AP Gopo Chapter 12 Reading Guide

AP GoPo Chapter 12 Reading Guide

1. Which branch did the framers feel should be the key branch in the new government? Which chamber is closer to the people? What laws have to start in the HoR?

2. Whereas the HoR has quick turnover, the Senate is more … (Also, what area do many Senators specialize in, and it’s probably a good idea considering their power for negotiating.)

3. Do we elect HoR members in: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, or 2022?

4. What percent of the Senate is up for re-election every 2 years? How long a term do our Senators serve? When do we elect Senators in Indiana? Why do you think we don’t vote for both Senators in the same year? (Normally…)

5. Which costs more: membership in the HoR or the Senate? Who gets paid more?

6. ______% of incumbents in the HoR get re-elected, and ______% in the Senate.

7. Factors that make it more likely that someone will win re-election: (I’d draw pictures to help me remember these)

a. Name Recognition:

b. Access to Media Coverage: c. Redistricting that favors the incumbent:

d. Campaign Contributions:

e. Casework:

f. Franking:

8. What’s the term for when HoR seats are reallocated based on population? How often does that occur? So, how could a state gain people, but lose representation in the HoR? What do you call it when lines are redrawn?

9. If you draw district boundaries to benefit someone, what is that called? Is it legal?

10. What’s a “safe seat”? What does that lead to? Are Republicans the only group becoming more partisan? Is this an issue in the Senate?

11. If you live in an area that has a high percentage of minorities is it legal to Gerrymander lines so that it is likely that minority will be chosen? (Based upon race) What’s that called?

12. To illustrate this point, look at the map on 366. The numbers in the box show which Congressional District in each state is a majority-minority district. So for example, in Oregon, the 9th district has an Asian American majority in the hopes they will elect someone who is Asian American. Does Indiana have any majority-minority districts? Which state has the most diversity? 13. I know that list of powers of congress on page 367 seems tedious to know, but there could be questions about it on the exam. If I were you, I would draw it out in a ridiculous little sketch of nonsensical pictures so that it would stand out in my mind. (Or at least be able to recognize a power that does not belong to Congress if given a list)

14. Where does Congress get its power/authority? What were some of those important ideas they kept in mind when shaping Congressional functions?

15. What’s the difference between the “trustee model” and the “instructed delegate model” of representation? Which do Congressmen follow more?

16. What’s pork? Give me the best example of pork that you can find online.

17. How is an earmark different from pork? (How do most earmarks get passed?... what types of bills?) What did Congress do to pork barrel projects recently? Did it work?

18. Providing representation in the form of personal aid to a constituent or a group of constituents to accomplish something the group wants done is referred to as ______.

19. If you had an issue or complaint with the EPA involving something that occurred in the 8th District in Indiana and you brought your complaint to Dr. Larry Buschon, you would call him your ______. 20. Does casework help representatives get reelected? Why or why not? What’s the danger with being a caseworker/ombudsman?

21. What’s oversight? What area of the government implements the laws? (Draw this out in a chart showing the relationship if you do not understand it.)

22. So at the beginning of the Congressional term (odd years after an election, so for example, the new Congressional term starts in 2017) they set an agenda, talking about what they are going to tackle that year. During this time, the agenda can also be influenced by a number of things / people. What are some of those groups that influence the agenda, and can you provide an example?

23. If you remember, many HoR districts tend to have safe zones. Because of this, how would you describe the positions of their constituents when it comes to issues?

24. So how does that whole legislative process work? (You’ll get a better understanding with the Mock Congress and other simulations we do in class, but you should know this pretty well.)

25. What’s the difference between how bills are introduced in the House v. the Senate? 26. In the house, it used to be that bills could be introduced to two committees at once, but this was done away with. Now, where are bills directed instead to one committee called the ______.

27. After a bill is introduced, what’s next? What’s the point of this step?

28. What is the difference between a standing committee and a select committee? (I’ve got a good way to remember one of them if you’re interested.)

29. So a bill that is sent to a committee usually then gets sent to a subcommittee. It then has a process in the subcommittee:

a. ______: where they ask the agencies that would administer the law for input.

b. ______: where experts, interest groups, and concerned citizens weigh in on the issue.

c. ______: Where the bill is not actually changed, suggestions are just added.

d. ______: explanation of the bill to the full chamber.

30. Is there any way to get a bill out of committee in the House? How many does it take?

31. Sorry this one’s out of order: What’s a joint committee?

32. What does the Rules Committee do in the House? If you didn’t already answer this, what two areas does it rule over? (see what I did?...It is one of, if not the most, important committees in the House)

33. If you had to filibuster, what would you read from or speak about? (You should also know a filibuster) How do you end one? If you were a Senator, would you end someone’s filibuster? Can you explain the “nuclear option” well enough so that you understand it? 34. What’s the point of a conference committee reconciliation? (If you think about the order of the steps it takes to become a law, they are logical: bill is introduced, then sent to a committee to look over it, then it has to be approved in both, if differences exist they reconcile them, then it goes to the President. Complicated? Yes. Logical? Yes.)

35. How does a pocket veto work?

36. Give me the layout of the House of Representatives. I’d draw it in a chart if I were you. Be sure to include the following: Speaker, House Majority and Minority Leaders, and the whips. (http://www.house.gov/leadership/ if you want to just look at it online.)

37. Now let’s look at the Senate. Same thing, give me the layout of the Senate. Include the president, president pro- tempore, the majority and minority leaders. (http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/senators/a_three_sections_with_teasers/leadership.htm) Here’s the real question: who’s the most powerful on a daily basis? Who has the most powerful vote?

38. When do members of Congress tend to vote along party lines? 39. Again, districts in the House are increasingly more partisan. What does this mean? Do they need to compromise?

40. Logrolling – (In my mind, I think of it as if you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours, but when you logroll, you keep things form getting jammed up by sending them downstream. Makes sense in my mind.)

41. So the book argues there are a few groups that influence decision making by Congress. List those groups, and then tell me who the book says wields the MOST influence and why. Do you agree? (I think I might have gone with interest groups, because of the $ aspect.)

42. Lastly, when you look at how Congress is set up demographically, would you describe it as very diverse or not very diverse?