U2 Gov study guide
Based on this passage, describe how earmarks can lead to trouble.
Earmarks waste taxpayer funds, Earmarks grow out of control, Earmarks encourage corruption, Earmarks incentivize personal agendas, Earmarks undermine the practice of funding projects based on merit, Earmarks undermine state and local government decisions, and Earmarks hurt the already-damaged budget process.
What is the significance of the congressman's statement?
Only congress has access to federal money, taxpayers, federal agencies, and the states, only receive federal money if congress decides to appropriate it for them.
Why do members of Congress often vote along party lines?
Party members send to share the same political outlook. Sometimes, two party leaders pressure them to vote on the party's position ( tend to share the same party outlook)
When the Senate and House of Representatives pass similar but not identical bills on the same subject, what must occur before the bill goes to the president?
The house and the senate have to work together to agree on the exact wording of the bill.
(political cartoon: money tree) What does the ladder in this cartoon represent?
The ladder represents access to federal money. Congress has the most access to federal money and takes advantage of it.
(total government receipts and outlays table) What does the last column tell you about the relationship between receipts and outlays for the years shown? Explain.
The last column shows that for quite some time the budget was run at a deficit, or that receipts were significantly lower than outlays.
Which branch of government does this cartoon illustrate? How do you know?
The legislative branch is illustrated in this cartoon because this is the only branch that makes laws and is composed of Congress. Also, the cartoon shows both parties.
How does a bill become a law?
The main steps are: introducing the bill, referring to committee and sub-committee, committee hearings, markup sessions, reporting, floor debate and amendments, floor vote, the conference committee, and the president's signature or if vetoed an override vote.
What does the "necessary and proper" clause in the Constitution imply about the powers of Congress?
The necessary and proper clause allows congress the ability to make laws or to act where the constitution doesn't give it authority to act. Sometimes thought of as implied powers. the question was is it constitutional to charter the first bank of the united states and to give that power to the government.
What process does Congress use for approving expenditures?
The necessary and proper clause allows congress the ability to make laws or to act where the constitution doesn't give it authority to act. Sometimes thought of as implied powers. the question was is it constitutional to charter the first bank of the united states and to give that power to the government.
How has the role of committee chairpersons changed since the 1970's?
The power of committee chairpersons has been limited since the 1970s. The Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 made a number of changes that made the committee system more democratic by reducing the power of committee chairs. A majority of committee members can call a meeting without a chair's approval. Committee members who disagree with a chair must be given the time to present their views.
According to the speaker, what was the goal of those doing the redistricting?
The purpose of the redistricting was to declare that Texas districts were never created if the Legislature didn't want to protect the party and incumbents.
which of the following is not an example of a congressional support agency? the library of congress, congressional budget office (CBO), government accessability office (GAO), government printing office (GPO)
government accessability office (GAO)
powers the government requires to carry out their expressed powers are known as
implied powers
revenue bill
law for raising money
a senator's term of office is how many years
six years
which of the following types of committees are permanent? standing, select, joint, conference
standing committee
which of the following is not a nonlegislative power of congress? the ratification power, the amendment power, taxation power, removal power
taxation power
voter influence lawmakers in various ways. which of the following is not one of those ways? what voters expect, visits to the district, tiktok, surveys
tiktok
the president and congress share the following powers. choose the best answer. emergency powers, budget powers, both, neither
both
in a committee of the whole the a quorum will be met when how many members are present
100
a house of representatives term in office is how many years
2 years
a quorum is the minimum number of members needed to hold a vote. in the house that number is
218 members
What effect does a divided government usually have on the work of Congress? Why?
A divided government will lead to legislative gridlock, and failure to get bills passed.
Which type of congressional resolution has the force of law?
A joint resolution does have the force of law and deals with unusual or temporary matters. A bill or resolution usually deals with only one topic, but a rider regarding an unrelated matter may be included.
