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Chapter 11: Lawmakers And Legislation
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Vocabulary TERM DEFINITION Constituents
Person who lives in an electoral district and is represented by an elected official 2. “Pork” Publicly funded projects secured by legislators to benefit their home district or state 3. Standing Committees Permanent committee of legislators from either house or senate responsible for specific policy areas 4. Appropriations Funds allocated by a legislature for a stated purpose as part of a budget or spending bill 5. Joint Resolution Official statement issued by both houses of Congress and becomes a force of law when signed by the president 6. Casework Personal services provided by members of Congress to their constituents
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Successful Legislator?
What Makes a Successful Legislator? You must be “electable”—charming, at ease speaking to crowds, and willing to tailor your views to match the results of public opinion polls. You must be able to raise money, and lots of it, to finance your election campaign. Once elected, you must become skilled at playing political games When seeking reelection, you must show that you were able to bring taxpayer-funded projects back to your home district or state.
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House of Representatives Citizenship Requirement
Comparing Congress CATEGORY House of Representatives Senate Age Requirement 25 30 Citizenship Requirement Naturalized Number per State Apportioned by population 2 Total Numbers 435 100 Term 2 years 6 years Election Elected in districts Elected by states Action Quicker to act Slower to act Press Less press coverage More press coverage Prestige Less prestigious More prestigious Staff Smaller staff size Larger staff size Rules Tighter rules Looser rules Floor Debate Limited floor debate Extended floor debate Influence Budgetary and Monetary Foreign Affairs
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WHat is a WHip?
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“Majority Whip Displays Impaled Senator Outside Capitol Building As Warning To All Who Cross Party Lines”
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Leadership in the House
TITLE DESCRIPTION Speaker of the House Most powerful and prestigious member of Congress Assigns bills to committee Appoints members to committee “Power of Scheduling” House Majority Leader 2ND in command House Minority Leader Minority party’s 1st in command House Majority Whip Assistant floor leader Informs leadership Persuades party members how to vote House Minority Speaker Republican (WI) Paul Ryan Majority Leader Republican (CA)- Kevin McCarthy Democratic (Minority) Leader Democrat (CA)-Nancy Pelosi Majority Whip Republican (LA)- Steve Scalise . Democratic (Minority) Whip Democrat (MD)- Steny Hoyer
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Leadership in the Senate Senate Majority Leader Senate Minority Leader
TITLE DESCRIPTION Vice President & President pro tempore The Constitution grants the VP as the President of the Senate VP= Tie breaking vote President pro tempore= Senior member of majority party who acts in place of the VP Senate Majority Leader 2ND in command Senate Minority Leader Minority party’s 1st in command Senate Majority Whip Assistant floor leader Informs leadership Persuades party members how to vote Senate Minority Vice President Biden, Joseph R., Jr. (D-DE) President Pro Tempore Hatch, Orrin G. (R-UT), Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) Democratic Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) Republican Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) Democratic Minority Whip Richard Durbin (D-IL)
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Standing Committees Joint House Senate Special, Select & Other
Agriculture Appropriations Armed Services Budget Education and the Workforce Energy and Commerce Ethics Financial Services Foreign Affairs Homeland Security House Administration Judiciary Natural Resources Oversight and Government Reform Rules Science, Space, and Technology Small Business Transportation and Infrastructure Veterans’ Affairs Ways and Means Intelligence Joint Economic Committee Joint Committee on the Library Joint Committee on Printing Joint Committee on Taxation Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Appropriations Armed Services Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Budget Commerce, Science, and Transportation Energy and Natural Resources Environment and Public Works Finance Foreign Relations Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Judiciary Rules and Administration Small Business and Entrepreneurship Veterans' Affairs Joint Joint Committee on Printing Joint Committee on Taxation Joint Committee on the Library Joint Economic Committee Special, Select & Other Indian Affairs Select Committee on Ethics Select Committee on Intelligence Special Committee on Aging
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Congressional Powers Levy and Collect Taxes Borrow Money
Regulate Interstate And Foreign Commerce 4. Coin Money 5. Declare War
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Congressional Checks & Balances Oversight= oversee executive agencies Confirmation= key officials Impeachment= president, judges Ratification= treaties Override= presidential vetos Amendment= propose
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