Filibuster
what is a filibuster?
a formal and public way of preventing a bill to be voted on in the senate debate
The "Iron Triangle"
The relationship between congress(especially Sub-Committees), Government agencies(Bureaucracy), and interest groups. This helps create policy in the United States and all 3 parts want to protect their own self interests.
If the legislative branch makes the laws, then the executive branch does what with the laws?
The executive branch executes and enforces the laws made by the legislative branch.
gerrymandering
the drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent
whip
A senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking
What occurs in a filibuster?
a senator takes the floor for debate and talks as long as he can, for, as long as a senator has the floor, the bill in question cannot be voted on
what do iron triangles do
what do iron triangles do
What is the title of the chief executive, or head, of the executive branch of the United States?
The President
racial gerrymandering
drawing district lines in a way that combines disparate populations of minority groups in order to guarantee representation by those groups in congress
president pro tempore
president pro tempore
Why is it only used in the senate?
because the senate does not share a time limit on how long the bill can be debated on, unlike the house of representatives, in which the rules committee sets specific time limits and dates in which a bill can be voted on.
An example of the iron triangle
ex Farm Special Interest groups
-helps to elect people through campaign contributions
-because of this, congress creates legislation and oversight on these different interests
What is the title of the second-in-command?
Vice President
malapportionment
drawing the boundaries of legislative districts so that they are unequal in population
vice president
presiding officer in the Senate
Are there any rules?
there are no rules; the senator can talk for as long as he wants about whatever he wants, and, as long as he is talking, the filibuster stands
positives of iron triangle
-many special interest groups receive benefits
-congressional districts will get increased funding
What is the job of the Electoral College?
A group of men and women who choose the President and Vice President
baker v. Carr
case that established the principle of one man, one vote. This decision created guidelines for drawing up congressional districts and guaranteed a more equitable system of representation to the citizens of each state
incumbency
the fact that being in office helps a person stay in office because of a variety of benefits that go with the position
Is it limited to one person?
the senator can switch with other senators that will keep talking in hopes of the bill being killed
negatives
hyperpluralists argue that appeasing too many groups leads to gridlock
What was the original purpose of the Electoral College?
To keep the common people from making a mistake when voting and accidentally choosing a poor leader
shaw v. reno
The Court ruled that although it was a legitimate goal for state legislatures to take race into account when they draw electoral districts in order ot increase the voting strength of minorities, they may not make race the sole reason for drawing district lines.
franking privilege
The right of congress to send job-related mail without paying postage., benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free