures to get on the ballot in a primary election, then must win primary
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What othe leaders, under the majority and minority leaders, are also chosen?
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the whips
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What is quite unusual?
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for an incumbent to lose a primary
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Describe the sophomore surge. What increased percent of the vote the second time around can a member of the Congress expect?
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most newly elected members become strong in their districts very quickly; 8%-10%
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What is the principle task of the majority leader, and with whom does he usually consult?
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to schedule business; the minority leader
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What is the prevailing logic to explain the sophomore surge?
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congressmen use office to run personal campaigns rather than party campaigns
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In short, how do they run for Congress?
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they run by running against Congress
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What exclusive privilege belongs to the Senate majority leader?
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to be recognized first in floor debate
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The way people get elected to Congress has what two important effects?
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produces legislator who are closely tied to local concerns; it ensures that party leaders will have little influence over them
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Descirbe the differences between delegates and trustees in Congress.
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- do what their district wants
- use best judgement on issues |
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With what three major activities do the Senate whips concern themselves?
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1. helping party leaders stay informed about what members are thinking
2. round up members for important votes 3. keep count on how voting will most likely go |
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Age requirements for House and Senate.
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25;30
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Citizenship requirements for House and Senate.
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7 yrs.; 9 yrs.
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What do the Democratic Steering Committee and the Republican Committee on Committees do?
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they assign senators to standing committees
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What fractional vote expels a member of Congress?
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2/3
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How has the doctrine of privileged speech been interpreted by the Supreme Court?
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members cannot be sued or prosecuted for anything that they say or write in conncection with their legislative duties
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Why are Senate Committee assignments so important for newly elected senators?
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1. political careers depend on it
2. chances for favorable media attention 3. chances for helping your state |
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In the British House of Commons, what is the only kind of organization of any importance?
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the political party
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Why did Patrick Maynihan fight so hard to get on the Senate Finance Committee as a newly minted senator?
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that committee handled bills providing aid to cities
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What is the key-and delicate-aspect of selecting party leaders, making important party committees, ans assigning freshmen senators to Senate committees?
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achieving idealogical and regional balance
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What other factors play a part in choosing majority and minority leaders in the Senate?
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1. personal popularity
2. the ability of the leader to make effective TV appearances 3. who owes whom a favor |
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Essentially, how does the party structure differ in the House and Senate?
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it essentially dosn't other than Speaker
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What is the key-and delicate-aspect of selecting party leaders, making important party committees, ans assigning freshmen senators to Senate committees?
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achieving idealogical and regional balance
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What other factors play a part in choosing majority and minority leaders in the Senate?
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1. personal popularity
2. the ability of the leader to make effective TV appearances 3. who owes whom a favor |
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Essentially, how does the party structure differ i the House and Senate?
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it essentially dosn't other than Speaker
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What House rules give the House more power?
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1. scheduling business
2. restricting debate |
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Who is the most important in the House, and how is this person selected?
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the Speaker, elected by her party in the House
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What two major roles does the Speaker of the House have?
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1. principle leader of the party
2. presiding officer of the entire house |
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How do the Speaker's roles as Speaker-as-president and Speaker-as-party leader differ?
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1. supposed to be fair
2. use your powers to pass legislation |
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In helping his party, what are some important formal powers that belong to the Speaker?
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1. who will be recognized for floor debate
2. rules whether a motion is relevant 3. decides committees to which bills are sent 4. influences what bills are brought up for vote 5. appoints committee members |
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In helping his party, what are some important formal powers that belong to the Speaker?
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1. who will be recognized for floor debate
2. rules whether a motion is relevant 3. decides committees to which bills are sent 4. influences what bills are brought up for vote 5. appoints committee members |
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How do the Speaker's roles as Speaker-as-president and Speaker-as-party leader differ?
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1. supposed to be fair
2. use your powers to pass legislation |
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In helping his party, what are some important formal powers that belong to the Speaker?
