AP Government ch. 12 – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
What is the most important advantage to someone trying to get elected to congress?
answer
Being an incumbent
question
What is the foremost attraction for the job of serving in congress?
answer
The power to make key public policy decisions
question
What are examples of opportunities for credit claiming by members of congress?
answer
Pork barrel and casework
question
Why do Political Action Committees usually contribute money to members of congress?
answer
They are seeking access to policymakers
question
How many senators are elected from each state?
answer
2
question
What is the minimum age requirement to be a member of Senate?
answer
30 years old
question
What makes members of Congress part of the elite in American society?
answer
Their income and occupations
question
What did the framers of the Constitution conceive of Congress?
answer
As the center of policymaking in America
question
What is the most common prior occupation for members of Congress?
answer
law
question
How many members does the House of Representatives have?
answer
435
question
What is the most underrepresented group in Congress relative to total population?
answer
Women
question
What are incumbents?
answer
Those already holding office
question
Articles of impeachment must be passed by whom?
answer
The House of Representatives
question
How many members does the United States Senate have?
answer
100
question
What is an important asset for incumbents running for reelection?
answer
Their service to their constituents
question
Most bills formally submitted for consideration in Congress are usually killed off quietly when?
answer
Early in the process
question
What are, collectively, referred to as the pork barrel?
answer
Federal grants and contracts that members of Congress try to obtain for their constituents
question
What accounts for the success of congressional candidates?
answer
advertising, credit-claiming, and position-taking
question
What is still a good predictor of voting behavior?
answer
Party loyalty at the voting booth
question
What does the Rules Committee do?
answer
Reviews most bills coming from committee before they go to the full House
question
What is the Rules Committee reviewing bills coming from other committees before they go to the full House known as?
answer
traffic cop function
question
What are members of Congress engaging in if they hold a hearing to question a cabinet member on how a law is being carried out?
answer
Legislative oversight
question
What does bicameralism mean?
answer
That a legislative body is one with two houses, providing checks and balances on policymaking
question
Who must confirm nominees to the United States Supreme Court?
answer
the Senate
question
What does a minority whip do?
answer
Keep a close head count on key votes and attempt to keep party members in line
question
The speaker of the house is a congressional office mandated by what?
answer
The Constitution
question
How often are House seats up for election?
answer
Every two years
question
What is a filibuster?
answer
a technique used in the Senate to prolong debate in order to kill a bill
question
How often is a Senate seat up for election?
answer
Every six years
question
Where must revenue bills originate according to the Constitution?
answer
In the House
question
What is a select committee?
answer
A committee appointed for a limited, specific purpose
question
What is an example of a select committee being used?
answer
the investigation of the Watergate scandal
question
According to the Constitution, once a federal official is impeached, they are then tried where?
answer
In the Senate
question
Who is the most powerful person in Senate?
answer
The majority leader
question
What are the real differences between the House and the Senate?
answer
Their organization and centralization of power
question
How can a filibuster be halted?
answer
If 60 members present and voting, vote for a cloture
question
What is a cloture?
answer
When a filibuster is halted
question
What do members of Congress who informally band together in groups to promote and protect mutual interest form?
answer
Caucuses
question
When is a conference committee appointed?
answer
When the House and Senate pass different versions of the same bill, they are called to resolve the differences
question
Who is next in line after the vice president to succeed the president if they resign, die, or are impeached?
answer
The Speaker of the House
question
What job does the Vice President have?
answer
To preside over the Senate and break ties when necessary
question
Where are the most important congressional activity done?
answer
In the meetings of standing committees and their subcommittees
question
Where does most of the business of Congress take place?
answer
Committees and Subcommittees
question
What is the best way constituents can influence congressional voting on legislation?
answer
Elect a representative or senator who agrees with their views
question
What are examples of standing committees?
answer
Appropriations, judiciary, and armed forces
question
What is legislative oversight?
answer
the process of monitoring the bureaucracy and its administration of policy
question
House and Senate committees all have a majority of members from where?
answer
The majority party in that chamber
question
How have Congressional committee chairpersons been chosen traditionally?
answer
Through the seniority system
question
Who can formally submit a bill for congressional consideration?
answer
Members of the House or Senate
question
What is the president's most common method of attempting to influence Congress?
answer
Holding regular meetings with the party's leaders in Congress
