GVPT170 American Government Final Exam Outline UNIT 1 U S Congress Bicameral Legislature o House of Representatives seats allocated by population o Senate seats allocate 2 per state Difference between House and Senate House of Representatives Senate District size 750 000 More homogenous constituency Urban areas are well represented 2 year terms 435 members every 2 years all up for reelection District size state size so population varies More heterogeneous constituency Rural areas are well represented 6 year terms 100 members only 1 3 of seats up for reelection Drawing Congressional Districts allocation of House seats to the states after each census drawing new boundaries of congressional districts o Apportionment also reapportionment Definition Population shifts affect reapportionment o Redistricting MUST be EQUAL in individual states Definition Often protects incumbent o Gerrymandering Definition some partisan or political interests Types of Gerrymandering 1 Incumbent Gerrymandering drawing boundaries of congressional districts in order to advantage a Common b Party leader in area with support 2 Racial Gerrymandering a Ruled unconstitutional in 1993 Shaw v Reno b Current Supreme Court position 1995 race can be considered for redistricting but cannot be predominant factor 3 Partisan Gerrymandering a How to draw the line to benefit the party Congressional Elections and Incumbency Incumbents Advantage o Name recognition Importance of home style sense of trust attend town affairs Constituency service adopt internationally rush passports tour of buildings reliable and more likely to vote if favor done was successful Greater resources fundraising advantage Congressional Elections and National Political Forces o Presidential Coattails Who is elected into Congress o Age No age limit Older on average 70s and 80s Definition congressional candidates of that party positive electoral effect of a popular presidential candidate on o Occupation and Income Lawyers are well represented holding previous office position blue collar are not represented not working class o Race and Ethnicity Native Americans are very low represented doesn t look like America s melting pot Models of Congressional Representation 1 Trustee Model a Acts for constituents based on their interests national considerations and own beliefs and values about what s right and or best 2 Delegate Model a Acts for constituents by carrying out preferences o Fenno s Concentric Circles Personal Advisors friends etc Primary Reelection Geographic member travels o o o Personally close relationship with candidate ex Distinguish between weak and strong supporters People who candidates thinks voted for them Largest circle district which and within which the Three Jobs of Congress in Law Making Process 1 Make laws to create public policy authorization 2 Fund programs appropriations 3 Oversee implementation of programs oversight Law Making Process House Bill introduced Committee stage subcommittee stage Rules Committee House ONLY House Floor Debate and Vote Senate Bill introduced Committee stage subcommittee stage Senate Floor unanimous consent agreement debate and vote CONFERENCE COMMITTEE House Floor Votes Senate Floor Votes PRESIDENT And back to House and Senate floor for vote on veto override if President Vetoes bill Side notes o Only Senators can bring bill to Senate and Representatives to House o Bills die after 2 years if still not resolved and MUST be reintroduced o Must have identical bill before reaching the President o o o o o o o UNIT 2 Presidency Presidential Campaigns Primary Election o Nominations Each party is responsible for choosing a candidate Own rules that can change Schedule Format Primary elections occur on different dates in different states Trend towards regional primaries and frontloading 1 Primary 2 Caucus party NOT private open voting and publicly interactive New Hampshire is always first closed voting in secret Iowa is always first limited to those that are registered to vote for a specific o Primary Election Types primary Closed Primary only voters who are registered party members may vote in party s Open Primary any voter regardless of party registration can vote for either party Modified Primary voters not registered can vote for one party s primary election National Party Conventions 1st Each states sends delegates depends on population 2nd Delegates vote for candidate Democrats Republicans winner takes all system proportional allocation to divide state s delegates 3rd Official candidate selects Vice President nominee Presidential Elections Electoral College o Voters choose a president INDIRECTLY through the electoral college o How Many Electors does each state get Number of Senators Number of House Seats Each state gets at least 3 electors o Winning Presidential Election To win need MINIMUM of 270 electoral votes Electoral overrides popular vote If tie in electoral goes to House of Representatives Basics of Presidency 4 year term limited to two terms Constitutional requirements At least 35 years old Native born US citizen Lived in US for past 14 years o President s Constituency National Constituency Unique only person elected collectively by nation Partisan Constituency Congressional Constituency Keep support of activists reelection and funding In order to accomplish tasks need Congress to pass bills since they re law makers President as National Leader o Head of Government o Head of State Ceremonial role President as International Leader o Chief Diplomat Foreign relations Crisis management o Commander in Chief Constitutional Enumerated Powers o Make appointments o o o Veto or sign legislation o Make treaties with other countries Inform Congress of State of Union Call a special session of Congress MUST be approved by Congress 2 3rds vote Can use Executive Agreement Commander in Chief Congress has power to declare war NOT president o o o Implied Powers of the President Executive Orders Executive Privilege Carries weight of law and is used to direct anyone in ONLY executive branch Right of President to deny Congress requested information on grounds that executive branch conversations must be kept secret Example Water Gate Scandal with Nixon Persuading Congress 1 Bargaining Similar to inside lobbying a Focus on compromise and vote trading b 2 Going Public a b Tasks done for public to benefit their lives c Similar to outside lobbying Presidential Powers and Policymaking o Unilateral action President promotes