Chapter 11

Main Ideas:
The major powers of the Congress is granted by the US Constitution

Notes:
Constituent- One of the persons represented by a legislator or other elected or appointed official Homestyle- actions and behaviors of a member of Congress aimed at the constituents and intended to win the support and trust of the voters at home Hillstyle- the actions and behaviors of a member of Congress in Washington DC, intended to promote policies and the members own career aspirations Bicameralism- the division of a legislature into two separate assemblies Lawmaking- the process of establishing the legal rules that govern society Logrolling- an arrangement in which two or more members of Congress agree in advance to support each others bills Representation- the function of members of Congress as elected officials representing the views of their constituents Trustee- A legislator who acts according to her or his conscience in the broad interests of the entire society Instructed delegate- A legislator who is an agent of the voters who elect him or her and his votes according to the views of the constituents regardless of personal beliefs Casework- personal work for constituents doing by members of Congress Ombudsperson- A person you hears and investigates complaints by private individuals against public officials or agencies Oversight- the process by which Congress follows up on laws it has enacted to ensure that they are being enforced and administered in the way Congress intended Enumerated power- A power specifically granted to the national government by the Constitution Rules committee- A standing committee of the House of Representatives that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by the house Rule- the proposal by the rules committee of the house that states the conditions for debate for one piece of legislation Unanimous consent agreement- An agreement on the rules of debate for those legislation in the Senate that is approved by all the members Filibuster- the use of the Senates tradition of unlimited debate as a delaying tactic to block a deal Unorthodox Lawmaking- use of out-of-the-ordinary parliamentary tactics to pass legislation Direct primary- An intraparty election in which the voters select the candidate will run the partys ticket in the subsequent general election Party identifier- A person who identifies with a political party Reapportionment- the allocation of seats in the House of Representatives to each state after each census Redistricting- the redrawing of the boundaries of the congressional districts within each state Justiciable question- A question that may be raised and reviewed in court Gerrymandering- the drawing of legislative district boundary lines to obtain partisan or factional advantage Franking- it policy that enables members of Congress to send material through the mail by substituting their facsimile signature (frank) for postage Discharge petition- A procedure by which he fill in the House of Representatives maybe forced (discharged) out of a committee that has refused to report it for consideration by the House Standing committee- A permanent committee in the house or senate that considers bills within a certain subject area Select Committee- A temporary legislative committee established for a limited and for a special purpose

Explain the differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate with regard to their constituencies, terms of office, powers, and political processes

Describe the processes of reapportionment and redistricting

Summary:
The functions of Congress include lawmaking, representation, and service to constituents, oversight, public education, and conflict resolution. Congress has enumerated powers including the right to impose taxes, to borrow money, to regulate commerce, and to declare war.

Chapter 11
Main Ideas:
Discuss the importance of committees to the lawmaking process into the ability of members of Congress to do their jobs

Notes:
Joint committee- the legislature committee composed of members from both chambers of Congress Conference committee- A special joint committee appointed to reconcile differences when bills passed the two chambers of Congress in different forms Seniority system- A custom followed in both chambers of Congress specifying that the member of the majority party with the longest term of continuous service will be given preference when a committee chairperson is selected Safe seat- A district that returns a legislator with 55% of the vote or more Speaker of the house- the presiding officer in the House of Representatives Majority Leader of the house- A legislative position held by an important party member in the House of Representatives Minority leader of the house- the party leader elected by the minority party in the house Whip- A member of Congress who aids the majority or minority leader of the house for the Senate President Pro Tempore- the temporary presiding officer of the Senate in the absence of the vice President Senate Majority Leader- the chief spokesperson of the majority party in the Senate, who directs the legislative program and party strategy Senate Minority Leader- the party officer in the Senate who commands the minority partys opposition to the policies of the majority party and directs the legislative program and strategy of his or her party Conservative coalition- an alliance of Republicans and southern Democrats that conform in the house or the Senate to oppose liberal legislation and support conservative legislation Blue dog Democrats- members of Congress for more moderate states for districts who sometimes crossover to vote with Republicans on legislation Earmarks- funding appropriations that are specifically designated for a named project in a members state or district Pork- special projections for appropriations that are intended to benefit a members district or state; slang term for earmarks Executive budget- the budget prepared and submitted by POTUS to Congress Fiscal year- A 12-month. That is used for bookkeeping (accounting) purposes Spring review- the annual process in which the office of management and budget requires federal agencies to renew their programs activities and goals and submit the request for funding for the next fiscal year Fall review- the annual process in which the Office of Management and Budget, after receiving the form of federal agency requests for funding for the next fiscal year, reviews the requests, makes changes, and submits its recommendations to the President Authorization-A formal declaration by a legislature committee that a certain amount of funding may be available to an agency Appropriation- the passage, by Congress, of a spending bill specifying the amount of authorized funds that actually will be allocated for an agencys use First budget resolution- A resolution passed by Congress in May that sucks overall revenue and spending goals for the following fiscal year Second budget resolution- A resolution passed by Congress in September that sets binding limit on taxes and spending for the following fiscal year Continuing Resolution- A temporary funding the law that Congress passes one in appropriations bill has not been decided by the beginning of the new fiscal year on October 1

Describe the leadership structure in each house of Congress, noting the differences between the house and the senate

Demonstrate how a bill becomes a law, and explain how the different processes in the house and the senate influence legislating

Summary:
Budget process for fiscal year begins with the preparation of an executive budget by the president. These is reviewed by the office of management and budget and then sent to Congress, which is supposed to pass a final budget by the end of September. Since 1978, Congress generally has not followed its own time rules.