class notes

• Article 1

  Created and defined Congress
• How is a bicameral legislature and example of federalism?

  it illustrated separation of powers, dividing and sharing legislative power. The diffusal of power preventing corruption shows federalism
• Min Age for HOR

  25
• Min age for senator

  30
• Citizenship Requirement for Senate?


  9 years
• Citizenship Requirement for HOR?

  Must be a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years.
• Term Length of Representative?

  2 years
• Term length of senator?

  6 years
• Term limits of Congressional Representatives?

  Unlimited
• Constituents of Senators?


  Entire state
• House

  • more governed by rules
  • formally structured
  • more power to individual leadership positions
  • Close to voter prefrence
• Senate

  • Less governed by rules
  • represent the whole state
  • informal
  • more power to individual members
  • insulated from voter preference
• Powers of Congress

  • lawmaking
  • budgeting
  • exercising oversight of federal bureaucracy and public officials
• Congressional Budget Office(CBO)


  Provides budget analysis and economic forecasting of the funding of certain agencies and programs
• Pork Barrel Spending?


  Legislation and spending that directs specific funds to projects or programs that primarily benefit specific constituents, states, or regions.
• Logrolling?


  The practice of exchanging favors or support in politics.

  • voting for another states earmarks to get your own passed
• Congressional Oversight

  • efforts of Congress to ensure laws are implemented correctly
  • Efforts to ensure executive branch agencies and officials act legally and according to congressional goals
• checks and balances

  • the branch's ability to balance and keep each other in check and from becoming too powerful
• Federal Officials Congress can remove: President, VP, and Supreme Court Justices
• Impeachment process:

  • 2/3 of the senate must vote to convict
  • majority of house must vote to convict
  • Trump, Clinton, Andrew johnson
• Constituents

  • body of voters in a given area who elect a representative/senator
• redistricting

  states redrawing of boundaries of electoral districts following each census
• Gerrymandering: The manipulation of the boundaries of a district to favor one party over another.

  • partisan Gerrymandering- used to benefit one party over another
  • racial gerrymandering- used to benefit one race over another (baker v. Carr)
• What level of Gov draws district Boundaries?

  State
• Majority-Minority Districts

  • Districts in which minority ethnic groups have electoral majority
• Malapportionment

  -The uneven distribution of population among legislative districts
• Incumbent: rep/senator up for re-election
• Why do incumbents usually win re-election?

  • More money and media coverage
  • franking privilege