Government Chapter 5
Who makes up a conference committee?
3 members from each chamber
What are the benefits and drawbacks of having nearly unlimited debate in the Senate?
A benefit is that people can stall the voting process so that they can further explain their stance. However, a drawback is that it prolongs the process which is inefficient.
Appropriation
A bill that sets aside funds for a specific purpose
What is the purpose of a discharge petition?
A discharge petition forces a bill out of committee so that it can be further worked on.
What is the meaning of the terms filibuster and cloture?
A filibuster is (in a debate) when an opponent talks for the entire hearing to avoid a vote. This tactic is used when the minority knows that the measure is likely to pass. In 1918, the Senate adopted the rule of cloture (the end of the debate) which would be imposed if ⅔ of the members agreed.
What can a president do to make a bill into a law?
A president can sign the bill to turn it into a law.
Cloture
A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate.
Rider
A provision that bears little relationship to the bill's main topic; goal is to add an unpopular provision to a bill that is likely to be passed in order to allow the unpopular provision to "ride" in on the broader bill's popularity
Committee of the Whole
All House members become members of a single committee; when the whole House debates a bill
What constitutional solution might be devised to resolve the uncertainty about which branch possesses government's inherent powers?
An amendment that clearly states which branch possesses which powers.
What is an indirect tax?
An indirect tax is a tax levied on one person but passed to another for payment to the government.
President of Senate
Article I, Section 3, Clause 4 (of the Constitution) assigns this role to the vice president of the United States
Concurrent resolutions
Both houses of Congress address matters that affect the operations of both chambers or express an opinion
Necessary and proper clause
Congress must "make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution and the [expressed] Powers and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States"
Oversight
Congress' broad powers to review how the executive branch is operating and to make sure it is following the laws Congress has passed
Reapportionment
Every ten years seats are redistributed among the states based on the results of the census
Joint resolution
Follows the same procedures as a bill and has the force of law if it is passed by both houses and is signed by the president; used in certain out-of-the-ordinary circumstances
Discharge petition
Forces a bill out of committee (rare)
What is gerrymandering?
Gerrymandering is drawing district boundaries for political advantage.
Consider the arguments of both Hamilton and Jefferson and explain which one seems the most compelling to you.
Hamilton's argument seems most compelling to me because there is no way that the Framers could've known what the future of the country and government would look like.
What can you infer from the fact that Congress has impeached just 17 officials in U.S. History?
I can infer that most of the officials have followed the laws and looked out for the country while the 17 impeached officials were mainly self motivated.
How well do you think the members of Congress have reflected the people they represent in recent terms?
I think it depends on the political stance of most people that they represent. If they share the same views, then they probably have done a great job. However, if they don't share the same views they probably haven't done a good job.
What do you think about the House's use of the Committee of the Whole? Is it a prudent efficiency or an unrepresentative maneuver?
I think it's efficient because with more people working on it, it is likely to get done quicker.
Why do you think the Constitution gives The House of Representatives the job of picking a president in the event of a tie vote in the electoral college?
I think the Constitution gives the House of Representatives the job of picking the president in the event of a tie because they represent the population of each state on a smaller ratio, so it would be more accurate.
In your opinion, which Senate committee - the Judiciary Committee or the Foreign Relations Committee - has a greater influence on American life?
I think the Judiciary Committee has a greater influence on American life because they conduct hearings before the Senate.
Do you think committees and subcommittee chairs should have more or less power over the progress of bills? Explain your answer.
I think the power they have is fine since it seems pretty equal.
Do you think there should be more formal requirements for a House member? Fewer? Explain your answer.
I think there should be a more formal requirement of having political experience.
Why do you think the Constitution includes particular mention of bills attainder, ex post facto laws, and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus?
I think they have to to avoid as much controversy as possible.
What is impeachment?
Impeachment is the removal of a government official before their term is over due to breaking the law.
How well do you think the structure of Congress addresses the concerns about the power of large states and the influence of public passions in legislation?
In the House, larger states have a greater influence than the smaller states, which is unfair. This shows a favor towards larger states.
What are some areas of American life that Congress is involved in today that was not at the time of the writing of the Constitution?
Intelligence and security, welfare, space exploration, and internet/ digital security.
Why do you think the Constitution grants the president the power to only pass or veto a whole bill - not just parts of it?
It has been approved in whole and the parts of the bill that may be passed have not been approved to be passed together.
How do the Senate's unique formal and informal requirements support the notion that it is a more exclusive body than the House?
It is more strict which may result in more experience.
What role do political parties play in the organization of the House?
It provides two sides for people to debate on.
What are the types of measures considered by Congress?
Joint resolutions and concurrent resolutions
What advantages might there be for Congress in passing a joint resolution instead of atypical bill?
Joint resolutions do not require a presidential signature.
Conference committee
Members drawn from each chamber of Congress to resolve the differences between the House and Senate
Floor Leader
Members of the House and Senate picked by their parties to carry out party decisions and steer legislative action to meet party goals
Senate majority leader
Most powerful; figure is chosen by a vote of the majority party; vote takes place at a party caucus at the start of each term
What are the constitutional requirements to become a member of the Senate?