How do differences in the constituencies create conflict between the president and members of Congress?
A president is expected to represent all of the people of the nation. Members of Congress only represent their constituents. Members of Congress are gonna have a more narrow view on an issue than the president.
Suppose the Senate is composed of 70 Democrats and 30 Republicans. How many members of each party would you expect to be on a ten-member Senate standing committee?
A ten-member committee would have 7 Democrats and 3 Republicans.
When does a committee hold a markup session? What is the purpose of this session?
After hearings are completed, the bill is considered in a session that is popularly known as the "mark-up" session. Members of the committee study the viewpoints presented in detail. Amendments may be offered to the bill, and the committee members vote to accept or reject these changes.
How does the government raise and allocate money?
All revenue bills start in the house. The ways and means committee shapes revenue bills. Once passed in the house, a revenue bill goes to the Senate, where it is amended. When both houses pass the revenue bill it becomes law. Congress allocates the money through a two-step process an authorization bill that specifies how much money can be used and then an appropriation bill that grants the money. Earmarks, direct part of the funding toward a certain purpose for their state or districts.
Why do small states have equal power with large states in the Senate?
All states are equal in the Senate since they each get two senators, which comes from the Great Compromise/ Connecticut Compromise.
What crime has a person convicted of lying under oath committed?
An individual commits perjury when, under oath, he willfully or knowingly makes a false statement as to a material matter. A conviction is a felony punishable by probation, fines, and up to 4 years in jail or prison.
Based on the numbers in the table, between which two years did a severe recession begin in the United States? How do you know?
Based on the numbers in the table, between 2009 and 2010 has a severe recession in the U.S. since there was around a 200,000 drop.
Why do major bills often require 60 votes to pass the Senate instead of a simple majority of 51?
Because if you don't have 60 votes, someone can filibuster your bill. If someone tried to filibuster and you know that you have 60 votes then you can Cloture Resolution.
At what point in the legislative process does a bill go on the House calendar?
Bills that survive the committee process are put on one of the House Calendars. Then it must get through the full house vote or committee process.
Why is casework an important part of a lawmaker's job?
Casework helps get lawmakers re-elected and it's part of what lawmakers are supposed to do. Casework also helps congress monitor the performance of the executive branch.
How is Chief Justice Marshall interpreting this clause?
Chief Justice Marshall thinks that if the clause is not large enough, it will not restrain the powers of Congress or the Legislature.
Congress authorizes money to aid local schools. How might Congress use this spending power to encourage better education?
Congress can use spending power to grant federal funds to states & require states to oblige certain conditions or actions.
Assume Congress wants to stimulate a sluggish economy. How could it use its taxing power to do this? Explain.
Congress has used its power to tax and spend to expand its power to regulate the economy.
Based on this excerpt, what do the newly drawn lines of Texas districts look like?
John Paul Stevens describes the newly drawn lines as bizarre.
What factors influence congressional decision-making?
Lawmakers are influenced by their constituents; staffers, party, their own beliefs, appeals from key supporters, the president, special interest groups, lobbyists, and PACs.
How is pork-barrel legislation different from federal grants and contracts?
Lawmakers do not vote on grants and contracts as they do on port-barrel legislation.
Suppose lawmakers wanted a report on how funds appropriated for the Head Start program were being spent. What legislative support agency should lawmakers consult?
Lawmakers should consult the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Most of the debate on a bill occurs in committee, not on the House or Senate floor. Why do you think this is so?
House and senate have many members. A debate among all of them on the floor would be unwieldy.
In what situation might Congress pass a continuing resolution? What does this resolution do?
If the house and senate are unable to agree on appropriations bills, a continuing resolution will fund the government under previous levels of appropriations. Continuing resolutions are temporary spending bills that allow federal government operations to continue when final appropriations have not been approved by Congress and the President. Without final appropriations or a continuing resolution (CR), there could be a lapse in funding that results in a government shutdown.
