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Gov Ch. 4
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Office of Management and Budget (OMB) | Assists the president in creating the federal budget and overseeing executive agencies’ budget use. |
| Entitlement Program | Government benefits guaranteed to those who meet legal eligibility requirements (ex: Social Security, Medicare). |
| Mandatory Spending | Federal spending required by law that is difficult for Congress to change. |
| Discretionary Spending | Federal spending that Congress must approve annually through appropriations. |
| Budget Surplus | When government revenue is higher than spending in a year. |
| Budget Deficit | When government spending is higher than revenue in a year. |
| National Debt | Total amount the U.S. government owes from accumulated deficits. |
| Delegate Role | When lawmakers vote based on constituents’ wishes. |
| Trustee Role | When lawmakers vote based on their own judgment. |
| Politico Role | Mix of delegate and trustee roles depending on the issue. |
| Bipartisanship | Cooperation between members of different political parties. |
| Gridlock | When political conflict prevents government action. |
| Divided Government | When different parties control the presidency, House, or Senate. |
| Descriptive Representation | When elected officials reflect the demographics of their constituents. |
| Substantive Representation | When officials advocate for the interests of represented groups. |
| House of Representatives | Chamber with 2 |
| Senate | Chamber with 6 |
| Pork Barrel Spending | Funding for local projects to benefit a representative’s district. |
| Logrolling | Trading votes among lawmakers to gain support for bills. |
| Earmarks | Funding added to bills for specific local projects. |
| Oversight | Congress monitoring government agencies to ensure they follow laws. |
| Apportionment | Distribution of House seats among states based on population. |
| Redistricting | Redrawing congressional district lines every 10 years. |
| Gerrymandering | Drawing district boundaries to benefit a political party. |
| Partisan Gerrymandering | Redistricting to give one party an advantage. |
| Majority | Minority District |
| Malapportionment | Unequal district population causing unequal representation. |
| Incumbency | Holding political office while running for reelection. |
| Incumbency Advantage | Benefits incumbents have that make reelection easier. |
| Discharge Petition | House action to force a bill out of committee to the floor. |
| House Rules Committee | Sets debate rules and amendment limits for bills in the House. |
| Committee of the Whole | Faster House debate with fewer members present. |
| Hold (Senate) | When a senator delays a bill from reaching the floor. |
| Unanimous Consent Agreement | Senate agreement to speed up debate with no objections. |
| Filibuster | Senate tactic to delay a vote by speaking at length. |
| Cloture | Vote to end a filibuster (requires 60 votes). |
| What is the difference between mandatory and discretionary spending? | Mandatory occurs automatically by law; discretionary must be approved yearly by Congress. |
| Why does mandatory spending reduce Congress’s budget flexibility? | Entitlements consume most funding, leaving little for new programs. |
| Why would a member act as a delegate? | To reflect constituents’ wishes, especially on important or popular issues. |
| When is a trustee approach more likely? | On complex issues requiring expertise. |
| Why is the politico model beneficial? | Allows lawmakers to choose the best role depending on the issue. |
| How can divided government cause gridlock? | Different parties controlling branches makes agreement difficult. |
| Why is bipartisanship useful during divided government? | Parties must cooperate to pass legislation. |
| How do descriptive and substantive representation differ? | Descriptive is resemblance; substantive is advocating for interests. |
| Why does the House have more rules than the Senate? | Large size requires stricter structure to manage debate. |
| Why do individual senators have more influence? | Fewer rules allow holds, filibusters, and greater power. |
| How does a 6 | year Senate term affect behavior? |
| How does a 2 | year House term impact accountability? |
| Why do earmarks help incumbents win? | Bringing home district benefits increases voter support. |
| How does logrolling help pass laws? | Members gain support for their bills by trading votes. |
| Why is oversight important? | Ensures executive agencies follow laws and limits abuse of power. |
| How does gerrymandering shape elections? | It can unfairly favor one party. |
| Why are majority | minority districts debated? |
| How does malapportionment violate “one person, one vote”? | Unequal population gives some voters more power. |
| Why do incumbents win so often? | Name recognition, fundraising, and resources. |
| Why do most bills die in committee? | They lack support, priority, or are blocked by committee leaders. |
| How does the House Rules Committee affect legislation? | Controls debate time and amendment rules. |
| Why use a discharge petition? | To force a vote on a stalled bill. |
| How does a hold empower senators? | Allows them to delay bills. |
| Why use unanimous consent agreements? | Speeds up Senate action by avoiding debate. |
| Why is cloture important? | It ends filibusters so the Senate can vote. |
| How can divided government affect confirmations? | Opposing |
| Why do interest groups influence hearings? | Congress relies on them for information. |
| Why can veto threats influence bills? | Congress may change a bill to avoid a veto. |
| How does Congress use the budget as a check? | Controls agency funds to limit executive actions. |
| Why is the OMB key to presidential power? | Shapes the budget to match presidential priorities. |
| Why is compromise needed to pass laws? | Both chambers must agree on the same bill. |
| Why do senators influence foreign policy more than House members? | Senate approves treaties and ambassadors. |
| Which chamber reflects public opinion more quickly and why? | House, due to short terms and smaller districts. |
| How does constituent pressure affect voting? | Lawmakers vote to retain public support. |
| How do party leaders influence votes? | Through pressure, committee assignments, and campaign support. |
| Steps in the Federal Budget Process | President proposes → Congress reviews and modifies → Congress passes budget/appropriations → President signs. |
| Purpose of the Federal Budget | Sets government spending priorities. |
| What if the budget isn’t passed? | Government may shut down. |
| Bill Introduction | Member introduces bill in House or Senate. |
| Committee Referral | Bill is sent to relevant committee(s). |
| Multiple Referral | Bill assigned to more than one committee. |
| Committee/Subcommittee Action | Hearings, markup, and vote; most bills die here. |
| Floor Debate | Full chamber debates and votes. |
| House Debate Rules | Structured; controlled by Rules Committee. |
| Senate Debate Rules | Less structured; allows holds and filibusters. |
| Conference Committee | Resolves House/Senate bill differences. |
| Final Vote | Both chambers vote on identical bill. |
| Presidential Action | Sign, veto, or allow bill to become law after 10 days. |
| Veto Override | Requires 2/3 vote in both chambers. |
| House Rules Committee | Sets debate rules. |
| Committee of the Whole | Speeds up House debate. |
| Discharge Petition | Forces bill to floor. |
| Hold | Senator delays a bill. |
| Unanimous Consent Agreement | Speeds Senate debate. |
| Filibuster | Delays vote by extended debate. |
| Cloture | Ends filibuster with 60 votes. |
Created by:
katdolan