How long does a member of the Senate serve?
6 year terms
What is a federal grant?
A federal grant is a sum of money given by the federal government, often to a state, local government, or other organization, for a specific purpose or project.
How long does a House of Representative's member serve?
Two years
What is a budget surplus?
When there is an extra amount of money left in the back from the year before.
What is gerrymandering?
It is the manipulation of an electoral constituency's boundaries so as to favor one party over the other.
How many members are there?
100
What is a formula grant?
A formula grant is a grant based on certain numbers that the state provides. (Need to provide a formula to reason for the amount of money they need.)
How many members are there?
435
What is the House Ways and Means Committee?
chief tax writing committee in the House, creates all revenue bills
What did Shaw v. Reno decide?
gerrymandering cannot occur if race is the only determinant in gerrymandering, cannot violate the equal protection clause.
How are the numbers of Senators for each state decided?
It is automatically decided that it is two per state.
What is a block grant?
Federal grants given more or less automatically to states or communities to support broad programs in areas such as community development and social services.
What is it called when the lines are drawn to redistribute the correct amount of representatives?
Redistricting
What is fiscal policy?
Fiscal policy is a tool that governments use to shape the economy by changing taxes and spending
What is packing?
occurs when politically similar groups are jammed together in fewer districts, providing a single party more guaranteed wins.
What are the requirements to serve as a member of the Senate?
1) 30 years or older
2) 9 years resident of the U.S.
3) The residency of the state that the Senator wishes to represent
What are project grants?
Federal categorical given for a specific and awarded on the basis of the merits of applications.
What are all the requirements to serve as a member?
1) At least 25 years old
2) Live in the state they wish to represent
3) Be a citizen of the United States for 7 years or more
What is monetary policy?
Monetary policy is the way a central bank or a government controls the money supply and interest rates in an economy.
What did Baker v Carr signify?
1) One man, one vote
2) Gerrymandering is justiciable issue
The Senate confirms __(1)____and ratifies __(2)___ giving it immense power over the composition of the federal government and the stature of U.S. foreign policy.
1) Presidential Appointments
2) Treaties
What are categorical grants and what are the two subsections?
Categorical grants, also known as conditional grants, are grants issued by the United States Congress which may be spent only for narrowly defined purposes. The two subsections are project and formula grants.
What are the 6 main roles in the House to ensure that everything that runs smoothly?
1) Speaker of the House
2) Majority Leader
3) Minority Leader
4) Majority Whip
5) Minority Whip
6) Committee Chairs
What is the budget process?
1. The President submits a budget request to Congress
2. The House and Senate pass budget resolutions
3. House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees "markup" appropriations bills
4. The House and Senate vote on appropriations bills and reconcile differences.
5. The President signs each appropriations bill and the budget becomes law.
What is cracking?
when politicians divide up voters from the opposing political party in an effort to dilute their influence