Government Test 2 GSU Cook
What is the Constitution requirement for serving in the Senate?
30 years old and citizen for 9 years
What is the Select Committee?
- set up to do a specific temp job - usually investigations - ex. Watergate
Congress is what?
Bicameral
What is the 17th Amendment?
Direct Election of Senators
What is the setting of policy function?
does not happen during floor debate; only occurs in committee and subcommittee hearings
Who is a good example of a Media Candidate?
John F. Kennedy
Who is the Majority Leader in the House of Rep?
Kevin McCarthy
Who is the Minority Party?
Leader: Chuck Schumer Whip: Dick Durbin
What is the Due Process Clause?
Led to Selective Incorporation of Bill of Rights
What is the Supreme Court case associated with the Exclusionary Rule?
Mapp v. Ohio
In the speech subfield, what are the categories from 100% protected to less protected speech categories?
Pure speech, speech and conduct, and symbolic
What is the Delegate Theory?
Representation is taken literally, vote the way the majority who elected them would vote
What is the Trustee Theory?
Representatives vote by their own opinion; they should lead and educate those back home
What does the 10th Amendment do?
Reserves to States All Powers not Given to the National Gov
What right do we get from the Due Process Clause?
Right to Privacy
What is the 15th Amendment?
Right to Vote for Black Men
What is the 26th Amendment?
Right to Vote for Persons 18 and older
What is the 23rd Amendment?
Right to Vote for Presidential Elections in Washington DC
What is the 19th Amendment?
Right to Vote for Women
What does the 7th Amendment do?
Right to a Jury Trial in Civil Cases
What did the Supreme Court rule in Gregg v. Georgia?
Ruled in this case that capital punishment was constitutional b/c new laws prevent discrimination when tried twice
Who is the leader for the House?
Speaker of the House
What are the sub fields of Expression in the 1st Amendment?
Speech, Press, and Religion
What were the outcomes of Gideon v. Wainright?
State courts must provide an Attorney for indigent defendants in felony cases and was later expanded
Who is the Minority Whip?
Steny Hoyer
What is the investigation function?
can go under investigation on any subject
What is impeachment?
to bring charges against a high federal official
What does the 4th Amendment protect you from?
unreasonable search and seizures
What is a Standing Committee?
- basic working unit of Congress - focus on one or two general subjects - parallel departments of gov - more in the House breakdown into subcommittees - where legislation is written
What are the features of seniority?
- chairmen of committee is majority party member who has served the longest - favors members from 1 party regions - provide for predictable succession (prevents conflicts) - rigid and unresponsive but experienced person gets the job
Why is harder to run in the Senate when there is no incumbent?
- have better known candidates challenge in the Senate - can raise more money - citizens are less "tied" to their senators
What is the Joint Committee?
- permanent bodies w/ both reps and senators - usually coordinate policy on rountine matters - important one: Joint Economic Committee
What is the Conference Committee?
- temporary body w/ both reps and senators - created to iron out differences between House and Senate versions of the same bill
What does media attention do?
- treat politicians as celebrities - Congress has TV studios and production - press secretaries
What are the main differences that separate representatives from senators?
1.) Almost always win re-election 2.) House members represents identifiable constituencies 3.) Regional Concerns: interests are easier to identify 4.) Accountability for decisions is more directly immediate 5.) House races are less expensive than Senate races 6.) Constituent service is more important
What are the advantages of Incumbency?
1.) Better known than challengers 2.) Constituent Service: Case Work 3.) Franking: Free Mail 4.) Pork Barrel 5.) Media Attention
What are the responsibilities of the Majority Party?
1.) Choose major officials of that branch 2.) Control debate on floor 3.) Selects all committee chairmen 4.) Has a majority on all committees
What are the informal rules/norms of Congress?
1.) Courtesy 2.) Seniority 3.) Specialization 4.) Reciprocity
What are the 5 non-legislative functions of Congress?
1.) Oversight 2.) Investigation 3.) Setting of Policy 4.)Advise and Consent 5.)Judicial
If you want to be elected what do you have to do?
1.) find an open seat 2.) run where there is no incumbent
What are the responsibilities of the Majority Whip?
1.) pass info between the leadership and members 2.) makes sure members know when votes are coming up
What are the responsibilities of the Speaker of the House?
1.) preside over debate 2.) recognizes members who wish to speak 3.) votes in the case of a tie 4.) interprets procedural questions 5.) refers bills to committees
What are the responsibilities of the President of the Senate?
1.) presides over debate 2.) votes in the case of a tie
What are the responsibilities for the Majority Leader in the Senate?
1.) schedules debates 2.) assigns bills to committee 3.) coordinates party policy
What are the responsibilities for the Majority Leader in the House of Rep?
