Unit 4 ReviewCongress

Congress The People’s Influence

Constituents’ views (Delegate) Party Views (Partisan) Personal Views (Trustee)

Congress in the Constitution The Structure of Congress Constitutional Powers

Article I, Section 8 Elastic clause

CongressHouse Senate

Initiates all revenue bills Must confirm major presidential appointments

Initiates impeachment procedures Holds the impeachment trial

Two year terms Six year terms, 1/3 up for reelection every two years

435 members 100 members (two from each state)

Members at least 25 years of age, 7 years a citizen, resident of the state

Senators at least 30 years of age, 9 years a citizen, resident of the state

Approves treaties

Congress Evolutionary Powers

Oversight of the Budget Authorization Appropriations

Investigation

Leadership in the House Speaker of the House Majority Leader Minority Leader Whips

Congress Leadership in the Senate

President of the Senate President pro tempore Majority Leader Minority Leader Whips

Committees and Subcommittees Types of Committees

Standing committees Select committees Joint committees Conference committees

Congress The Work of Committees

Pigeonholed Marked up

Committee membership Committee Chairmen

Seniority system The Rules Committee in the House

Closed rule Open rule

Caucuses Congressional Black Caucus

Congress Staff Who is In Congress?

Demographics Incumbents

Franking privilege Name recognition More access to the media Raise more campaign funds, $8 of every $10 of PAC money

Representation Malapportionment

Wesberry v. Sanders Gerrymandering

Minority/Majority Districting Shaw v. Reno

Congress How a Bill becomes a Law

Introduction of a bill Simple resolution Concurrent resolution Joint resolution

Bills in Committee Discharge petition

Calendars 5 in the House and 2 in the Senate

Congress Floor Debate

Committee of the Whole (House only) Quorum is 100 members; debate conducted by committee

chairman

Amendments must be germane (House only) Filibuster (Senate only)

Cloture

Christmas tree bill

Voting Conference Committee Action Presidential Action

Sign, veto, pocket veto

Congress Criticisms of Congress

Pork barrel legislation Logrolling Term limits debate Inefficiency

Congress Why do they vote that way?

President Party Ideology Constituency Interest groups Colleagues Congressional staff