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1. who will be recognized for floor debate
2. rules whether a motion is relevant 3. decides committees to which bills are sent 4. influences what bills are brought up for vote 5. appoints committee members |
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What power has belonged to the Speaker since 1975?
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to nominate the majority party members of the rules committee
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What are a couple of informal powers that belong to the Speaker?
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1. controlling some patronage jobs
2. assign extra office space |
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In the House, what is the majority party's floor leader called? What does tradition dictate for him?
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majority leader; that he become Speaker
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In what ways has the Senate changed since the 1950s and 1960s?
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1. less party centered
2. less leader oriented 3. more hospitable to freshmen 4. more heavily staffed |
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Describe a party unity vote. When did party unity voting become the norm in the House and Senate?
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majority democrats oppose a majority of republicans; the 1990s
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In what wya are party unity votes of today different from the party unity votes of a century ago?
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-in the past, they were motivated by party discipline
-today caused by sharp idealogical differences |
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What tells you more about a member of Congress than anything else?
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party affiliation
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Define caucus. Caucuses are a growing rival to what source of political leadership?
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a group of congressmen who advocate a particular idealogy or a regional or economiec interest; party leadership
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In what decade did the potential powers of congressional caucuses become realized? Which of the two major parites is more caucus-oriented?
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1970s; democrats
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List the exclusive committees in the House. What is the rule concerning membership of exclusive House committees? On how many major committees may a member of the House sit?
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Rules, Ways and Means, Appropriations; you can't sit on other committees except budget; one
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On how many major committees may a senator sit?
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two
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Where is most of the power of the Congress found?
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the committee chairs
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What are the differences between standing committees, select committees, and joint committees?
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- permanent with specified legislative responsibility
- temporary, limited purpose, can't propose legislation - a committee that has members of the House and Senate |
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Why are conference committees especially important?
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where the differences in House an Senate bills are ironed out
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Compare the number of committees in Congress in the 1970s with those of the day.
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there are fewer
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True or False...The 104th Congress greatly expanded the number of its committees.
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False
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What are two major privileges that the majority party takes with regards to committees?
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chair, majority
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Why are standing committees the most important ones?
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they can propose legislation
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How has the number of staffers changed since the 1940s?
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5 times as many
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What occupies the time and energy of most congressional staffers?
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servicing requests from constituents
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How do congressional staffers impact legislation? Accordingly, what group of people seek them them out?
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They decide proposals, negotiate agreements, organize hearings, meet with lobbyists
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How has the increased number and power of congressional staffers affected the collegiality of Congress?
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make it a less friendly and less delibrative institution
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What are the reponsibilities of the Government Accountability Office and the Congressional Budget Office?
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spending, auditing executive branch departments; advizes congress on the likely economic effects of program's spending
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Congress's complex procedures give an advantage to whom? Why?
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the opposition; lots of places to block action
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What must happen in order for a bill to become a law?
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House passes it, Senate passes it, signed by president
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Where must all bills for raising revune originate? This makes what committee very powerful?
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House; Ways and Means
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Where do most bills die?
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committee
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Describe a markup and tell who must approve them.
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change to a bill made in committee; by the house of which the committee is a part
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Under what circumstances does a bill go forwrad?What happens to a bill that is not favorably reported?
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the majority of the committee votes to report it; it dies
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Describe a discharge petition. Why are they rare?
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if a committee does not report a bill out, a discharge petition of 218 members frees the bill for a floor vote; it's a minority tactic
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Describe the difference between closed, open, and restrictive rules.
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- strict time limits on debate and amendments
- permits amendments from floor - allows some amendments but not others |
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Why is Calendar Wednesday rarely employed?
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because action on a bill must be completed that day
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What is a rider?
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an amendment to a bill that is not relevant to the bill
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What are the two goals of putting riders on bills?
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1. getting the president to sign a bill he would otherwise veto
2. getting the president to veto a bill he would otherwise sign |
