AP Gov Unit 2 Review questions and answers.

House of Representatives representatives elected by each state, # depends on population size; advantageous for larger states Senate 2 representatives from each state;advantageous for smaller states bicameral a legislature divided into 2 houses, US Congress and every US state legislature except Nebraska's are bicameral gerrymandering drawing of congressional districts to favor one political party or group over another census tool for understanding demographic changes; Constitution requires an annual one redistricting redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following a census , to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population reapportionment process of reallocating seats in the House every 10 years on the basis of the results of the census two party system several political parties exist, but only 2 major political parties compete for power and dominate elections single member districts only one representative is chosen from each district entitlements policies for which Congress has obligated itself to pay x level of benefits to y number of recipients (Social Security) legislative intent when creating a legislation, the judiciary branch may be considered when interpreting the law; judiciary may attempt to assess where legislation is ambiguous Civil Rights Act of 1964 law that made racial discrimination against any group in hotels, motels, and restaurants illegal and forbade many forms of job discrimination Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 law passed that requires employers and public facilities to make "reasonable accommodations" for people with disabilities and prohibits discrimination against these individuals in employment amendments revolution of change to a bill, law, or constitution mandatory spending required government spending by permanent laws discretionary spending spending set by the government through appropriations and bills (operating expenses and salaries of gov. employees) filibuster strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation try to talk it to death, based on unlimited debate incumbency effect tendency of those already holding office to win reelection due to advantages because they already hold office Franking privilege privilege that allows members of Congress to mail letters and other materials to constituents postage-free legislative veto ability of Congress to override a presidential decision Speaker of the House office mandated by the Constitution; Speaker is chosen in practice by the majority, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant Majority Leader principal position ally of the Speaker of the House or the party's wheel horse in the Senate; responsible for scheduling bills, influencing committee assignments, and rounding up votes on behalf of the party's legislative positions Whip party leaders who work with the majority or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party Voter Revolution of 1994 Republican Party success in 1994; US midterm elections-- a net gain of 54 seats in the House and 8 seats in the Senate (led by Newt Gingrich) Rules Committee determines the rules of debate for bills in the House plurality largest # of votes to be received by any candidate (not necessarily more than half the votes, just most of them.) fiscal policy policy that describes the impact of the federal budget- taxes, spending, and borrowing- on the economy; determined by Congress and president monetary policy based on monetarism, it is the manipulation of the supply of money in private hands by which the government can control the economy Riders (on a bill) an addition or amendment added to a bill that often has no relation to the bill but that may not pass on its own merits 10th Amendment powers not delegated to the US by the Constitution, nor prohibited to the states are reserved to the states or the people informal/inherent powers powers that exist for the national govt. because the govt. is sovereign President person who holds office of head of state of the US government The SEC Securities and Exchange Commission; federal agency created during the New Deal that regulates stock fraud Social Security any government system that provides monetary assistance to people with inadequate or no income; provides benefits Iron Triangle entities composed of bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees or subcommittees, which have dominated some areas of domestic policy making; have mutual dependency, in which each element provides key services, info, or policy for the others Policy networks explain differences in policy making and power in different policy sectors lobbying communication, by someone other than a citizen acting on his own behalf, directed to a government decision maker with hope of influencing his decision Conference Committee congressional committees formed when Senate and House pass a bill in different forms; party leadership appoints members from each house to iron out the differences and bring back a compromise bill joint committee congressional committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership drawn from both houses select committee congressional committees appointed for a specific purpose (ex. Watergate investigation) congressional caucuses association of congressional members who advocate a political ideology, regional, ethnic, or economic interest seniority system simple rule for picking committee chairs, lasted until 1970s, member who had served on the committee the longest and whose party controlled Congress became chair, regardless or party loyalty, mental state, or competence trustee legislator who uses his or her best judgement to make policy in the interests of the people cloture motions prevents filibustering and ends debate in the Senate, by a 3/5 vote of Senate Ways and Means Committee charged with reviewing and making recommendations for the gov. budgets; imposes taxes divided government one party controls the executive, and the other party controls one or both houses of Congress Welfare Reform Act of 1996 Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, replaced Aid to Dependent Children, ended welfare programs