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AP Government

AP Government. Congress Questions. 1. How do members of Congress accomplish all that they must in D.C. and also satisfy constituents?. Lots of frequent flier miles!!! Very busy schedules!

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AP Government

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  1. AP Government Congress Questions

  2. 1. How do members of Congress accomplish all that they must in D.C. and also satisfy constituents? • Lots of frequent flier miles!!! • Very busy schedules! • Balancing work for constituents (pork/earmarks, casework) with work to support their party’s national agenda. (textbook, page 249)

  3. 2. What is casework? How does it aid in the development of political support? • Casework is favors or assistance given to individual constituents or small groups – such as cutting through red tape or securing federal aid. One Representative has around 700,000 constituents!!! • Constituents who are given such personal assistance will likely become allies during re-election campaigns. Textbook page 251 (table 7.5)

  4. 3. Discuss the incumbency advantage: • Being in office helps a person stay in office because of a variety of benefits that go with the position, such as: • Name recognition • Credit for bringing money/benefits to a district • Free mail • Access to news media • Easy fundraising – especially from lobbyists • Knowledge/experience with issues Textbook pages 250-251

  5. 4. Discuss the different types of committees in Congress: • Standing Committee: continues from one Congress to the next, organized by topic (i.e. Agriculture, Defense, Intelligence, Education), bills are referred to these committees for consideration. • Joint Committee: include members of both the House and Senate, to conduct special studies or expedite business between both houses. Can be a standing committee – such as the Joint Committee on the Library – or a select committee – such as the current Joint Select Committee on Defecit Reduction.

  6. 4. Discuss the different types of committees in Congress: • Conference Committee: A type of Joint Committee, reconciles differences in bills passed by the House and Senate. Made up of members of the House and Senates committees that first considered the bill. • Select (special) Committee: Temporary committees crated for specific purposes – often investigation - such as the current Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming. Textbook page 246

  7. 5. How do the powers and functions of the House and Senate differ? • House of Representatives: • Initiates are revenue bills • Initiates impeachments • Senate • Confirms presidential appointments • Approves treaties • Conducts impeachment trials From Chapter 10 packet

  8. 6. Discuss the role of leadership and party in the House and Senate: • House: Party determines all leadership. Speaker of the House is the leader of the majority party. Majority party determines all committee chairmanships, including the Rules Committee, giving the majority party control over the House agenda. • Senate: Party is slightly less important. The true leader of the Senate is the senior member of the majority party, however each individual Senator is extremely powerful. • In both houses, members vote along party lines ¾ of the time, and there are party positions (such as the whips) that enforce party unity.

  9. 7. What are the characteristics of Congresspersons as trustees, delegates, and/or politicos? • Trustees: A representative who listens to the opinions of constituents, then uses their own best judgment to make final decisions. • Delegates: Vote the way their constituents would want them to, willing to vote against their own personal beliefs. • Politicos: Act as both trustees and/or delegates, depending on the issue. Textbook, page 252

  10. 8. Discuss the two primary functions of Congress: • Legislation: creates bills and passes laws. Textbook page 256 • Checks and Balances: • Confirms Presidential Appointments, including Supreme Court Judges • Oversight over administrative functions • Can impeach the President, or Judges • Creates federal courts Textbook page 265

  11. 9. Compare and contrast the two ways the text discusses about how a bill becomes a law: • The “textbook” version • Starts in either House of Senate • Referred to Committee • Referred to Subcommittee • Reported back to full Committee • (House only) Rules Committee • Full House/Senate debate and vote • (if necessary) Conference Committee • House/Senate Approval • President – Sign, Wait 10 Days, Vetoes, Pocket Veto

  12. Compare and contrast the two ways the text discusses about how a bill becomes a law: • Other ways to “kill” a bill: • Senate: “holds” any one Senator can ask to be “informed” about a bill – stopping the bill from being debated on the floor until the hold is removed. • Senate: “filibuster” allows unlimited debate – a senator holds the floor as long as he/she keeps talking. No limits on time or subject of speech. Does the same thing as a hold, but in a much more public way. Filibusters can only be interrupted by a motion for cloture – which takes 60 Senators.

  13. 9. Compare and contrast the two ways the text discusses about how a bill becomes a law: • How a Bill REALLY becomes a law: • While each bill charts a slightly different course, the basic “textbook” version is true. • HOWEVER: the “textbook” leaves out very important actors in the process from outside of Congress. These include: • The President • Lobbyists and Special Interest Groups • “Horsetrading” – adding pork/earmarks, granting political favors

  14. For MONDAY • Identify your representatives: • 3 people represent YOU in Congress… Answer the following questions about each of them, and turn them in at the start of class on Monday: • Who are they (names) • What party to they belong to? • Where do they represent you (House or Senate) • What standing committees do they belong to? • Do they hold any leadership positions (either in the whole house or in a committee/subcommittee)?

  15. Revisions Due Friday for full credit!!!

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