Government Test Notes PDF

The Congress ------------ America is different from other countries - - - - **Separation of Powers:** The allocation of constitutional authority to each branches of government, each with a separate constituency at different times **Checks and Balances:** Each branch has a role and inf...

The Congress ------------ America is different from other countries - - - - **Separation of Powers:** The allocation of constitutional authority to each branches of government, each with a separate constituency at different times **Checks and Balances:** Each branch has a role and influence over the others - - - ### The Alternative: Parliamentary System Characteristics - - - - - Advantages and Disadvantages - - - - - ### Presidential System Characteristics - - - - - Advantages and Disadvantages - - - Semi-Presidential Government - - - - ### Structure of Congress #### Bicameral Our legislature: Two Bodies- Senate and the House of Representative Senate - - - - - House - - - Gerrymandering - - - - - - - - - - #### Staggered Terms of Service - - - - - - - - - #### Committee System - - - - - - - - - - Why have committees? - - - - - #### Leadership House Speaker of the House - - - - Majority Party Leader - Minority Party Leader - Majority and Minority Party Whip Systems - Senate Leadership - - - - - - - - - - - ### Functions of Congress #### Representation The process of bringing a person's voice into government - - - Tools for Representation (cues for representatives) - - - - - - Descriptive Representation - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - #### Oversight The process by which the legislature reviews the activities of the executive agencies responsible for implementing the laws it authorized #### Education The process of informing the citizenry about the government - - - - - #### Law-making Typical Major Steps - - - - - Note: a Bill can die (be abandoned) at any step - Filibuster - -