Legislative Branch

What is an appropriation?

$ voted on by Congress to be spent on something

Senate Structures and Processes

-Less centralized -Committees do not have as much authority -Looser debate -Focus on foreign policy -Leaders less powerful except for powerful majority leaders; senators more independent

Explain the three components of the War Powers Act

-Requires the President to report to Congress within 48 after deploying troops into direct hostilities. The report must provide justification for the engagement. -Requires the President to obtain from Congress, within 60 days, a resolution of war or express authorization for the continued use of force. -If the deadline is not met or extended by Congress, the President must end the engagement.

Identify two roles of a subcommittee

-SUB GROUP(S) WITHIN THE LARGER COMMITTEE -EACH BILL IS EXAMINED, EDITED AND POLITICAL COMPROMISES ARE MADE

Define casework and list two examples of how a member might help a constituent through casework.

-responding to letters or phone calls - assisting with passports - drafting legislation on behalf of constituent

Senate Members, terms, and constituencies

100 members 6 year terms Unlimited terms

Life span of congress

2 years

House Qualifications

25 years old U.S Citizens for 7 years Resident of State they're representing

Senate Qualifications

30 years of age, 9 year US citizen, Inhabitant of state represented.

House Members, terms, and constituencies

435 members 2 year terms Unlimited terms

The House of Representatives has how many members and who is the title of the presiding officer?

435 members, the Speaker of the house is the presiding officer.

List the combined total number of members of Congress.

535 members

Explain the single biggest dilemma for a member of Congress regarding voting? country vs. constituent

Acting in the best interest of the country v. representing interests of the constituents.

Speaker of the House

An office mandated by the Constitution. The Speaker is chosen in practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is third in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant.

House Structures and Processes

Centralized and hierarchical Rules committee (majority party) controls agenda Limited debate time Powerful speaker of the house Focus on revenue and spending

Politico

Combines trustee & delegate philosophies in an attempt to be both representative & policymaker.

Which branch has the sole power to determine the federal budget?

Congress has final authority over the federal budget.

Explain the authority of Congress related to Investigative Oversight.

Congress may investigate issues and react by creating laws or passing information onto the Justice department.

Explain the role of Congress as it relates to the Budget Oversight

Congress reviews and restricts the annual budget prepared by the executive branch.

List two other caucuses

Congressional prayer caucus, and national women's political caucus.

Legislature

DRAFT & SUBMIT LEGISLATION VOTE ON LEGISLATION

Budget Committee-House

Determines fiscal budget; 2/3 of budget

What is the purpose of the committee system in Congress?

Dividing the work that needs to be done; COMMITTEES PROVIDE OVERSIGHT & INVESTIGATIVE OPPORTUNITIES

How are states represented differently in our bicameral structure?

Each state gets 2 seats in the senate (100 total), and then the seats in the house are proportional to a states population (435 total).

Lame duck members

Every 2 years, after the November elections, some lawmakers are not reelected or retire, the time between the election in the time new members replace them is called the lame duck period.

SINKING OF THE TITANIC • HOW JAPAN WAS ABLE TO ATTACK PEARL HARBOR • COMMUNIST INFILTRATION OF THE GOVERNMENT (RED SCARE) • HOW 9/11 WAS CARRIED OUT ARE EXAMPLES OF

Famous oversight cases congress investigated.

Explain why standing committees are the most important.

Handle bills with permanent legislative concern, complete majority of work.

Why was the Senate divided into three classes?

It takes six years to be overturned to prevent populist movements.

Which Presidential appointments are confirmed through Advice & Consent?

Judicial nominees Treaties Ambassadors Cabinet Secretaries or other public positions

List and explain each of three main responsibilities of being a member of Congress.

Legislature Committee member Represent constituents

Who controls the committee membership and what criteria are involved in why a member is assigned to a committee?

Majority party controls, assignments are based on personal and political qualities of the member, his or her region, and whether the assignment will help reelect the member.

List the name of the court case from our Federalism unit, which established broad implied powers for Congress

McCulloch v. Maryland; gave federal government the power to establish banks and collect taxes on them.

Delegate

Mirrors the preferences of their constituents. This philosophy may use extensive polling to measure constituent beliefs.

