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70 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Congress is a |
Law making institution |
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Term for 2 house |
Bi-cameral |
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What is congress based off of |
British parliament |
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Why was congress practical |
It was a compromise that met demands of big and small states |
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How does congress act theoretically |
One house acts as a check on the other |
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How long does a representative's term last |
2 years |
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What is the 2017-19 congress |
The 115th congress |
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When do new congress terms start |
January 3rd of every odd numbered year |
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What is a session of congress |
A period of time each year when congress assembles and conducts business |
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What does it mean when congress adjourns |
They are suspended until the next session |
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When does congress adjourn |
As it sees fit |
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How long did sessions last before world war 2 |
4 or 5 months |
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How long do sessions last now |
Most of the year with several short recesses during the year |
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Who can call special sessions |
The president |
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Why are special sessions called |
To deal with an emergency situation |
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When was the most recent emergency session, and who called it |
In 1948, president truman |
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Why was the most recent emergency session called |
To deal with post- world war 2 inflation and welfare measures |
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Why are special sessions not as common anymore |
Because congress works year round |
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How many members are in the house |
435 |
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What determines how many seats a state gets in the house |
Population |
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When was the limit placed at 435 members |
1911 |
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How long is a representative's term |
2 years |
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Reapportionment |
Redistribution of the seats in the house after every census |
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When is a census taken |
Every 10 years |
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What are people who serve a section of a state called |
Specialists |
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Who is the current speaker of the house, what is her party, and what state does she represent |
Nancy Pelosi, Democrat, California |
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3 things congressional districts are supposed to be |
Contiguous territory Approximately equal in population Compact territory |
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Gerrymandering |
When districts are designed to favor a political party |
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2 Gerrymandering strategies |
Concentrate opposition's voters into a few districts so your party controls a majority of districts Spread opposition's voters as thinly as possible among several districts so they lose in most or all districts |
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How does one party win a district |
By having the majority within the district |
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Explain the origin of the word Gerrymandering |
Governor Elbridge Gerry of Massachussetts drew up districts to favor the democratic-republican party. One district looked somewhat like a salamander. Put those 2 aspects together and you get GERRYMANDER |
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3 formal qualifications for the House of Representatives |
25 years old
Citizen of the u.s. for 7 years Inhabit the state that you're elected for |
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Informal qualifications that may vary from state to state (5) |
Gender Ethnicity Name recognition Party identification Political experience |
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What do candidates hope for when it comes to informal qualifications |
That they have the right combo |
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What is a nickname for the Senate |
The upper house |
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What house is usually considered more powerful |
The senate |
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How many members are in Senate |
100 |
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How many senators does each state get |
2 |
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How long is a senator's term |
6 years |
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Senators that serve the entire state |
Generalists |
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Who is the Senate majority leader, where are they from, and what is their party affiliation |
Mitch McConnell Kentucky Republican |
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Formal qualifications for senate (3) |
30 years old Citizen for 9 years Resident of the state for which they are elected |
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5 average characteristics for congressmen |
White males Mid 50s Married 1/3 of the house is lawyers 1/2 of the senate is lawyers |
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3 up and coming groups in congress |
Women African Americans Hispanics |
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How many women are in the house and senate |
74 in the house 17 in senate |
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How many African Americans are in the house/senate |
42 in the house 1 in the senate |
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How many Hispanics are in the house and Senate |
27 in the house 3 in the Senate |
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4 ways congressmen vote |
Trustee Delegate Partisan Politico |
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Trustee voting |
Each vote based on objective judgement |
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Delegate voting |
Based on what their constituency wants |
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Partisan voting |
Vote based on political party's philosophy |
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Politico voting |
Balance of all 3, often for personal benefit |
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Compensation |
Money, perks, benefits |
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Senators' and representatives' salary |
174,000 |
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Speaker of the house salary |
223,500 |
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Majority/minority leader of the Senate salary |
93,400 |
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They're given tax deductions for what |
Maintaining 2 homes |
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Congress people are given what for travel |
A generous allowance |
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How much is a congressman's pension |
60,000+ |
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Congresspeople have low healthcare and dental expenses why |
For great medicare |
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Does congress use the Affordable care act |
No |
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6 perks for congressmen |
Gyms Restaurants Pools Designated parking Franking priveledges Groupies |
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2 Michigan Senators and their parties |
Gary Peters Debbie Stahenow Both democrat |
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How many reps does michigan have |
14 |
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When did michigan drop districts, and by how much |
After the 2010 census 1 district |
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Our district representative, his party, and our district number |
Jack Bergman Republican #1 |
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How many electoral college votes does Michigan have |
16 |
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Who is one of our state representatives |
Beau Lafave |
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Explain Wesberry vs. Sanders |
A supreme court decision in 1964 that tried to limit the creation of districts that favor one party over another |
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Was Wesberry vs. Sanders successful |
Not really |
