Chapter 12 Congress Guided Reading and Study Notes 1. What is the most important fact about congressional elections? Name Date Period 2. List (and describe) five advantages incumbents have over their opponents in congressional elections a. b. c. d. e.
3. What are the main functions of the House Rules Committee? 4. List four formal powers of the Speaker of the House a. b. c. d. 5. What are four types of committees and provide a brief description of each. a. b.
c. d. 6. What is meant by legislative oversight? 7. Draw a Diagram of how a bill becomes a law.
8. Lobbyists generally have a bad image with the public, but exactly what do they do? 9. How does the organization of Congress contribute to the expanding scope of government?
Chapter 12 Congress Terms and Concepts 1. Casework 2. Pork Barrel 3. Filibuster 4. Majority Leader 5. Whips
6. Minority Leader 7. Standing Committees 8. Joint Committees 9. Conference Committees 10. Select Committees
11. Legislative Oversight 12. Seniority System 13. Caucus 14. Mark-up 15. Bill
Chapter 12 FRQ Directions: Choose two of the following FRQs to write on a separate sheet of paper. 1) Describe the general characteristics of the members of Congress and their average daily activities. What are the attractions and benefits of being a member of Congress? 2) Comment on the representativeness of Congress. Are the members of Congress truly representative of the American people and the overall needs of the nation? What effect do PACs and interest groups have on the representativeness of Congress? 3) Describe the advantages of incumbents in congressional elections. What reforms have been suggested to limit the effect of incumbency? Would you support such reforms? 4) Describe the structure of power and decision-making in congress and evaluate the impact of that structure on policymaking. 5) Explain how the system of committees and subcommittees works in congress. Give examples to illustrate your answer. 6) Compare and contrast the different types of staff that work to support Congress. How large are these staffs? What services do they provide? 7) Explain the legislative process and the relative importance of key individuals and groups in that process. What happens to most bills? Describe the procedure by which a bill becomes law. 8) How can the President influence congressional action? Do you think the President is too powerful or not powerful enough in dealing with Congress? Explain. 9) How important is party membership to a senator or member of the House in casting a vote? Are votes on some issues more or less likely to follow party lines? What other factors influence how an individual legislator casts a vote? 10) Explain how member of Congress reconcile the conflicting jobs of representing constituents and making effective public policy. In your answer, be sure to discuss the committee system, congressional elections, and the role of political parties and interest groups in Congress. 11) Describe the conflicting concepts of members of Congress serving as trustees versus as instructed delegates. Which role does a legislator most frequently play? Which concept most appeals to you? Explain. 12) Discuss aspects of congressional membership, elections, organizations and decisionmaking that might lead the public to be critical of Congress as an institution. To what extend is such criticism well-founded?