Study Guide for Chapter Six 1 Explain how the constitutional structure of Congress emerged during the Federal Convention It is the product of the Great Compromise at the Constitutional Convention Balances demands of large states for national rep and small states for protection of states rights House of Rep allocated by pop elected by citizens elections in even numbered years 25 years old do not have to live in district they serve in almost always do Senate 2 members of each state chosen by state legislature 6 year terms 30 years old Both live in state the serve in 2 What are the powers of Congress How does each chamber differ in terms of its powers Congress impose taxes coin and borrow money regulate interstate and foreign commerce spend money for common defense make sure laws that are necessary and proper are enforced declare war raise and finance an army and navy call out state militias Senate ratifies treaties and confirms presidential appointments of ambassadors approves presidentially appoint Supreme Court justices and top exec branch officials Bills raising revenue in originate in the House with the Senate having the right to amend them 2 3 of both chambers can override a veto 3 How does the electoral system separate elections for president and congress and voting in congressional districts by plurality vote affect the politics of Congress Party leaders are less powerful because each candidate is voted on by the people Parties do not control nominations voters select parties nominees 4 What are House districts and when and why do they change What about the Senate Do Senators have a district House districts change after each census and are dependent upon population changes States in the West and South have gained seats as opposed to states in the Northeast and Midwest Senate does not have districts because there is equal representation for each state Senators do technically have districts based on their state s population and their number of constituents 5 Why are congressional politics more candidate centered than party centered and what are the implications of this fact 6 Does incumbency guarantee reelection to the House or Senate Why or why not 7 How do national politics affect congressional races note coattails 8 What does it mean when we say that members of congress have more incentives to be individually responsive than collectively responsible And what are the negative outcomes of this 9 What are the characteristics of those who serve in Congress 10 What problems does Congress have to overcome in order to be an effective lawmaking body 11 What role does party play in the House and the Senate 12 What types of committees have evolved in Congress 13 How are committee assignments made 14 Why are committees powerful What powers do committee chairs have that make them powerful 15 How does a bill become a law 16 What is the president s role with regard to a bill 17 What do we mean when we say there is a bias against action in Congress Terms What are they and why are they important 1 Ad hoc committee 2 Casework 3 Closed rule 4 Open rule 5 Wesberry v Sanders 6 Filibuster 7 Cloture 8 Conference committee 9 Standing committee 10 Entitlement 11 Gerrymandering 12 Racial Gerrymandering 13 Davis v Bandemer 14 Thornburg v Gingles 15 Joint committee 16 Jurisdiction 17 Logrolling 18 Minority leader 19 Majority leader 20 Speaker of the House 21 Multiple referral 22 Split referral 23 Pocket veto 24 Override 25 Political action committee 26 Pork barrel legislation 27 President pro tempore 28 Proportional representation 29 Conditional party government 30 Restricted rule 31 Rider 32 Rule 33 Discharge petition 34 Select committee 35 Seniority rule 36 Ticket splitting 37 Presidential coattails 38 Unanimous consent agreements 39 Whip