Congress Structures, Powers, and Functions

The House of Representatives has 435 members and has the ability to impeach officials. The Senate has 100 members and has the power to approve or reject presidential appointments. The House is focused on representation and reelection, while the Senate focuses on broader policy considerations. The house is subject to strict procedural rules, whereas the Senate is more informal and thus subject to debate. Both houses of Congress have the power to declare war, raise an army, pass laws, and oversee the executive branch during the legislative process.

The Senate, with 100 members, facilitates more informal and extended debates, allowing for greater flexibility and more time for thorough discussion. The House, with 435 members, requires stricter procedures, such as time limits on debates, to maintain efficiency and order in its larger assembly.

<p>Shorter terms in the House (2 years) make representatives more responsive to constituents and focused on reelection, leading to a greater emphasis on immediate concerns and potentially more partisan voting. Longer terms in the Senate (6 years) allow for broader policy considerations and less immediate electoral pressure, fostering a more deliberative atmosphere, potentially leading to less partisanship.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Enumerated powers explicitly granted to Congress in the Constitution, such as the power to declare war and raise an army, allow Congress to shape policy directly. Implied powers, derived from these enumerated powers, such as the Necessary and Proper Clause, allow Congress to create legislation based on the needs of the nation, even if it is not directly outlined in the Constitution. This ensures Congress can effectively respond to changing circumstances and address new challenges.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Congress controls the federal budget and decides how much money to spend on which issues.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Interstate commerce refers to the regulation of trade and economic activities that cross state lines. This power gives Congress the authority to shape the national economy, regulate specific industries, and address issues related to trade, competition, and consumer protection.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A bill is introduced by a member of Congress, then it is reviewed by a committee and possibly amended. The bill then moves to be debated and voted on in the House or Senate. If the bill is approved in both chambers, it moves to a conference committee to iron out any differences. The final version is then voted on in both chambers and if approved, it is sent to the president. They can either sign the bill into law or veto it, which can be overridden by a 2/3 vote in both chambers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Ways and Means Committee = Oversees taxation and revenue bills, pivotal in funding policies. Discharge Petition = Allows House members to bring a bill to the floor for a vote, bypassing committees. Filibuster = Senate tactic to delay legislation through prolonged debate. Nuclear Option = Reduces the vote threshold to end filibusters for certain decisions. Cloture = Ends a filibuster with 60 votes. Conference Committee = Resolves differences between House and Senate versions of bills.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Mandatory spending is required by law and cannot be changed without new legislation, such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. This type of spending often makes up the majority of the federal budget. Discretionary spending is decided annually through the appropriations process and is subject to cuts during budget negotiations, such as defense, education, infrastructure, and research.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Pork-Barrel legislation is a term used to describe funding for specific local projects that are intended to benefit a representative's district. It is often seen as wasteful spending because it benefits a small group at the expense of the general public. However, it can also be seen as a way to gain local support for larger bills.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Logrolling is a quid pro quo arrangement in which legislators agree to vote for each other's bills or projects in exchange for support. This can facilitate compromise and coalition-building, but it can also lead to excessive spending or prioritizing narrow interests over broader public needs.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Congressional behavior is influenced by elections, as representatives strive to appeal to their constituents, and partisanship, as voting often aligns with party lines. A divided government, where the president and Congress belong to different parties, increases gridlock and makes compromise difficult, further impacting legislative behavior.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A trustee model represents the idea that a representative uses their own judgment and conscience to make decisions that they believe are in the best interest of their constituents. A delegate model represents the idea that a representative acts as a mouthpiece for their constituents, making decisions that reflect the views of their constituency. In the first model, the representative makes decisions based on their own judgement, in the second, the representative makes decisions based on the preference of the people.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Incumbency advantage refers to the advantages that sitting members of Congress have over challengers in elections, due to name recognition, franking privilege, access to resources, and established networks. This gives them a significant advantage in winning re-election.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Divided government occurs when the president and Congress belong to different political parties, resulting in a system where the two branches often clash and make bipartisan agreements difficult. It can lead to increased political gridlock and diminished legislative productivity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The phrase 'love members, hate the institution' refers to the phenomenon where individuals might perceive a specific representative positively due to personal interactions or positive casework within a district, but harbor negative feelings towards Congress as a whole, due to its inefficiency, polarization, and gridlock. It suggests a disconnect between individual representatives and the institution of Congress.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The 'Nuclear Option' is a procedure in the United States Senate that lowers the threshold of votes needed to end a filibuster, often from 60 votes to a simple majority. It has been used to change the rules for confirming judicial nominees and to avoid a filibuster on certain budget-related bills.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Gerrymandering is the practice of manipulating district boundaries to favor one political party, often by concentrating opposing voters in fewer districts. This can undermine fair representation and give one party an unfair advantage in elections. It is a problem because it can lead to uncompetitive elections, reduce voter turnout, and create districts that are not reflective of the overall population.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Franking privilege is a benefit that allows members of Congress to send mail to constituents for free, boosting communication and name recognition. It helps them stay in contact with their constituents and helps them to get re-elected.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>The key Congressional Leadership functions are the Speaker of the House, who controls the agenda and assigns bills to committees; the Majority and Minority Leaders for each party; the Whips, who ensure party members vote along party lines; and the President Pro Tempore, who is the senior member of the majority party in the Senate and has a largely ceremonial role.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A Safe District is heavily favored by one party and guarantees reelection, while a Competitive District has close elections and requires more focus from both parties to secure a win. This means that the representatives for safe districts don't need to worry as much about their reelection, while the representatives for competitive districts may be more focused on pleasing their constituents.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>A Minority-Majority District is a district where the majority of constituents belong to a racial or ethnic minority. It is often created to ensure minority representation and is seen as a step towards greater inclusivity in government.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>An ombudsman is a person who acts as an intermediary to resolve constituent complaints or concerns with a government agency. They can help constituents by providing information, filing grievances, and advocating for their rights.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Casework is the assistance provided by members of Congress to constituents in solving problems with federal agencies or programs. It involves helping constituents deal with bureaucratic processes, navigate complex regulations, and secure the benefits they are entitled to.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Baker v. Carr is a landmark Supreme Court case about the political question doctrine. It ruled that a question regarding drawing electoral district boundaries for the apportionment of seats in a state legislature, which was previously considered a political question, was justiciable (judiciary could make a decision). This case influenced the apportionment of seats in Congress.</p> Signup and view all the answers

<p>Shaw v. Reno ruled that racial gerrymandering, which is creating electoral districts solely based on race, is unconstitutional. The court found that it violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. This case helped to prevent discrimination in elections and ensure fair representation for all citizens.</p> Signup and view all the answers