6 congress. trace the roots of the legislative branch outlined by the u.s. constitution characterize...
TRANSCRIPT
Trace the roots of the legislative branch outlined by the U.S. Constitution
Characterize the demographic attributes of members of Congress, and identify factors that affect their chances for reelection
6.1
6.2
Learning Objectives 6
Assess the role of the committee system, political parties, and congressional leadership in organizing Congress
Identify three of the most significant powers of Congress
6.3
6.4
Learning Objectives 6
Analyze the factors that influence how members of Congress make decisions
Evaluate the strategic interactions between Congress, the president, the courts, and the people
6.5
6.6
Learning Objectives 6
Roots of the Legislative Branch of Government
Bicameral legislature House Representatives based on population Two-year term
Senate Two from each state Six-year term
6.1
Eligibility and Apportionment
Members of the House Twenty-five years old and a citizen for at least seven years
Senators Thirty years old and a citizen for at least nine years
Census Conducted every ten years
6.1
Key Powers
Make laws Both House and Senate must pass bills
Raise and spend revenue
Impeachment
Other powers “as necessary and proper” to carry out the functions of Congress
6.1
a. Executive Branch
b. Senate
c. House of Representatives
d. A joint committee of the House and Senate
6.1 According to the Constitution, where must all revenue bills originate?
6.1
Members of Congress
Congressional Demographics
Running for and Staying in Office Incumbency Redistricting
6.2
Congressional Demographics
Better educated than general population Two-thirds of members hold advanced degrees
Wealthier than general population Senate “Millionaires Club”
Recent increases in minority representation
6.2
Redistricting
Follows census State Legislatures redraw districts
Often political in nature Party in power controls the process
Gerrymandering Drawing a district to favor a party or candidate
6.2
a. Congress
b. State legislatures
c. Political parties
d. Independent commissions
6.2 Responsibility for redistricting most often belongs to:
6.2
How Congress Is Organized
Leadership in the House of Representatives Leadership in the Senate The Committee System
6.3
Leadership in the House of Representatives
Speaker of the House Most powerful position in the House
Leadership Teams Majority Leader Minority Leader Whips
6.3
The Committee System
Types of committees Standing Committees Joint Committees Conference Committees Select (or Special) Committees
Committee chairs Committee membership
6.3
a. Standing Committees
b. Joint Committees
c. Special Committees
d. Conference Committees
6.3 Which committees are responsible for hammering out differences in House and Senate bills?
6.3
The Budgetary Function
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 Establishes levels of spending Reconciliation process to limit debates
Pork and Programmatic Requests
6.4
The Oversight Function
The War Powers Resolution Congressional Review Confirmation of Presidential Appointees Impeachment
6.4
War Powers Resolution
Passed over President Nixon’s veto Requires Congressional approval to
commit troops Limits power of president as commander
in chief
6.4
Congressional Review Confirmation of Presidential Appointees
Congressional review allows Congress to overrule regulations for federal agencies
Senate confirms Supreme Court, federal district court, and Cabinet nominations
6.4
a. Impeachment
b. Congressional review
c. Senate confirmations
d. All of the above
6.4 Which of these is among Congress’s oversight authority?
6.4
How Members Make Decisions
Political Parties Constituents Colleagues and Caucuses Interest Groups, Lobbyists and Political
Action Committees Staff and Support Agencies
6.5
Political Parties
Influence of political parties on the passage of legislation
Divided government Different political parties control presidency and Congress
Unified government Same political party controls presidency and Congress
6.5
Colleagues and Caucuses
Logrolling Supporting another member’s legislation in exchange
for future support
Special Interest Caucuses Informal groups based on shared interest
6.5
Interest Groups, Lobbyists and Political Action Committees Research and Data
Provide information to justify members’ positions on legislation
Persuade constituents to contact or pressure members
Fundraising PACS
6.5
a. Trustee
b. Delegate
c. Politico
d. Logroller
6.5 When a member votes the way his constituents want, he is voting as a:
6.5
Toward Reform: Balancing Institutional Power
Congress and the Executive Congress and the Judiciary Congress and the People
6.6
Congress and the Executive
Tenure of Office Act Weakened the power of the executive Fluctuations in power Strong executive versus strong
legislative
6.6
Congress and the Judiciary
Judicial review Supreme Court can determine if legislation is
constitutional
Jurisdiction of federal courts
6.6
Congress and the People
The People’s Branch Congress serves best interests of citizens
Approval Ratings Why are they so low today?
6.6
a. Judicial review
b. Checks and balances
c. Congressional review
d. Impeachment
6.6 The process by which federal courts determine the constitutionality of laws is:
6.6