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62 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Qualifications to be a member of the House of Representatives |
-must be at least 25 years old -citizen of the US for at least 7 years -legal resident of state that elects them |
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Reapportionment |
The population of each state determines the new number of representatives to which each is entitled |
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Redistricting |
The process of setting up new district lines after reapportionment is completed |
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Gerrymandering |
The political party in power uses redistricting as a way to gain an advantage in elections |
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Qualifications to be a Senator |
-Must be at least 30 years old -citizen of the US for at least 9 years -legal resident of state they represent |
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Hutchinson v. Proxmire (1979) |
Supreme Court ruled that members of Congress may be sued for libel for statements that they make in news releases or newsletters. |
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Censuring in the legislative branch |
the vote of formal disapproval of a member's actions- each house can punish its own members and expel a legislator with a two-thirds vote Example: Andrew Jackson- censured for his lack of transparency in defunding |
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House Speaker: How Chosen and What is the Job |
chosen by the majority party at the start of each session- the PO of congress Ex: Paul Ryan <3 |
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Majority Leader: How Chosen and What is the Job |
chosen by the majority part at the start of each session; party official and top assistant to the speaker Example: Kevin Mccarthy |
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Majority Whip: Job and How Chosen |
chosen by the majority party in a vote; watches how majority-party members intend to vote on bills and persuades them to vote as the party votes Ex: Frank Underwood |
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Calendar List of Bills |
a bill must be introduced by placing it into a hopper and the Speaker then sends the bill to the appropriate committee to study, discuss, and review. The bills that make it through the committee make it onto the calendar. |
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Rules Committee |
serves as the "traffic officer" in the House; helps to direct the flow of major legislation- can move bills ahead quickly, hold them back, or stop them completely. |
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Quorum for Business |
the minimum number of members who must be present to permit a legislation body to take official action. House quorum for regular session- 218 members |
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Role of Vice President |
Presiding officer of the Senate; may recognize members and put questions to a vote but may not take part in Senate debates- can only vote in the case of a tie |
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Role of President Pro Tempore of the Senate |
the most senior member from the majority party and presides if the VP cannot do so. |
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Role of Majority floor leader |
steers the party's bills through the Senate and is responsible for ensuring members attend important meetings and guarantee their support |
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Role of Minority floor leader |
develops criticisms of the majority party's bills and tries to keep senators in the minority party working together |
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Filibuster |
meant to stall or prevent legislation from coming to a vote Ex: Ted Cruz's "Green Eggs and Ham" filibuster |
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Cloture |
3/5 of the Senate can vote to end a filibuster |
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Standing Committees |
committees that continue from one Congressional session to the next; subcommittees deal with a specialized area of one of the standing committees |
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Select Committees |
committees that study one specific issue, usually last no more than one congressional term; Select Intelligence Committee became a permanent committee |
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Joint Committees |
members of both parties as well as members of both the House and the Senate; coordinate the work between the two houses |
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Conference Committees |
members of both parties as well as members of both the House and the Senate; coordinate the work between the two house |
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How does one get on a committee? |
Membership on committees are by application and seniority plays a role Both parties vote on a secret ballot for the Chairperson of the committee |
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Job of Committee Chairperson |
Most powerful members of Congress -determine when their committees will meet, what bills they will consider, and for how long -decide when hearings will be held and which witnesses will be called to testify for and against a bill -hire committee staff members and control the committee budget -manage the floor debates that take place on bills that come from their committees |
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Library of Congress |
created in 1800 to purchase such books that may be necessary for the use of Congress |
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Congressional Research Service |
research and answer questions |
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Congressional Budget Office |
coordinate the budget making process; study and make projections concerning the proposed presidential budget put forward each year
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General Accounting Office |
watchdog agency that looks over the nation's spending |
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Comptroller General |
appointed to a 15 year term- review the financial management of governmental programs |
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Government Printing Office |
printing for the entire federal government; daily prints the Congressional Record |
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Statistical Abstract of the US |
statistical information about population, government finances, income, agriculture, education, law enforcement- updated every year |
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Expressed Powers |
enumerated powers |
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Necessary and Proper Clause (elastic clause) |
Implied Powers
Ex: National Bank; Healthcare; NASA |
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McCulloh vs. Maryland |
Maryland sought to tax a branch of the bank of the US |
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Powers Denied to Congress |
Suspend writ of habeas corpus- the right to know the crime you are being charged with in courts
Bills of attainder- punish people without a trial
Ex Post Facto laws- punishing someone for a crime that was legal when they committed the act |
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"Power of the Purse" |
Congress has the power to tax and spend- controls the budget |
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Appropriation Bills |
revenue bills originate in the House |
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Mandates |
Congress uses its taxing and spending powers to regulate actions of the states requiring them to follow certain guidelines to qualify for the money |
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How does Congress regulate the economy |
Cut taxes to stimulate or slow down economic growth |
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Selling Treasury Bonds |
Congress can borrow money to help pay the cost of operating the government |
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Commerce Clause |
Congress regulated foreign and interstate commerce |
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Gibbons v. Ogden |
Thomas Gibbons sued over a monopoly granted to Robert Fulton and Robert Livingston to operate steamboat travel across the Hudson River- Chief Justice Marshall ruled that only Congress could control interstate commerce, not a state Power to control interstate commerce is used to set policies for businesses engaged in interstate business. |
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Heart of Atlanta Motel v. US |
Owner of motel challenged the Civil Rights Act- Supreme Court ruled that the motel serviced interstate travellers and sold food that crossed state lines and therefore had to follow interstate laws. |
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War Powers Act 1973 |
Constitution did not intend that President could involve US in an undeclared war- President cannot commit troops longer than 60 days without Congressional notification |
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Foreign Policy powers of Congress |
Congress has the power to approve treaties, declare war, create and maintain an army- shares national defense responsibilities with the President |
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Copyright |
life of the author plus 50 years |
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Patents |
exclusive right of creator or inventor for 17 years and then, it can be renewed |
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20th Amendment |
Sets the dates at which federal elected office terms end. It also defines who succeeds the President if he dies.- in extreme case, Congress can appoint a President if a new President had not been chosen at the time of death |
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25th Amendment |
Set the succession order if the President is to die President ---> VP ---> Speaker of the House, etc |
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Impeachment |
formal accusation of misconduct Majority of House votes on impeachment charges; Senate conducts a trial. 2/3 majority of senate necessary for conviction and removal from office. |
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Confirmation Power |
approval of Presidential appointments- cabinet, military promotions, and Supreme Court nominations |
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Ratification Power |
Article II Sect 2- Senate has the power to approve of treaties (2/3 majority) |
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Amendment Power |
2/3 of both houses of Congress must recommend an amendment |
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Subpoena |
legal order that requires a person to appear or produce requested documents |
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Contempt |
the act of obstructing the work of the US Congress or one of its committees- bribery or refusal to comply with a subpoena |
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National Emergencies Act 1976 |
National Emergancies Act ended the decades long state of emergency and set down procedures for how and when a state of emergency exists. have to notify congress when declaring state of emergency |
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Congressional Immunity |
A representative/Senator cannot be arrested during a session they attend |
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Independent Counsel |
A sect of the government that consists of an independent prosecutor who provides records to Congress |
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Impoundment Act |
prohibits the President from not spending money appropriated by Congress |
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1974 Congressional Budget Committee |
permanent budget committee in each house and created the CBO to help Congress |
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Line-Item Veto |
The idea that a President can veto just parts of a bill 1998- Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional |
