What is the significance of shorter terms in office?
So that one party or person does not remain in control for too long
What is representation for each state as it pertains to the house and senate?
House: At least 1 representative
Senate: 2 from every state
What is gerrymandering?
The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent
How are the house and senate different with rules of procedure?
Senate has less rules
What makes house and senate the same?
Both are members of the legislative branch
What is impeachment and who has that power?
formal accusation against a former official; the House
When did the 1st start? (when the 1st president took office)
1789
Where do revenue bills originate?
House of Representatives
Who is the highest official in the house?
Speaker of the House
Who is the legislative official from majority party who plans party strategy?
Senate majority leader
Who is the speaker of the house?
presiding officer of the house of representatives
Who confirms presidential nominations?
The senate
What is the role of the president of the senate?
presides over the meeting
What is a filibuster?
A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue
What is a standing committee?
A permanent committee
What is a joint committee?
Combines house and senate
What is an appropriations committee?
Deals with anything involving money
What are earmarks?
Set-asides; monetary set asides for members of Congress or their constituency
What is a conference committee?
temporary committee for reconciling differences; appointed by both chambers of congress
What is logrolling?
When a member votes a certain way with the expectation that the other will vote for him in another vote
What are the advantages of the incumbent?
Everyone knows who you are, you have money and can raise money, have a staff, name recognition
What are the steps for how a bill becomes law?
1)Intro- formal proposal in house and senate
2)committee review; adjusting bill
3)Floor debate and passage- goes to floor and passes or goes to conference committee
4)Presidential approval
How do we sum up presidential power?
Express power in constitution, run executive office, wage war, nominate executives, state of the union
What is the 22nd amendment?
sets a term limit for the President of the United States
What are the requirements for becoming president?
Over 35, reside in the US 14 years prior to election and be a natural born citizen
Who is the chief negotiator of all treaties?
president
What is a treaty?
formal public agreement between the US and another country with 2/3 senate approval
How do you override a presidential veto?
2/3 of both house and senate must approve
What is the take care clause?
president must take care that laws are faithfully executed
What are articles 1 and 2 war power?
Article 1 deals with war powers of congress (to declare war) Congress has the sole power to declare war.
Article 2- President has the power to wage war
What's executive privilege?
implied powers- implied power of the president to exercise confidentiality as it pertains to national security
What is the white house staff?
real" advisory council; 200-400 people closest to president. Can include anyone: advise him on anything. these are the people he listens to
Roles of the president as seen by the public
Crisis manager, agenda setter, morale builder, persuader
Describe the federal judicial system
Interprets law; supreme court is the highest court in the land; system with plaintiffs and defendants; cases must come from a real controversy
Adversary system
What is a plea bargain?
pleading guilty to a lesser crime to avoid more serious punishment of current charge
Who is the solicitor general?
represents the government of the united states in the supreme court; 2nd in command to attorney general
Who are the accusers?
plaintiffs
Who are the accused?
defendants
What is the supreme court?
Highest court in the land
What is habeus corpus?
request by a lawyer to review his clients case because of something unconstitutional
How many justices do you need for a decision?
6
Who appoints the chief justice?
President
What is a writ of certiori?
formal appeal of petition to the US SC to get case to SC on appeals not original jurisdiction
What are the factors that are important for getting a case heard in the SC?
national interest, 2 or more federal courts of appeal have to disagree, unity/uniformity
Why are writs denied?
They represent controversial issues
How many minutes do oral arguments go?
30-50 minutes
What is a dissenting opinion?
outright disagreement
What is an opinion>
decision of the SC which includes main issues, facts, law, explanation, reasoning
What is concurring opinion?
statement of agreement with the agreement but for different reasons