Must be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and a resident of the state he or she represents.
Gerrymandering
Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.
What are some of the key differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate?
Some key differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate include; the House of Reps. having each state have a seat based on its population while the Senate has two Senators from each state.
What are the main powers given to Congress?
Some of the main powers given to Congress include; collecting taxes, regulating commerce, raising and maintaining armed forces, declaring war and, controlling borders to make deals with other nations.
What are some ways in which members of Congress try to represent the people they serve?
Some ways members of Congress try to represent the people serve include; dealing with the demands of organized groups and like-minded people who join together to influence government and its policies, working to bring federal funding to their home district, and answering queries.
How is the Senate majority leader similar and different from the Speaker of the House?
The Senate majority leader is elected by party members and is chosen by a vote of the majority party. In the House, the Speaker is elected by a majority party caucus.
Why do you think that neither house of Congress is allowed to amend conference reports?
The Senate needs to review it first.
Evaluate the role, powers, and duties of the Speaker of the House.
The Speaker of the House is the most powerful and presides of debates and recognizes speakers and gives them authority to speak on the House floor. Plus, they assign bills to particular committees.
What are the roles of the Speaker of the House, floor leader, and whips?
The Speaker of the House is the most powerful and presides of debates and recognizes speakers and gives them authority to speak on the House floor. Plus, they assign bills to particular committees. The floor leader helps manage the actions and strategy of the party in the house. While the whips encourage fellow party members to vote as the party leader wants.
Seniority rule
The chair of a committee has gone to the most senior majority senator on a committee
Commerce clause
The clause in which Congress's commerce power is contained
Apportionment
The distribution of House seats among the states based on population
How do committees help the House function?
The divide the bills and responsibilities up to make it easier to deal with.
What are the formal qualifications for the House?
The formal qualifications for the House include; being at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years, and a resident of the state he or she represents.
Why did the founders of the nation want to limit the powers of Congress?
The founders of the nation wanted to limit the powers of Congress so that they could not get too powerful.
What is the key constitutional clause that lies behind most of the implied powers of Congress?
The key constitutional clause that lies behind most of the implied powers of Congress is Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18; aka. The Necessary and Proper Clause.
Quorum
The number needed to legally conduct business for the Committee of the Whole (100 people)
Constituents
The people who live within a certain member of Congress' geographic area
President pro tempore
The person who presides in the absence of the president of the Senate
What powers does the Constitution give to Congress?
The power to tax, borrow money, regulate commerce and currency, to declare war, raise armies, and maintain the navy.
What are the roles of the president of the Senate, president pro tempore, and the Senate majority leader?
The president of the Senate presides over debate in the chamber, acknowledging speakers and making sure everyone follows the rules of the debate. The president pro tempore fills in for the president of the Senate in an absence. The Senate majority leader serves as the spokesperson and main strategist for the majority party in the Senate.
Impeachment
The removal of officials from office before the completion of their terms
What is the significance of subpoenas to the work of Congress?
The significance of subpoenas to the work of Congress is that when a witness is required for evidence, they are able to legally call the witness.
What is the significance of the Committee of the Whole in the legislative process in the House?
The significance of the Committee of the Whole in the legislative process is that all House members work together.
What is the term for the people represented by a member of Congress?
The term for the people represented by a member of Congress is "constituents".
What is the term for the regular committees that exist to evaluate bills?
The term for the regular committees that exist to evaluate bills is a "standing committee".
How many standing committees exist in the Senate?
There are sixteen standing committees in the Senate.
What might happen if Congress had not become involved in modern-day concerns such as space exploration?
There would not be regulations.
What limits has the Supreme Court placed on gerrymandering?
They have made one person get one vote and a congressional district within a state must be of roughly equal population.
Roll-call vote
When each member is required to publicly state their vote
Filibuster
When opponents of a measure take the floor of the Senate and refuse to stop talking in an effort to prevent the measure coming up for a vote
Is the division of responsibility for national security between the legislative and the executive branch a good idea?
Yes because it prevents one branch from becoming too powerful.
Writ of habeas corpus
a court order that forces the police to present a person in court to face charges, expect in cases of rebellion or invasion
Bill attainder
a law that punishes a person without trial (cannot be passed)
Party Caucus
a meeting of all the House members from a particular political party
Direct tax
a tax an individual pays directly to the government
Indirect tax
a tax levied on one person but passed to another for payment to the government
Pocket veto
an indirect veto of a legislative bill by the president or a governor by retaining the bill unsigned until it is too late for it to be dealt with during the legislative session
Whips
elected to encourage fellow party members to vote as the party leadership wants
Joint Committees
formed by both the House and Senate
Ex post facto laws
laws which criminalize an action that took place in the past and that were legal at the time
Subpoenas
legal documents that require a person to testify on a certain matter
Standing Committees
permanent committees; the house has 20
Bills
proposed laws
Select Committees
sometimes created to carry out specific tasks not already covered by existing committees (such as investigations)
Speaker of the House
the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives
Deficit
where there is not enough expected to cover expenses (most common during emergencies (wars))