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POLS 206American National GovernmentReview Sheet-Test 3This is a list of general topics you will need to know in order to do well on the second test. This test covers chapters 11 through 14 and includes the topics of Congress, the Presidency, the bureaucracy, and the courts. 1) Where is the center of policymaking?Congress2) What are the attractions to the job of being a member of Congress?Power is the greatest attraction. They are given travel allowances and franking privileges (can send out mail for free)3) What is substantive representation?Representation that represents the interest of groups4) What is meant by pork barrel projects?They are federal projects, grants, etc. made available in a congressional district or state (i.e. money being set aside for A&M) – a lot of people don’t like it and want to get rid of it5) What are the advantages of incumbency and why do incumbents lose?Advertising:a. The goal is to be visible to your constituentsb. Frequent trips home, use of newsletter, and technologyCredit claiming:c. Service to constituents through:i. Casework: specifically helping constituents get what they think they have a right to (if you have a problem, talk to your member ofCongress about it)ii. Pork Barrel: federal projects, grants, etc. made available in a congressional district or state (i.e. money set aside for A&M)a. A lot of people don’t like it, want to get rid of itPosition Taking:d. Portray themselves as hard working, dedicated individualse. Occasionally take a partisan stand on an issue (because they want to differentiate themselves)Weak Opponents:f. Inexperienced in politics, unorganized, and underfundedCampaign Spending:g. Challengers need to raise large sums to defeat an incumbenth. PACs give most of their money to incumbentsi. Does PAC money “buy” votes in Congress?i. No, they’re buying accessii. Just because you spend the most money doesn’t mean you win1. More money incumbent spends, more likely they are to be defeatedDefeating Incumbents:j. *One tarnished by scandal or corruption becomes vulnerable to a challenger (i.e. they didn’t pay their taxes, sex scandal)k. Redistricting may weaken the incumbency advantagel. Major political tidal wave may defeat incumbents6) What do PACs buy with their money?PACs give most of their money to incumbents – buys them access7) What is bicameralism? Two house/chamber system: House of Representatives and the Senate8) Know what is meant by, and the process of impeachmentImpeachment is an accusation, requiring a majority vote in the House of Representatives. Charges may be brought for treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors. If impeached by the House, the president is tried by the Senate with the Chief Justice presiding. - Active impeachment: indictment: act of impeachment is the indictment by the House of Representatives. Requires majority vote, deals only with accusation- Process of impeachment: once the House indicts/vote for impeachment, you are tried by the Senate. They will pass guilty/not guilty voteo 2/3 vote of the Senate to convict you  thrown out of office if convicted9) What are the differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate?House: - *Revenue bills start here- *435 members, 2-year terms- Smaller constituencies- More centralized, stronger leadership- Less prestige- *More influential on BUDGET affairs, more specialized- Small turnover- Seniority: more important in determining power- *Limited debate- Impeachment – requires majority voteSenate:- Must give “advice and consent” to many presidential nominations, approve treaties; tries impeached officials- *100 members, 6-year terms (2 members per state)- Larger constituencies- Less centralized, weaker leadership- More prestige- *More influential on FOREIGN affairs, less specialized- Moderate turnover- Seniority: less important in determining power- *Unlimited debate- Impeachment – tries the president, 2/3 vote10) What is a filibuster?Unlimited debates – control of the agenda through lengthy debate (in the Senate ONLY)11) Why are committees and subcommittees important to Congress?Committees are important because this is where the work gets done – they serve as the backbone of Congress/work force.12) Know the different types of committees- Standing committee : subject matter committees that handle bills in different policy areas; permanent, most important committees- Joint committee : a few subject-matter areas – membership drawn from the House and Senate; help Congress research areas that there are not standing committees for- Conference committee : resolve differences in House and Senate bills; increasingly important because you cannot have two separate versions of a bill- Select committee : created for a specific purpose; temporarily created for a specific purpose, such as the Watergate Scandal; legislative oversight here, setup to investigate wrong doing in the executive branch13) What is presidential power according to Neustadt? Said presidential power is the power to persuade, not command.14) Know the 22nd AmendmentLimited the presidency in 1951 to two terms verses unlimited15) Know the responsibilities of the vice-president- Basically just “waits” for things to do- Power has grown over time, as recent presidents have given their VPs important jobs- *Traditionally, the VP has very little responsibility16) How does the President control the bureaucracy?By appointments and executive order17) What are the OMB, NSC, and CEA?- OMB: performs both managerial and budgetary functions, including legislative review and budgetary assessments of proposals- NSC: created to coordinate the president’s foreign and military policy advisors; members include the president, VP, secretary of state and defense, and managed by the president’s national security adviser- CEA: a three member body appointed by the president to advise on economic policy18) Know the different types of vetoes- Veto: the president can send a bill back to Congress with his reasons for rejecting it. It may be overridden by 2/3 supports of both Houses- Pocket veto: a president can let a bill die by not signing it when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill- Line item veto: ability to veto parts of a bill – some state governors have it, but not the president; only on appropriations bills19) What is a midterm election?A congressional election, not accompanied by a presidential


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TAMU POLS 206 - Test 3

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