Government Chapter 15 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is a Bicameral Legislature?

A federal law-making body

A legislature with two houses (correct)

A one-house legislature

A body of only elected officials

What is Cloture?

The only way to end a Filibuster in the Senate.

What is the difference between Casework and Constituency Service?

Casework involves assistance given to constituents, while Constituency Service is broader assistance by congressional members.

Name the roles of Members of Congress.

Policy Maker, Representative, Delegate, Trustee, Constituent Service, Committee Member, Politician/Party Member. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Committee System?

To start legislative work in committees and subcommittees Signup and view all the answers

House members must be at least _ years old and serve a _ year term.

25; 2 Signup and view all the answers

What is a Congressional Caucus?

Formed by congress members from both houses with shared interests to promote legislation. Signup and view all the answers

A Legislative Veto requires approval only from the Senate.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of Impeachment?

A process by which a government official is tried for high crimes and misdemeanors. Signup and view all the answers

What does Article I grant Congress regarding foreign policy?

The authority to raise armed forces, approve presidential appointments, treaties, and to declare war. Signup and view all the answers

Money granted by Congress for a specific purpose is known as ___?

Appropriations Signup and view all the answers

What is the Franking Privilege?

It allows members of Congress to mail letters and materials to constituents postage-free. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Rider?

An addition or amendment to a bill that may not pass on its own merits. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Incumbency Advantage?

High re-election rates for sitting representatives Signup and view all the answers

Define Gerrymandering.

The practice of determining congressional district lines to benefit one party. Signup and view all the answers

Majority and Minority Leaders are responsible for keeping party members in line.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is Logrolling?

The process of trading votes among congresspersons to gain support for their bills. Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the Oversight Function?

To monitor policies of the executive branch. Signup and view all the answers

What is required for Congress to override a president's veto?

Two-thirds majority in both houses Signup and view all the answers

What is a Quorum?

The minimum number of people required for the legislature to act. Signup and view all the answers

Define Packing Districts.

A form of gerrymandering isolating minorities into a specific district. Signup and view all the answers

What are Congressional Districts?

Geographically defined areas representing constituents in the House of Representatives. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to be Pigeonholed?

When a bill is stuck in committee without a vote. Signup and view all the answers

What is Pork Barrel Legislation?

Legislation providing benefits to constituents via sometimes unwise projects. Signup and view all the answers

Who is the President Pro Tempore?

The member chosen to preside over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President. Signup and view all the answers

The process of rewriting a bill after hearings is called ___?

Markup Signup and view all the answers

What is Reapportionment?

Dividing state legislators and congressional representatives among population. Signup and view all the answers

What is Redistricting?

The actual drawing of legislative boundaries. Signup and view all the answers

What are Select Committees?

Temporary committees set up to handle specific issues. Signup and view all the answers

What are Conference Committees?

Committees that negotiate compromise bills submitted to both houses for a vote. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of Standing Committees?

Permanent committees specializing in specific legislation. Signup and view all the answers

What are Joint Committees?

Committees that consist of members from both the House and Senate. Signup and view all the answers

What is the Speaker of the House?

The leader of the House chosen by the majority party. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Closed Rule?

A rule that bans amendments to a bill once it reaches the House floor. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Discharge Petition?

A petition to bring a bill to the floor when it is stuck in committee. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Simple Resolution?

Passed by either chamber to establish rules or congratulate someone. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Concurrent Resolution?

A resolution settling matters affecting both houses but not signed by the president. Signup and view all the answers

What is a Joint Resolution?

A resolution requiring approval from both houses and the president's signature. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Bicameral Legislature

Comprised of two houses: House of Representatives (based on population) and Senate (two per state).
Established through the Great Compromise during the Constitutional Convention.

Cloture

Mechanism to end a filibuster in the Senate.
Requires 60 votes, making it challenging in evenly split parties.

Casework and Constituency Service

Casework involves assisting constituents with queries or favors.
Emphasizes incumbency advantage in Congress.

Roles of Members of Congress

Policy Maker: Crafts and passes legislation.
Representative: Acts on behalf of constituents.
Delegate: Votes aligned with constituents’ wishes.
Trustee: Votes based on personal judgment after considering constituents’ views.
Engages in constituent service to address individual issues.
Serves on committees and supports political parties.

