PL SC 110 - Exam 2: Congress

Political Science 110 with Monson at Brigham Young University

About this deck

By: Kirsten Hinck
Created: 2011-03-24
Size: 52 flashcards
Views: 16

About StudyBlue

STUDYBLUE makes things that make you better at school. Things like online flashcards with photos and audio. Things like personalized quizzes and friendly reminders about when (and what) to study next. Think of it as a digital backpack™: access to all of your study materials online and on your phone. STUDYBLUE exists to make studying efficient and effective for every student, for free. Join us.

“Simply amazing. The flash cards are smooth, there are many different types of studying tools, and there is a great search engine. I praise you on the awesomeness.”
Dennis

Sign up (free) to study this.

Bicameral

Two Chambers - Senate and the House

Number Of Member in the senate

100

Number of members in the house

435

What is the purpose of a party leadership structure

effectively organize a large group of people to make decisions

What is the purpose of the committee system

divide labor

Speaker of the House

controls the floor in the house of representatives

Who appoints the speaker of the house

majority party

Who is next in authority after the speaker

the Majority Leader

Majority Leader's Responsibilities

schedule legislation

coordinate committee activities

Whips

Glorified vote counter

unites party

both parties have one

each party has a main whip but also a group of whips

Who is the President of the Senate

The Vice President

Who can break a tie in the senate

the VP

What is the President Pro Tempe

Position that usually goes to the most senior member of the majority party in the senate

he controls the floor when the VP is absent

Responsibility of Majority and Minority leaders in the Senate

negotiate Unanimous-consent agreements

Unanimous-consent agreements

An agreement that sets forth the terms and conditions according to which the senate will consider a bill

sort of amendments that will be allowed
length of debate
when votes will be taken
etc

Filibuster

When a SENATOR talks until the other side gives up

How can a filibuster be ended

By the senate majority passing a cloture motion

How many senators necessary to pass a cloture motion

3/5 or 60

Standing Committees

Fixed Memberships and jurisdictions -- always exist

Select Committees

created for specific legislation

Types of Committees

Full Committees - a main committee (standing)

Sub-Committees - committees within full committees (170 in house and senate)

Joint Committees - made up of members from both houses

Select Committees

Rules Committee (House)

controls flow of legislation and conditions of debate

Three levels of committees in the house

Rules, Appropriations, Ways and Means, etc
Agriculture, armed forces, etc
Housekeeping

Special Conditions of the Budget Committee

Members can serve for six years in any 10 year period

members come from leadership and other committees

Type of Senate Committees

Major - Appropriations etc

Minor - Rules etc

Committee power in the senate

Senators can serve on 1 major and 2 minor committees

Who controls the committee system

the chamber's dominant party

How are Committee Chairs Selected

Majority party seniority

Distributive Theory

members choose committees relevant to their districts

ex. congressman from a rural area may be on the agriculture committee

informational theory

members serve on committees that they are experts on

Congressional Congress

a group within congress that is formed to promote a shared interest, these groups cross party, committee and chamber lines and will pressure leader to act in a way they want

Sponsor

the person who introduces a bill to congress

multiple referrals

when a bill is sent to one or more committees

markup

the revising process of a bill, includes additions, deletions, etc.

What step does not exist in the Senate process of passing a law?

The bill does not get sent to the rules action committee

Suspension of the Rules (House)

used for moderately important legislation

2/3 vote brings bill to the floor

limited 40 minute debate

2/3 majority to pass

Risk of bringing bills out of suspension (house)

requires more votes to pass

What does the rules committee do (house)

set the terms of debate for important bills such as

time pro/ con may speak
regulate amendments

A closed rule (house)

prohibits amendments to a bill

restrictive rule (house)

specifies the amendments that need to be made (most bills come to the floor with this rule)

path of uncontroversial legislation (senate)

committee and party leaders negotiate a unanimous consent rule

unanimous consent rule (senate)

an agreement that sets forth the terms and conditions to which the senate will consider a bill

conference committee

member from both chamber come together to discuss legislation and reconcile to versions of a bill

authorization process

providing authority for government activity (the process of passing a bill)

Where must tax and appropriation bills originate

the house

what does it mean that appropriation bills are privileged in the house

they take precedence over all other legislation

legislative riders or (legislative riding)

members of congress tuck laws and regulations not pertaining to the budget within a budget bill to get them passed

roll-call vote

members declare votes for the record (one by one)

franking

free postage for official business

overused by members of congress and often taken advantage of

pork-barrel spending

legislators passing bills that liberally gives out money for their individual districts (considered wasteful)

constituent assistance (casework) often called constituent service

member of congress offering individual assistance to the members of their districts

hire large staffs to do this

About this deck

By: Kirsten Hinck
Created: 2011-03-24
Size: 52 flashcards
Views: 16

About StudyBlue

“Simply amazing. The flash cards are smooth, there are many different types of studying tools, and there is a great search engine. I praise you on the awesomeness.”
Dennis