If the line-item veto were constitutional, how would it affect the balance of power? Explain?
If the line-item veto were constitutional, it would allow for a president to have a lot greater say in how each and every law was passed, for it would be possible for a president to hamper the enactment of new laws until the president was personally satisfied with every the last bit of law.
Most voters are unaware of how their representatives vote, yet representatives still typically vote according to their constituents' wishes. Explain why this is true.
In an election, campaign, representatives, and voting records will come up. If they cast unpopular votes, opponents will point this out.
How are the roles of the vice president in the Senate and the Speaker of the House similar? How are they different?
Leadership in the senate is very similar to the leadership in the House, but the Senate has no speaker. The Vice President presides over the Senate but cannot vote except to break a tie. Also, the Constitution names the Vice President as the Senate's president, but he or she does not have the same role or power as the Speaker of the House. The Vice President may recognize members & put questions to vote, but he or she is not to elect senators, so this person may not take part in Senate debates or cast a vote except in the event of a tie.
Former Speaker of the House Tip O'Neill once stated: "All politics is local." What do you think he meant?
Local voters elect their representatives. Therefore, to win re-election, lawmakers must act on the concerns of their constituents back home. Constituents tend to care most about issues that impact their daily lives.
How can a website help members of Congress stay in touch with their constituents?
Members of Congress can use their website to inform constituents of the issues and their positions and communicate their views back to their reps.
(john mcCain 2009)What is Senator McCain's purpose in making this statement?
Senator John McCain is warning that the system of earmarks is a breeding ground for corruption.
Why does Senator McCain object to the current earmark system?
Senator John McCain objects to the current earmark system due to the system being prone to breeding corruption. Senator feels that the system will continue to suffer and negatively affect everything.
Electronic communications, such as tweets, online petitions, and e-mail, have made it easier for constituents to voice their concerns to their congressional representatives. How do you think easier communication has affected congressional staffing?
Social media gives the opportunity to share opinions with a far wider audience. With this, the congressional staff is updated with news and can easily express their own ideas and opinions.
What is the confirmation power and which house of Congress exercises it?
The Senate has the sole power to confirm those of the President's appointments that require consent and to ratify treaties. There are, however, two exceptions to this rule: the House must also approve appointments to the Vice Presidency and any treaty that involves foreign trade.
The majority party chooses both the majority leader and the Speaker. What are some ways that these positions differ?
The Speaker can influence proceedings by deciding which members to recognize first. The speaker also appoints the member of some committees, schedules bills for action, and refers bills to the proper house committee. The Speaker also follows the vice president in the line of succession to the presidency. The Speakers top assistant is the majority leader. The majority leader's job is to help plan the party's legislative program, steer important bills through the House, and make sure the chairperson of the many committees finishes work on bills that are important to the party. The majority leader is the floor leader of his or her political party in the House.
(total government employment table) Describe the trends you see in each employment category in the table.
The executive branch civilians peak at one point and level out to an average number. The uniformed military personnel decreased their employment. The legislative and judicial branch personnel is the only employment number that increases.
(political cartoon: donkey/ elephant) Based on this cartoon, how do Republicans and Democrats feel about the Affordable Care Act?
The cartoon portrays Democrats to care deeply about the Affordable Care Act while the Republicans are seen as selfish and cruel. The democrats are watering and protecting the act while the republicans are holding an axe, ready to chop down the act.
How might party politics affect congressional investigations?
The degree of how much party politics might affect congressional investigations largely depends on how much parties are politically influenced by the government.
What key function can members of the House of Representatives perform that the delegate from the District of Columbia cannot?
The delegates cannot vote on the final passage of the bill, unlike the house. However, they can attend sessions, introduce bulls, speak in debates on the house floor, and vote in committees.
What principle of the U.S. government prevents Congress from voiding actions of an executive agency?