Is POTUS allowed to introduce a bill in Congress? yes or no

No. ONLY CONGRESS MAY INTRODUCE OR CHANGE AN EXISTING LAW- POTUS CANNOT INTRODUCE LEGISLATION

Unique House Powers

Originates revenue bills Initiates impeachment Breaks tie for president in EC

Explain the three main factors which impact how a member of Congress votes.

Personal view Constituent view Party leadership view

Unique Senate Powers

Provides "advice and consent" Handles trials of impeached officials

Identify the two largest, most important caucus groups.

Republican and Democrat

Why was the War Powers Act created and has it succeeded in limiting the power of the president?

THE WAR POWERS ACT WAS PASSED TO LIMIT THE POWER OF THE POTUS, RELATED TO PUTTING TROOPS IN THE FIELD AND FIGHTING UN DECLARED WARS.THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION HAS BEEN IGNORED BY EVERY POTUS SINCE ITS ENACTMENT.

Define the exclusive Senate power of Advice & Consent

The Constitution requires the senate confirm all presidential treaties, appointments and impeachment.

What is the role of the Rules Committee in the House?

The Speaker uses to retain control of the house floor, provides terms and conditions of debate after a bill has left the committee, therefore plays a big role in the legislation.

Cloture

The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill to overcome a filibuster. Under the , 3/5th's or 60 Senators must vote to invoke cloture.

Majority Leader of the Senate

The party leader elected by the majority party in the Senate; controls senate floor.

List three roles of the party caucus or three things a party caucus might do.

The party with the majority: controls their respective chamber, select presiding officers, and appoints committee chairs.

List two examples of investigative oversight over the executive branch.

Treaties and Presidential Appointment.

the general philosophies for voting

Trustee Delegate Politico

Trustee (most common)

Use their best judgment to make policy in the best interest of the people.

president of the senate

Vice President

What is the job of 'whips' in the US House of Representatives?

Whips are assistants to the floor leaders who are also elected by their party conferences; responsible for mobilizing the votes within their party on major issues.

party caucus

a closed meeting of the members of each party in each house

constituent

a person whom a member of Congress has been elected to represent

Fillibuster

a tactic for defeating a bill in the Senate by talking until the bill's sponsor withdraws it. This is a tool that can be used to force a compromise on legislation.

define caucus and why do members of Congress join a caucus?

also called conference; A group of legislative members who meet to discuss a particular issue or to work together for a shared political goal; people join to draw attention to issues that are important to them.

Foreign Affairs Committee-House

approves ambassadors and treaties

Judiciary Committee-House

approves judges

What is the purpose of a conference committee?

consists of members from both chambers & used to resolve the differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

Appropriations Committee-House

discretionary spending; 1/3 of budget

Tax bills must originate in what chamber?

house

how does the way debates end differ between chambers?

house debates can be ended simply by majority vote (much quickly), in the senate the majority leader carries out the functions of the rules committee.

State representation differences between chambers

house: This chamber is designed to protect the interests of the masses - pluralist/diverse views Larger states have a stronger voice. Senate: This chamber is designed to protect both minority and elite interests.This chamber is designed to allow states to have an equal voice.

pro tempore

longest serving senator; 4th in line for presidency

Are Committee Chairs ALWAYS the longest serving member of a committee?

not always but usually.

What committee assignments do all members prefer?

ones that benefit their reelection

Armed Services Committee-House

oversees military policy and funding

In the US House of Representatives, what is the job of the minority leader?

spokesperson for the minority party and usually steps into role as speaker if his or her party gains majority in house.

Before the 17th Amendment, how were senators elected? After?

state legislature before, Allowed people to vote directly after.

Rule Committee

the "traffic cop" of the House that sets the legislative calendar and issues rules for debate on a bill; to many members to allow for unlimited debate like in the senate.

Difference in party loyalty between chambers

the house loyalty to party voting is stronger because it's so large.

Who (in theory) is Congress representing when they carry out oversight?

the people?

Ways N Means Committee-House

writing tax code

Are Committee Chair's always a member of the majority party- Yes or No

yes

Are formal treaties negotiated by the President subject to Advice & Consent?

yes.

List four things a committee chair controls.

● DECIDES WHEN & HOW OFTEN COMMITTEE MEETS ● THE AGENDA OF THE COMMITTEE ● THE FINAL BUDGET OF THEIR COMMITTEE ● THE FINAL LANGUAGE OF ANY BILL