Committees
This committee is "traffic cop" of the House. They are responsible for deciding the length of floor debate for a bill and if there will be amendments.
What is Rules Committee?
This causes the number of representatives to change based on population, and how often it occurs
What is the census, and every ten years?
This is the best predictor in the outcome of a Congressional election.
What is incumbency?
Most of the work in Congress, including lawmaking, is done here.
What are committees & subcommittees?
They are responsible for communicating information to the party leaders, including counting votes and leaning on members to vote with the party.
What is a party whip?
Which type of condition on debate sets a time limit for debate and forbids any amendments on the floor?
What is a closed rule?
Most bills die in this step of the legislative process.
What is in committee/subcommittee?
Who is the representative for Maryland's District 5? PRONUNCIATION COUNTS.
Who is Steny Hoyer?
This phrase in the Constitution gives Congress their IMPLIED POWERS.
Necessary and Proper/Elastic Clause
This amendment changed the election of senators to a direct election by the people. How were senators elected BEFORE?
What is the 17th amendment and state legislatures?
This type of committee is a permanent committee focusing on an area of expertise.
What is a standing committee?
Who has the power of impeachment?
What is the House of Representatitves?
Name one advantage of incumbency.
What is increased campaign contributions, services for constituents, franking, etc.
This is a type of legislation that provides funding for local projects that are intended to benefit constituents.
What is pork barrel legislation?
This staff agency advises Congress on the potential economic impact of a bill.
What is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)?
This person is the most powerful in the House, and this person is the most powerful in the Senate?
Who are the Speaker and the Majority Leader, respectively.
This device is used by the minority party to stall debate or kill a bill by talking it to death.
What is a filibuster?
The right of members of Congress to send mail to their constituents at the government's expense.
What are franking privileges?
If a bill is stalled in committee for more than 30 days, this device can be used to bring the bill to the floor for debate.
What is a discharge petition?
10 days pass, these are the two outcomes...
The bill automatically becomes law, or it is killed with a pocket veto if Congress adjourns.
This committee is responsible for tax laws, and it only exists in the House.
What is Ways and Means Committee?
This is used in the Senate to end debate on a bill, but it requires 60 Senators to vote for it.
What is cloture?
Name one restriction on redistricting & gerrymandering?
Districts must be contiguous (connected). Districts must have equal population. Lines cannot be drawn strictly based on race. Minority party must still be represented.
This is the minimum number required to conduct business (51 in the Senate, 218 in the House).
What is a quorum?
An example of this would be Congress conducting an investigation to uncover an executive department's wrongdoing. And then, using power of the purse or crafting new legislation to address the wrongdoing.
What is oversight?