Review For A.p. Test Tn 50-63 Congress

Front 1

Which branch of gov did the framers intend to be the most power?

Back 1

congress

Front 2

define Franking privileges

Back 2

Free mail for members of congress

Front 3

what is the incumbency advantage?

Back 3

Incumbents win reelection 90% of the time in the house and 80% in the Senate

Front 4

What are the characteristics of a member of congress?

Back 4

White, Protestant, lawyers over 50 years old

Front 5

What are the qualifications for the House and senate?

Back 5

House 25 years old, citizen for 7 yeas and resident of state -- Senate 30 years old citizen for 9 years and resident of state

Front 6

How many senators are there?

Back 6

100 senators 2 are elected from each state

Front 7

Which legislative branch has the power to impeach?

Back 7

House of Reps

Front 8

Which committee in the House is most powerful because it reviews all bills from committee like a traffic cop

Back 8

Rules committee

Front 9

In order for a bill to be sent to the President what has to happen?

Back 9

Both houses must pass the exact bill

Front 10

A legislature with two houses is called a ____________>

Back 10

Bicameral legislatuer

Front 11

Why are incumbant senators reelected as a smaller rate than Representatives?

Back 11

Because they are more likely to be held accountable on controversial issues

Front 12

What is the single most important advantage of someone trying to get elected to congress?

Back 12

Being an incumbant

Front 13

What is the term of a Representative?

Back 13

2 years

Front 14

What is the term for a senator?

Back 14

6 years

Front 15

In what area is the Senate more influential then the House?

Back 15

Foreign Affairs

Front 16

What restriction is there on revenue bills?

Back 16

They must originate in the house

Front 17

The President nominates judges to the supreme court and the ____________________________

Back 17

Senate must confirm or approve by majority vote

Front 18

What does the Senate do after the House impeaches?

Back 18

The trial with the chief justice as the presiding judge

Front 19

The House rules committee __________________________

Back 19

has its members appointed by the House majority leader.
is similar to the Senate Rules Committee.
usually retains independence from the House leadership.
reviews most bills coming from committee before they go to the full House.

Front 20

A big difference between the house and senate is

Back 20

the house has more policy specialization

Front 21

A key difference between the House and senate is the senate

Back 21

is less dependent on seniority for determining power

Front 22

One real difference between the house and senate is ?

Back 22

how they are organized and the centralization of power

Front 23

Why can a filibuster only happen in the Senate?

Back 23

Because the senate has unlimited debate and the house sets a time limit for debate

Front 24

How many votes does it take to stop a filibuster?

Back 24

Sixty votes for cloture which is a vote to end the debate

Front 25

define filibuster?

Back 25

talking a bill to death, it is used to keep the debate going so there can never be a vote

Front 26

Which Legislative office is mandated by the constitution?

Back 26

Speaker of the House

Front 27

What are some of the powers the Speaker of the house has?

Back 27

making committee assignments
presiding over the House when it is in session
assigning most bills to committees
appointing the partyʹs legislative leaders

Front 28

What is the line of succession to the president after the V.P?

Back 28

Speaker of the house, pres pro tem of senate, sec. of state

Front 29

define majority whip?

Back 29

a leader selected by the majority party to keep a head count of votes

Front 30

What are the jobs of the majority leader in the house?

Back 30

The majority leader is the main steppingstone to the job of Speaker of the House.
The majority leader is responsible for scheduling bills in the House.
The majority leader is responsible for rounding up votes on behalf of the partyʹs position
on legislation.
He or she is the principal ally of the Speaker.

Front 31

What are the two jobs given to the V.P. in the constitution?

Back 31

1. Become president if needed
2. The president of the senate and only vote to break ties

Front 32

Who is the most powerful person in the senate?

Back 32

Majority Leader

Front 33

Where is The majority of work is done in congress?

Back 33

In committee and subcommittees

Front 34

define select committee?

Back 34

a special committee set up for a specific time and purpose

Front 35

list some of the important standing committees in congress

Back 35

Appropriations, Judiciary, and Armed Forces

Front 36

Define Conference Committe which is sometimes called the third house of congress

Back 36

made up of senators and representatives. They take the senate and house versions of a bill and combine it into one to then be revoted on by each house.

Front 37

define legislative oversight

Back 37

the process of monitoring the bureaucracy and its administration of policy.
example Congress hold a hearing to question a cabinet member on how a law is
being carried out

Front 38

The best way to influence voting in congress is to

Back 38

elect a congressman who agrees with your views

Front 39

What is the seniority system?

Back 39

giving committee chairmanships to members who have been in congress the longest. This favors congressman who have safe districts ( a district they are sure to get reelected in)

Front 40

How is the majority party determined on each committee.

Back 40

The majority party of the house and senate make sure that each committee has a majority of members from the majority party

Front 41

Members of congress try to get put on committees that will help them

Back 41

get reelection.
influence in Congress.

the opportunity to make policy in areas they think are important.
the opportunity to make policy in areas important to their constituents

Front 42

define caucus

Back 42

Members of Congress who informally band together in groups to promote and protect mutual
interests

Front 43

What do caucuses hope to achieve in congress?

Back 43

press committees to hold hearings.
push their preferred legislation.
mobilize votes for favored legislation.

Front 44

Define Congressional budget office?

Back 44

responsible for making economic projections about the
performance of the economy, the costs of proposed policies, and the economic effects of taxing
and spending alternatives?

Front 45

Who are allowed to submitt a bill for consideration in the house or senate?

Back 45

senators in the senate and representatives in the house

Front 46

What percentage of bill pass

Back 46

approximately 10%

Front 47

How does the president try to get his bills passed?

Back 47

hold regular meetings with the partyʹs leaders in Congress.

Front 48

When a congressman acts as a trustee he is said to be

Back 48

using his best judgment to make policy in the interests of the people

Front 49

If a congressman is acting as a delegate they are

Back 49

mirroring the preferences of their
constituents.