U.S. Political Parties and Legislative Functions

Groups of representatives from different states that discuss a bill as a whole, but they are time-consuming.

Permanent committees in Congress, formed to handle specific areas of policy. They became prominent in the 1810s.

Groups of politicians with shared goals and agendas, often forming around political ideologies and interests.

A system in the early U.S. where two main parties, led by Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson, clashed over the role of the government.

A system in the 1830s-1850s where the Whigs, supporting a stronger national economy, and the Democrats, advocating for states' rights and limited government, dominated politics.

The period of time in US history where presidential authority grew significantly, starting in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

A 1921 law that required the president to submit a budget for all federal spending to Congress.

The government agency created in 1921 to help the president prepare the federal budget by gathering requests from different departments.

A 1929 law that established a fixed size for the House of Representatives.

A session of Congress that takes place after November elections, with both re-elected and non-re-elected members serving.

When a disconnect occurs between elected officials and their constituents, leading to a lack of representation.

The part of a congressional session between regular sessions, during which Congress is not formally in session.

The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age to 18 for all federal, state, and local elections. This amendment took effect in 1971, giving young Americans a greater voice in the political process.

The War Powers Resolution was passed in 1973, requiring the president to seek congressional approval before deploying military forces in a conflict. This act aimed to limit the president's power to commit troops without congressional oversight.

The Budget and Impoundment Control Act (1974) established a process for Congress to control federal spending. It created committees to analyze the president's budget, established the Congressional Budget Office, and prevented the president from blocking approved spending.

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), passed in 1966, ensures citizens' right to access government information. The expansion of the FOIA in the 1970s strengthened these rights, requiring agencies to be more transparent and timely in fulfilling information requests.

The Reagan Revolution marked a shift in American politics, beginning in the 1980s. This era saw the rise of conservative ideologies and the emergence of political polarization within Congress.

In the 1990s during Clinton's presidency, the US government experienced divided government. This meant that the president and one or both houses of Congress were controlled by different political parties, leading to more gridlock and less legislation.

NOMINATE scores are a standardized method for measuring political ideology in Congress. This system uses voting records to place members of Congress on a spectrum, ranging from -1 (most liberal) to +1 (most conservative).

While NOMINATE scores initially measure ideology on a simple liberal-conservative spectrum, a second dimension is sometimes needed. This additional dimension captures complex issues that don't fit neatly into the basic liberal-conservative framework, such as civil rights, or economic policy.

A law passed in 1946 to improve the effectiveness of Congress by streamlining the committee system, strengthening staff, and enhancing information services.

A constitutional amendment passed in 1951 that limits the number of presidential terms to two.

A 1965 law that provided health insurance to people over age 65 as an expansion to Social Security.

A 1964 law that prohibited discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in employment, public accommodations, and voting.

A law passed in 1965 that eliminated literacy tests and other barriers to voting, paving the way for greater voter participation.

A 1976 law that increased transparency in the government by making more information from federal agencies publicly available.

A period of economic and political reform in the United States, spanning approximately from the 1870s to the 1920s, marked by significant industrial growth and the emergence of powerful corporations.

The rapid growth of industrialization and businesses during the late 19th century in the United States, leading to substantial economic development and increased national power.

A political movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in response to the perceived problems of industrialization, urbanization, and political corruption. It aimed to address social issues, promote democratic reforms, and improve government efficiency.

New rules implemented in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1890 that granted the majority party significantly more power over the proceedings, including control over committee assignments and the ability to limit debate.

A system of government based on the division of power into specialized committees, where members with seniority gain greater influence and control over policy areas.

A period of political and social change in the American South following the Civil War, characterized by the re-establishment of white control and the suppression of African American rights.

Organized groups advocating for specific interests, often lobbying government officials to influence policy and legislation.

The Missouri Compromise (1820) was a legislative agreement that aimed to balance the power between free and slave states. It admitted Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state, and prohibited slavery north of the 36°30' parallel in the Louisiana Purchase territory. However, it didn't solve the underlying tensions regarding slavery, as it only delayed the inevitable conflict over the issue.

The Compromise served as a temporary solution to the issue of slavery by maintaining an equal balance of representation in the Senate between free and slave states. However, it was a fragile agreement that ultimately failed to address the fundamental disagreement on the morality and expansion of slavery.

The Third Party System marked the emergence of the Republican Party, a new political force advocating for antislavery principles. This party gained influence in the North and challenged the existing two-party system (Democrats and Whigs). The controversy surrounding slavery intensified with the Dred Scott decision and Lincoln's election in 1860, leading to the secession of 11 Southern states.

The Republican Party's platform focused on preventing the expansion of slavery into new territories, which directly challenged the interests of Southern slaveholders. Lincoln's election as President, a candidate on an antislavery platform, was seen as a direct threat to the South's way of life, ultimately triggering the secession of 11 Southern states.

The Civil War (1861-1865) resulted in the abolishment of slavery, with the passage of the 13th Amendment. The Union's victory solidified the principles of a unified nation and national supremacy over states' rights. This period also saw the rise of industrialization and urbanization, contributing to the growth of the U.S. economy and its global influence.