1. AP U.S. Government Stater April 8, 2019
Review Session #4
AP U.S. Government
Stater
April 8, 2019

2. Required Foundational Docs for unit 4
Federalist 70
Executive branch – a single executive with “energy” to make decisions is needed
More than one person in the executive would cause many problems: disagreements, failure to act quickly, weakened authority, ability to shift the blame/shirk responsibility
Unlike the executive, the legislative branch is designed to be slow-moving/cautious

3. Structure of Congress
Bicameral legislature, Distinctions between house & Senate, & Elections

4. Comparison of House & Senate
House of Representatives
Senate
Membership
Term of office
Qualifications
Constituencies
Prestige

5. Also review your more detailed chart from class!
House of Representatives
Senate
Membership
435 members; by population (each state has at least 1)
100; two per state
Term of office
2 years (entire House elected)
6 years (staggered terms, 1/3 elected every 2 years)
Qualifications
25 years old; citizen for 7 years; live in state of district
30 years old; citizen for 9 years; live in state
Constituencies
Smaller; districts
Entire state
Prestige
Less prestigious
More prestigious

6. Elections – House of Representatives
Reapportionment – seats are redistributed after each census based on population
Congressional redistricting – state legislatures draw new district boundaries
Gerrymandering – drawing districts to favor one party or group

7. Elections – Senate
Originally chosen by state legislatures until 17th Amendment (ratified 1913)
Now elected directly by people of the state
Senate races get more media coverage

8. Incumbency Effect
Tendency of those already holding office to win reelection due to:
Name recognition/publicity
Credit claiming for past deeds
Voting record
Casework for constituents
More support from PACs

9. Who’s in Congress? Demographics:
Majority white males
Average age 55-60
Prior occupation of lawyers/businesspeople/academics
No term limits – some states have tried, but SCOTUS says must have constitutional amendment

10. Workings of Congress
Leadership, committees, Roles, & Powers

11. Leadership: House of Reps.
Most influential: Speaker of the House
Assigns bills to committee, controls floor debate, appoints party members to committees
Majority & minority leaders – help speak for their parties
Majority & minority whips – direct party members in voting, keep track of votes & pressure members

12. Leadership: Senate
U.S. VP is the President of the Senate, but only votes to break a tie
President pro tempore – majority member who presides (ceremonial)
Majority & minority leaders
Majority leader is most influential member
Whips – same role as in House

13. Types of Committees
Type
Description
Standing
Joint
Select
Conference

14. Types of Committees Type Description Standing Joint Select Conference
Permanent committee on specific policy issue; most have subcommittees
Joint
Made up of members of both houses; could be routine or select
Select
a.k.a Special Committee; temporary for a specific purpose, such as the Senate Watergate Committee
Conference
Temporary committee with members from both houses; resolves differences in House/Senate versions of a bill

15. Leadership: Committees
Committee chairpersons
Members of majority party, chosen by the party
Set agendas & assign members to subcommittees
Seniority system not as strong as it once was, but still exists
Majority of members of each committee come from majority party

16. Key Committees to Know House Rules Committee (powerful!)
Reviews & schedules all bills before they go to the floor; allocates time for debate and sets amendment rules for each bill
House Ways & Means Committee
Writes tax codes (they must originate here)
Senate Finance Committee
Works with Ways & Means to write tax codes
Appropriations Committee in each house
Decides how federal $ gets apportioned to agencies

17. Caucuses Different meaning from a caucus as a form of primary election
Informal groups of Congress members who share a common purpose/goal
Congressional Black Caucus, Women’s Caucus, Dem. Or Rep. Caucus

18. Congressional Staff & Support
Personal staff of members
Committee staff – research and analyze info
Support agencies:
Library of Congress

19. Roles of Congressmen/women
Policymaker
Representative:
Delegate model: vote based on wishes of constituents
Trustee model: constituents entrust elected officials to make informed decisions
Politico model: combines delegate and trustee models
Constituent servant (casework)
Committee member
Politician/party member

20. Privileges Travel allowances
Franking privileges – send mail to constituents postage free

21. Legislative Powers
Enumerated (expressed/delegated) – Article I, Section 8 of Constitution
Implied – elastic clause
Limitations: 10th Amendment; Article I, Section 9 of Constitution

22. Non-legislative Powers
Select POTUS (House) & VP (Senate) upon failure of 270 votes in electoral college
Propose amendments to Constitution
House may impeach POTUS, VP, other officers; trial held in Senate
Senate confirms appointments and treaties
Legislative oversight: investigates/reviews policies & programs of executive branch

23. How a Bill Becomes a Law
Process & Influences

24. First Steps for All Bills
Revenue/tax bills MUST begin in the House
All others can start in either House or Senate
Anyone can propose a bill – member of congress must introduce it
Numbered, assigned to committee/subcommittee

25. Bill Process cont’d
It can die in committee, or if approved, is debated and voted on
In the House only – Rules Committee schedules/sets terms of debate
If passed – goes to the other body
Conference committees resolve differences in House/Senate versions – create compromise versions
Compromise bills must be voted on again

26. Presidential Action Only goes to POTUS if passed by BOTH houses
Sign the bill into law
Veto the bill
Can be overridden with 2/3 vote of both houses
Allow bill to become law w/out signing
Pocket veto

27. Major Tactics
In the Senate – filibuster is unlimited debate to stall action on a bill; may end with cloture (vote of 60 senators to end filibuster)
Members can propose amendments to legislation (additions/changes)

28. Major Tactics Pork barrel legislation Logrolling Riders
Attempt to provide funds/projects to member’s district/state
Logrolling
“I’ll support your bill, if you support mine.”
Riders
Additions to a bill that have no real connection to it (sneaky)

29. Major Tactics Unanimous Consent Hold Discharge Petition
Informal practice by which a senator informs the floor leader that he/she does not wish a particular bill or other measure to reach the floor for consideration.
Unanimous Consent
A senator may request unanimous consent on the floor to set aside a specified rule of procedure so as to expedite proceedings
Discharge Petition
Procedure by which a bill in the House of Representatives may be forced out of committee and onto the House Floor for consideration

30. Major Tactics Legislative veto:
Allows vote of Congress to reject POTUS/executive branch action
SCOTUS declared it unconstitutional (1983)
Present in the War Powers Act (one major argument against it)

31. Major Influences on Congress
Constituents:
Members want to win re-election and therefore please their voters
Lobbyists & interest groups attempt to sway votes/legislation
Senior members & staff often influence &/or advise members
Party & POTUS want loyalty
Senators are more likely to sway from party line