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55 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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# members in US house by state determined by
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state populations
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The Apportionment process begins with
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the allotment of congressional seats
To each state After each census |
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Pwr & influences in congress
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No Bill can become a Law without passing in both Houses of Congress
It must first be introduced by a member of Congress The Speaker of the House of Representatives presides over that body Second in line of presidential succession Key congressional committees include the Standing, Joint, Conference and Select |
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Representation in congress
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Incumbent congressional candidates typically win when up for reelection
At about a 95% success rate A Trustee Representative is one who uses his/her best judgment in making Final voting decisions With an idea of the common good An Instructed Delegate generally votes the way his/her constituents want them to Regardless of their own personal views |
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Once passed by both Houses, a Bill is sent to
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a Conference Committee
To produce a final version for passage |
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Relations with president
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It is unconstitutional for the President to sign two different version of the same Bill
The President can veto (or say “no” to) any Bill passed by Congress Congress can override the veto with a 2/3 vote in both chambers Congress can impeach and remove any federal official from office Including the President Through impeachment in the House Conviction in the Senate |
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US presidency
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The U.S. Constitution of 1787 created an Executive Branch with a strong President
In contrast to the old Articles of Confederation that had neither |
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Redistricting
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states redrawing their congressional districts
Every ten years To reflect increases or decreases in house seats allotted to them |
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The President has the power to appoint the following government officials:
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Federal Judges
U.S. Ambassadors Heads of most executive departments and agencies |
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As our nation’s chief diplomat, the president has the power to:
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Negotiate treaties with other governments
Sign executive agreements with other heads of state |
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The Twenty-fifth amendment to the U.S. Constitution establishes procedures:
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In case of presidential incapacity
For filling vacancies in the office of the Vice-President |
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The threat of presidential impeachment serves as
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important Congressional check on presidential power
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The veto gives the President
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power to prevent bills from becoming law
Without further congressional action |
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Vetoes can be overridden by
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two-thirds vote in both Houses of Congress
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The primary responsibility of the Vice-President of the United States
Is |
to provide an immediate stand-in for the President
In case of death or emergency |
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after the Vice-President
The next in line to succeed the President |
Speaker of the House of Representatives
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The President and by extension, the Vice-President are the only offices which require:
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office-holder to be natural-born citizens
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To become law, most Bills introduced in the Senate require
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most Bills introduced in the Senate require at least 60 votes
Reflecting the certainty of cloture Should a filibuster be attempted by a member |
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The true leader of the U.S. Senate is
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its Senate Majority Leader
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House of Representatives # of members
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435
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Founders power should rest with which branch?
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legislative branch
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Article I of the Constitution deals with the structure, power and organization of the legislative branch
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As a result of the Great Compromise at the constitutional convention, the U.S. Congress became a bicameral legislature
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The U.S. Senate # of members
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100 members or two per state
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Presidential power is prescribed and limited in Article II of the Constitution
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But it has expanded considerably throughout history
Usually in response to national crises |
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During the Civil War Lincoln argued that inherent powers of the President allowed him to:
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Circumvent the Constitution during that crisis
In order to insure the nation’s laws were executed |
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During the 20th and now, 21st Centuries, the trend has been for:
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Presidential decision-making
To be more important than Congressional action |
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Congress created the Executive Office of the President (EOP)
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To help the President oversee the executive bureaucracy
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The White House Staff includes both
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Headed by the White House Chief-of-Staff
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The federal budget is compiled by the Office of Management and Budget
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Located in the White House (EOP)
Formerly in the Treasury Department |
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Presidents have the ability to “go public”
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Thereby going over the heads of the Congress
To speak directly to the people This is the only office in the system that is empowered to do this What President Theodore Roosevelt referred to as “The Great Bully Pulpit” |
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Bureaucracy refers to
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a set of complex, hierarchical departments and agencies that:
Help a chief executive carry out his/her duties |
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The top level of the executive branch bureaucracy is the President’s
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Cabinet
Made up of the heads of the key governmental agencies The President’s key advisors on policy |
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Spoils System
&was replaced by |
Replacement of executive officials of a defeated political party By members of a winning party
After an election Was replaced by system which calls for the: Selection and advancement of federal officials Based on performance in competitive examinations |
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The greatest expansion of the federal bureaucracy occurred in the 20th Century during
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During the Franklin Roosevelt Administration
Not including the military, the federal bureaucracy numbers approximately 2.7 million members |
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The Federal Bureaucracy includes
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Cabinet Departments
Independent Executive Agencies Independent Regulatory Commissions Government Corporations |
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1939 Hatch Act was designed to
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prevent civil servants from actively participating in partisan campaigns
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Iron Triangle refers to relationship among
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Bureaucratic agencies
Interest groups Members of Congress |
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Of 3 branches of government, Founders considered the Judiciary branch
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least dangerous
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Judicial Review, as first annunciated in the Supreme Court case of Marbury v. Madison
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Allows the Judiciary to review the constitutionality
Of the actions of the other branches of government |
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The basic powers of the Judicial Branch of government can be found in article
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3
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Federal judges are appointed for life by
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president
less likely to be influenced by politics |
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3-tiered structure of the federal court system includes:
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District Courts
Circuit Courts (of Appeal) The U.S. Supreme Court |
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Trial courts are where cases
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begin and are considered courts of original jurisdiction
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Appellate jurisdiction refers to courts with the power to review and/or revise:
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The decisions of a lower court
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Criminal Law refers to cases involving codes of behavior relating to
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The protection of property and individual safety
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Civil law refers to codes of behavior related to
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Business and contractual relationships Between groups and individuals
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There are 94 federal District Courts spread across the country, however
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No District Court can cross state lines
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Federal District Courts are courts of original jurisdiction for both civil and criminal cases relating to:
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A claim under the U.S. Constitution
A Treaty A Federal Statute |
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The main purpose of the Circuit Courts of Appeal is to correct:
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Errors of law and procedure
Which have occurred in lower federal courts |
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Decisions of the Courts of Appeal are binding only in the District Courts
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Within the geographic confines of their circuits
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Because of high standing in federal judicial system, decisions by Supreme Court are
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binding throughout the nation
And are treated as important precedents |
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Stare Decisis
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all courts rely on precedents
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Proponents of the concept of Judicial Restraint argue that Courts must
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Allow decisions of the other branches stand
Even if they violate their own principles |
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Proponents of Judicial Activism argue that judges should use their power to
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Further justice
Especially regarding rights and liberties |
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Judicial implementation
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the power of the judiciary can be checked So that they can become policy
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