The doctrine of nondelegation (or non-delegation principle) is the theory that one branch of government must not authorize another entity to exercise the power or function which it is constitutionally authorized to exercise itself.
What powers help congressional committees collect evidence in an investigation?
The subpoena, granting immunity, and using contempt help collect evidence for an investigation although are not trials.
Describe the trend in surplus or deficit after 2011.
The surplus or deficit after 2011 started to decrease, going from 1,299,593 to 744,189.
Which category of employment most accounts for the trend in total federal personnel? Explain.
The uniformed military personnel accounts the most for the trend in the total federal personnel because both categories have a negative trend.
Why do economists call entitlements "uncontrollable expenditures"?
These expenditures cannot be altered without a change in the law.
(justice john paul stevens, 1996) What type of redistricting does this excerpt describe?
This except describes that everyone who participated in this redistricting knew that incumbency protection was a critical factor in producing the bizarre lines.
In recent years, some groups have advocated for reducing the size of government. Explain what this means in terms of taxes and spending and possible effects on government programs and the national debt.
This means lower taxes and reduced government spending with less revenue coming in, government might out programs and reduce funding for existing programs less spending could reduce the national debt.
(justice john marshall 1819) To what clause does this passage refer? How do you know?
This passage is referring to the Necessary and Proper Clause as it expresses constitutional power.
Which personal staff members attend committee meetings when their lawmakers cannot?
When the lawmakers cannot attend a committee meeting, the Legislative Assistant attends.
authorization bill
a bill that establishes a program and says how much can be spent on the programs
appropriations bill
a proposed law to authorize spending money
which of the following are major roles in the U.S. house of representative? speaker of the house, majority leader, whips, all of the above
all of the above
which of the following are major roles in the senate? vice president, president pro tempore, majority leader, all of the above
all of the above
which of the following are roles on a lawmakers personal staff? administrative assistant, legislative director, press secretary, all of the above
all of the above
which of the following is not a type of resolution congress passes? complicated, simple, joint, concurrent
complicated resolution
if a different version of a bill is passed in each house they use this committee to try and resolve those differences
conference committee
a power of congress written in the constitution is what type of power
expressed
a patent is the exclusive right to publish and sell a literary, musical, or artistic work for a specified period of time
false
article 1 section 8 clause 7 deals with grants, copyrights, and patents
false
committee work is less important in the house of representatives as compared to the senate
false
congress' most popular type of bill to pass is known as a private bill
false
entitlement a required government expenditure over a single year
false
in the house of representative you can use a filibuster to defeat a bill by stalling the legislative process
false
the president can use a pocket veto at anytime during his time in office
false
the senate was given the power to tax in the constitution
false
to draw a district's boundaries to gain an advantage is an example of
gerrymandering
a bill that is sent to two or more committees is a practice known as concurrent jurisdiction
true
a cloture resolution is a tool the senate uses to prevent filibusters by limiting the time each senator has to speak
true
a continuing resolution keeps the government open and operating under the previous levels of appropriations
true
article 1 section 8 clause 10 deals with the ability to punish acts committed on international waters
true
article 1 section 8 clause 13 deals with the ability to raise, support, and regulate an army and navy
true
article 1 section 8 clause 18 is known as the elastic clause
true
article 1 section 8 clause 4 deals with establishing bankruptcy laws
true
closed rule prevents members of congress from offering amendments to a bill from the floor
true
earmarks are part of funding bills that will go towards a specific purpose
true
incumbents win re-election nearly 90% of the time
true
once a bill passes the committee stage it is then sent to the house floor for debate and a vote
true
presidents will often veto bills due to riders attached
true
the senate brings bills to the floor through a process known as unanimous consent
true
the speaker of the house is the top congressman/woman in the house of representatives
true
the use of a hold in the senate signals that a bill does not have the support to pass
true
when one party controls the white house and the other congress this is known as a divided government
true
when selecting committee chairs the seniority system plays a major role
true