1.) schedules legislation for debate on the floor 2.) mobilizes party voting strength
What are the main differences that separate senators from representatives?
1.) usually win re-elections 2.) Senators represent "everyone and no one" 3.) more free to be "statesmen" and not concerned w/ re-election 4.) elections are expensive and media affairs
What are the steps for impeachment?
1st step: requires a simple majority vote in the House of Rep 2nd step: official tried in the Senate if 2/3rd vote to uphold charges the official is removed
What is the Constitution requirement for serving in the House?
25 years old and citizen for 7 years
Who do representatives represent?
A specific segment of society
What is the 24th Amendment?
Abolition of Poll Tax
What are campaign donors buying?
Access
Who can presidents appoint?
Ambassadors, Cabinet Members, and Supreme Court Justices
What did the Supreme Court rule in Furman v. Georgia?
Capital Punishment is unconstitutional as it was currently being handed down in America
Who would limitations on spending hurt?
Challengers who must spend money to buy name recongition
The Founders wanted _________ to be more dominant but ___________ powers have increased because of Crisis Management.
Congress; executive
What is the Politico Theory?
Function as a delegate or a trustee based on wishes of those back home
What are the cases associated with capital punishment?
Furman v. Georgia Gregg v. Georgia
What Supreme Court Case is associated with the 6th Amendment?
Gideon v. Wainright
What does the 14th Amendment do?
Grants former Slaves full citizenship rights
What is the function of judicial feature?
Impeachment
Who PACs tend to give money to running for election?
Incumbents
Where does money for running a campaign come from?
Individuals and Political Action Committees (PACs)
Who is the Majority Whip of the Senate?
John Cornyn
What Supreme Court case dealt with the 5th Amendment exclusively?
Miranda v. Arizona
Who is the Majority Leader in the Senate?
Mitch McConnell
What must a media candidate be?
Must appear poised and articulate on TV
Who is the Minority Leader?
Nancy Pelosi
Most members of Congress are what race/gender?
Non-Hispanic White Males
What does the 9th Amendment do?
Not an Exhaustive List; Built-in protection
Who is the President Pro Tempore?
Orrin Hatch
What does the 1st Amendment protect?
Our Freedom of Expression
Who is the Speaker of the House?
Paul Ryan
Below the President of the Senate is what?
President Pro Tempore
What does the 8th Amendment do?
Prohibits Excessive Bail and Fines Prohibits Cruel and Unusual Punishment
What does the 13th Amendment do?
Prohibits Slavery
Who is the Majority Whip?
Steve Scalise
The representatives do not represent what?
The nation
True or False: Are members of Congress usually higher in income, education, and occupational
True
True or False: Are there no blue collar workers in Congress?
True
Who is the President of the Senate?
Vice President of US
Over half of Americans think that Congress is crooked but what usually happens?
Vote for the incumbent
What did the establishment clause create?
a wall of separation between church and state
What is the Exclusionary Rule?
any illegally seized evidence obtained cannot be used in court
What is oversight?
follow up on programs already approved; annual appropriations process, and GAO Govt. Accountability Office
What are the features does the freedom of religion have?
free exercise clause and the establishment clause
What is Pork Barrel?
getting funds for special projects, new programs and buildings in home state/district
What is the 6th Amendment?
gives you the right to counsel
What are other protections does the 5th Amendment give us?
grand jury indictment, prohibits double-jeopardy, and property cannot be taken without compensation
A confession is considered to be ___________________ and thus excluded unless certain criteria are met.
involuntary
How do you get President Pro Tempore?
it is a honor given to the Majority Party member who has served the longest
What is the Equal Protection Clause?
it is the basis for Civil Rights
What is the feature of reciprocity?
look for guidance outside your field from someone in your party who specializes in that area
What is the responsibility of the President Pro Tempore?
may preside over debate in the absence of the vice president
What is the 3rd Amendment?
no quartering of troops
What is the feature of specialization?
once assigned you specialize in its work and become an expert in that area
What are the features does the freedom of the press have?
prior restraint (censorship) and obscenity
What does the 5th Amendment protect?
protects you from self-incrimnation
The right to a jury trial is protected under what amendment?
the 6th Amendment
The right to a speedy trial is protected under what amendment?
the 6th Amendment
The right to call defense witness is protected under what amendment?
the 6th Amendment
The right to confront witness is protected under what amendment?
the 6th Amendment
The right to know the charges is protected under what amendment?
the 6th Amendment
The 5th Amendment is also protected by what rule as well?
the Exclusionary Rule
What was an outcome of Miranda v. Arizona?
the Miranda Rights
What is the 2nd Amendment?
the right to bear arms
What is the function of advise and consent?
the senate has power to accept and reject treaties and presidential appointments
What is the Majority Party?
they are in each house and it is the party with the most members