Congressional Structures
House of Representatives and Senate
What is a caucus?
The group of all the party members within the chamber, e.g., all the Democrats in the Senate
What is the difference between a budget surplus, a budget deficit, and the national debt?
budget surplus = revenue (money coming in) > spending (money going out)
budget deficit = spending (money going out) > revenue (money coming in)
national debt = how much $$ the country owes total
What are the 3 main roles/powers that Congress has?
1. making laws
2. overseeing executive branch
3. controlling budget
How often does redistricting happen? What event does it happen AFTER? What is the PURPOSE?
Every 10 years after a census. To make sure each state has appropriate representation based on population and that all districts are roughly even within the state.
One constitutional principle is ___________: a system of government where people elect representatives to represent their will
republicanism
What does it mean to "pigeonhole" a bill?
Not schedule it on the calendar for vote or debate--vote dies because it isn't considered. Majority party leadership and committee chairs can do this.
1. What is the difference between mandatory and discretionary spending? Give an example of each.
2. Which category does the government spend more on each year in modern times? Was this always the case?
mandatory = government MUST pay out--things like Medicare, Social Security--if citizens meet the requirements, they must get the payments
discretionary = government chooses how to allocate this money--for everything from defense to education
Most of gov's budget is spent on mandatory spending. This has not always the case, but mandatory spending keeps ballooning.
Mark the following as either H (House of Representatives) or S (Senate)
1. starts tax bills
2. confirms POTUS appointments of executive agency leaders "advice and consent"
3. holds impeachment trials
4. votes to impeach officials
5. elects POTUS if electoral college is deadlocked
6. elects VP if electoral college is deadlocked
7. ratify president's treaties
1. starts tax bills H
2. confirms POTUS appointments of executive agency leaders "advice and consent" S
3. holds impeachment trials S
4. votes to impeach officials H
5. elects POTUS if electoral college is deadlocked H
6. elects VP if electoral college is deadlocked S
7. ratify president's treaties S
What is gerrymandering? Who does this?
Redistricting your state in a way that favors your political party. State legislatures do this because they are in charge of it!
In the House of Representatives, representation is based on ________ and Reps are elected every _____ years. There are _____ total Reps and ____ term limits
state population; 2; 435; 0
What are whips and what is their purpose within Congress?
Why would Congress members feel pressure to vote their party's agenda?
Whips in both houses enforce party discipline, making sure everyone within the party votes the way they are supposed to. Rank-and-file congress members feel pressure to tow the party line because their party controls committee assignments--crucial to influencing legislation that helps their particular district.
WORD BANK = KEYNESIAN FISCAL POLICY, SUPPLY-SIDE FISCAL POLICY, FISCAL POLICY
The decisions the government makes about how to tax and spend are called FISCAL POLICY. A KEYNESIAN FISCAL POLICY advocates increasing government spending to stimulate economic growth during a recession. A SUPPLY-SIDE FISCAL POLICY advocates cutting taxes and interest rates during a recession so that businesses do well and it trickles down.
Tax bills always start in the ________ in the __________ Committee, and this committee is helped by the ____________. 1/2 of government revenue comes from _____________ income tax
Impeachment also always starts in the _____________.
WORD BANK: CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, INDIVIDUAL, WAYS AND MEANS, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, HOUSE
Tax bills always start in the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES in the WAYS AND MEANS Committee, and this committee is helped by the CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE. 1/2 of government revenue comes from INDIVIDUAL income tax. Impeachment also always starts in the HOUSE.
Match the 3 types of gerrymandering to their definitions: CRACKING, PACKING, STACKING
A. stuffing all opposing party voters into one district--they will win that one, but lose others
B. creating districts evenly split between lower-income minorities and higher income whites and then hoping whites will outvote minorities
C. dividing one party across several districts so they are a minority in each one
A. PACKING = stuffing all opposing party voters into one district--they will win that one, but lose others
B. STACKING = creating districts evenly split between lower-income minorities and higher income whites and then hoping whites will outvote minorities
C. CRACKING = dividing one party across several districts so they are a minority in each one
In the Senate, representation is based on ________. Senators are elected every _____ years on a rolling basis. There are _____ term limits and _____ total senators.
equality--every state gets 2; 6; 0; 100
When a bill is considered in committee, members can make/add changes. These are called _________. Some of them are _________, things added to the bill that have nothing to do with the bill itself. Specifically, earmarks, or __________________ are inserts that provide government funding for local projects. Congresspeople might also promise to vote for each others' bills, called reciprocity or _________. WORD BANK: RIDERS PORK BARRELING, LOGROLLING, MARKUPS
When a bill is considered in committee, members can make/add changes. These are called MARKUPS. Some of them are RIDERS, things added to the bill that have nothing to do with the bill itself. Specifically, earmarks, or PORK BARRELING are inserts that provide government funding for local projects. Congresspeople might also promise to vote for each others' bills, called reciprocity or LOGROLLING.
1. What is the "power of the purse," and who has it?
2. This is an enumerated power found in ______________ of the Constitution.
Congress has the power to levy taxes, develops and controls the budget, and sets all government spending. Found in Article 1, Section 8
____________ of both _____________ and _________ must vote to propose an amendment to the Constitution according to Article _____ of the Constitution. These must be ratified by ______ of states.
WORD BANK: 3/4, 2/3, HOUSE, SENATE; figure out the article on your own!
2/3 of both HOUSE and SENATE must vote to propose an amendment to the Constitution according to Article 5 (V) of the Constitution. These must be ratified by 3/4 of states.
What does "one person, one vote" mean and which court case is it from?
Everyone's vote should count the same, so districts need to have about the same number of people in them. Baker v. Carr
Who is the most powerful person in the House of Representatives? Who is the most powerful person in the Senate? Justify your answers.
Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader; they control committee assignments and the calendar
2. What puts a stop to a filibuster?
3. What is the only chamber that allows
Continuing to talk/debate about a bill so that a vote on the bill can't happen. This is done as a last-ditch effort by minority parties when they know a bill will pass if it's put to a vote.
What is entitlement programs? Does it fall under mandatory or discretionary spending? Has it been going up or down in modern times?
Entitlement programs = government benefits that all citizens meeting eligibility criteria are legally entitled to receive. For example, if you are 62 or older and have enough work credits, you get a social security check. It is mandatory and has been going way up as people live longer.
Which chamber of Congress has a Rules Committee? What does the Rules Committee dooooo?
ONLY the House of Representatives. Rules Committee schedules and makes rules about debate for a bill coming out of a Committee before it goes to be debated by the Full House.
Senate does not have a rules committee (because it is smaller) and thus Majority leader has a lot more power
Which constitutional provision allows the federal courts to interfere with states that are not protecting the fundamental right of voting for citizens?
What rule came out of Shaw v. Reno?
14th Amendment
you can't make a district SOLELY based on race, even if you have good intentions