1. Go Over Unit 3 Test

2. Congress What is bicameral? What is Congress responsible for?
What is incumbency advantage?
Why do congressional incumbents have an advantage?
Why do senators lose more than representatives?

3. Redistricting What is reapportionment? Happens after ever:
What is redistricting?
Who has to deal with redistricting?
What is gerrymandering?
How can redistricting be a threat to reelection?

5. SC Limitations on Districts
Wesberry v. Sanders (1964)
Set up “one person, one vote”
Gave cities and suburbs more representation
SC has not eliminated gerrymandering
Districts must be:
Equally populated, compact, connected, not based on race

6. Why Two Houses? History England and colonies had it
The Connecticut Compromise
Federalism
House = People
Senate = States

7. Differences House Senate Members Count - Member Count - Term Length -
Requirements -
Very formal
Less formal
435, 2 years, yr citizen and a resident
100, 6 years, 30+ 9yr citizen and a resident

8. Differences House Senate Initiates revenue bills Ratifies treaties
Starts impeachment process
Tries and judges impeachment
Chooses president when the electoral college is gridlocked
Confirms federal appointments
435, 2 years, yr citizen and a resident
100, 6 years, 30+ 9yr citizen and a resident

9. What Does Congress Do? Law Making Representation Consensus Building
Overseeing the Bureaucracy
Policy Clarification
Investigating Government Agency Operations

10. Unique Powers HoR can initiate tax laws and spending bills
House Ways and Means Committee
Senate can only amend revenue bills
Senate confirms presidential nominations and ratifies treaties
Congress cannot pass bills of attainder or ex post facto laws, or levy export taxes
BoA - an act of a legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime and punishing them, often without a trial.

11. Confirmation Power
The Senate has the power to confirm all of the President’s federal appointments
Why was the Senate given this power?
Why is this an important power?
How does a divided government strengthen this power?
Senatorial Courtesy

12. The Representation Function
Who is Congress supposed to represent?
What is the focus of many Congressmen?
What is logrolling?
What is an example?
Why do representatives not always follow their constituents' wishes?
-constituents
-to get reelected
-the practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics by reciprocal voting for each other's proposed legislation
-They don’t think it’s the best decision, people are dumb

13. Congress Model Delegate Model
Their job is to mirror the views of their home districts
Trustee Model
They should consider the views of constituents, but should ultimately use their best judgement

14. The Oversight Function
Who does Congress watch?
What does Congress do if there are suspected abuses?
Why has the use of the oversight function increased in the last years?
-Federal agencies
-Investigate charges of corruption and waste and hold hearings
-Divided government

15. House Leaders Who is the leader in the House? What do they do?
3rd in line for the presidency
Majority and Minority Leaders
Keep party in line and determine party agenda
Majority and Minority Whips
Keep members on agenda, garner support, coordinate members
Influence over the committees and the House Rules Committee, influence over party, CANNOT require support, direct floor debate

16. Senate Leaders Who is the leader in the Senate?
What are his responsibilities?
Who leads in their absence?
Who is more powerful: House Leader or Senate Leader?
Majority and minority leader controls agenda
Power broker and policy initiate
Only votes to break a tie
President pro tempore