How a Bill becomes a Law
What is a bill?
It is an idea for a new law
When does a census occur?
Every 10 years
Government power resides with the people
Democracy
What is meant by the term "incrementalism"
Incrementalism is the belief that the best predictor of this year's budget, plus a little bit more (an increment).
a policy document allocating burdens (taxes) and benefits (expenditures)
budget
Where does Congress meet?
The Capitol
What is the official count of the population?
The census
People have their own vote and represent themselves
Direct Democracy
What is discretionary spending?
Discretionary spending is optional spending set by the government through appropriations bills, including operating expenses and salaries of government employees.
an excess of federal expenditures over federal revenues. --we spend more than we earn.
deficit
After the senate sees the bill then where does it go?
Senate committtee studies the bill
How many districts must be created for the THOR?
435
Citizens elect a representative to serve in government as their voice
Representative Democracy
What is the biggest program under discretionary spending
The biggest program under discretionary spending is the military.
government spending. Ex. of major areas: social services and national defense.
expenditures
After the Senate committee studies the bill what happens?
They vote on it.
Who does gerrymandering affect?
The house of representatives
People and a Constitution are the basis of power
Constitutional Democracy
What is mandatory (uncontrollable) spending? Give an example.
Mandatory uncontrollable spending are expenditures that are determined not by a fixed amount of money appropriated by Congress but by how many eligible beneficiaries there are for a program or by previous obligations of the government. The biggest uncontrollable expenditure is the Social Security system, including Medicare.
financial resources of the government. Major sources: income tax and Social Security tax
revenues
What happens if the Senate committee says no?
The bill does.
Who draws the boundaries?
State Legislatures.
The executive that is elected by citizens
Presidential Democracy
What is an "entitlement?' Give an example
Entitlement is a policy for which Congress has obligated itself to pay X level of benefits to Y number of recipients. Social security benefits, medicare, and Medicaid are examples as you paid taxes, therefore, having the right to that benefit
shares of individual wages and corporate revenues collected by the government--authorized by the Sixteenth Amendment. *considered PROGRESSIVE: those with more taxable income pay more taxes at higher rates.
income tax