Committee System

Legislative activity begins in committees and subcommittees.
Assignments based on expertise and seniority.
Bills are reviewed, amended, and can be passed to the floor or ‘killed’ in committee.

House/Senate Requirements

House: Minimum age 25, citizen for 7 years, resident of representing state; serves 2-year term.
Senate: Minimum age 30, citizen for 9 years, resident of representing state; serves 6-year term.

Congressional Caucus

Groups formed by Congress members with shared interests to promote legislation.
Can be based on political party, race, or ethnicity (e.g., Congressional Black Caucus).

Legislative Veto

Action by Congress to overturn federal agency or presidential actions.
Requires approval from both houses but declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Filibuster

Strategy to delay voting on a bill via lengthy speeches in the Senate.
Ends with cloture vote requiring 60 members.

Impeachment

Process for charging government officials for high crimes and misdemeanors initiated by the House.
Notable instances include Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton, neither leading to removal from office.

Congressional Authority in Foreign Policy

Article 1 gives Congress power to raise armed forces, approve treaties, and declare war.
The War Powers Resolution of 1973 limits presidential troop deployment without Congressional oversight.

Appropriations

Funds allocated by Congress or state legislature for specific purposes.

Franking Privilege

Allows members of Congress to send mail to constituents without paying postage.

Rider

Amendments added to bills that may not relate directly to the bill's main purpose.

Incumbency Advantage

Incumbent representatives win approximately 90% of the time.
Greater advantages for House members due to district-specific campaigns.

Gerrymandering

Manipulation of district boundaries to favor one political party.
Courts can deem gerrymandered districts illegal under the Voting Rights Act and 14th Amendment.

Majority and Minority Leaders

Majority Leader controls legislative agenda and party policy.
Minority Leader organizes minority party's strategy and agenda.

Majority and Minority Whips

Assist party leaders by ensuring member loyalty to the party agenda.

Logrolling

Congressional practice of trading votes on bills to gain support from colleagues.

Oversight Function

Congress monitors executive branch policies, reviews federal agency activities, and investigates misconduct.

Override

Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote in both houses, but it is rare.

Quorum

The minimum number of members required to conduct legislative business; a simple majority is needed for Senate votes.

Packing Districts

A gerrymandering method that consolidates minorities into one district, aimed at maximizing electoral influence for one party.

Congressional Districts

Defined geographic areas from which representatives are elected, with equal populations per district, reapportioned every ten years.

Pigeonholed

Refers to bills that are stuck in committee without a vote, often preventing consideration in the main chamber.

Pork Barrel Legislation and Earmarks

Pork Barrel: legislation for local constituency benefits, sometimes questionable.
Earmarks: specific budget items proposed that benefit a legislator's home state.

President Pro Tempore

A member of the Senate chosen to preside in the absence of the Vice President.

Markup

The process of revising and amending a bill post-hearings.

Reapportionment

Redistribution of congressional representatives among states based on census data every ten years.

Redistricting

Drawing of legislative district boundaries based on population data from the census, often leading to gerrymandering.

Select Committees

Temporary groups established for specific issues not covered by standing committees, often tasked with investigations.

Conference Committees

Composed of members from both chambers to negotiate and resolve differences in bills.

Standing Committees

Permanent committees in both chambers specializing in specific legislative areas where party representation is proportional.

Joint Committees

Include members of both houses, often for communication or investigation purposes.

Speaker of the House

The primary leader in the House, leading debates and influencing committee assignments.

Closed Rule

Prohibits amendments to a bill during floor debate, restricting minority party participation unless approved by the rules committee.

Discharge Petition

Mechanism enabling members to bring a bill out of committee, requiring signatures from 218 members in the House.

Simple Resolution

Passed by one chamber for internal matters, without the force of law.

Concurrent Resolution

Joint resolutions from both chambers addressing procedural issues, not requiring presidential signature.

Joint Resolution

Requires approval from both houses and the president, effectively analogous to law; used for urgent matters.

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Test your knowledge of key terms from Government Chapter 15. This quiz covers essential concepts such as bicameral legislature and cloture, as well as other important governmental functions. Perfect for students studying US government and politics.