AP USGOPO
O’Conner Ch. 6 Reading: Congress
Name___________________________
Chapter 6: Congress (p.168-203)
Introduction: Congress
1. What are the two key roles a member of Congress plays?
2. What caused the dramatic inactivity of the 112th Congress?
Roots of the Legislative Branch of Government
3. Create a chart comparing the House and the Senate (include number of members, term lengths,
requirements, etc.)
4. How is apportionment conducted?
5. What is the constitutional source of Congress’ increase in authority over the past 200 years?
6. Explain how even though Congress is the formal law-making authority, the President, bureaucracy
and Supreme Court all can also create laws?
7. Use table 6.1 to list your 5 most important congressional powers.
8. What special and unique powers does the House have? The Senate?
The Members of Congress
9. Describe a typical day of a congressman.
10. Give 3 reasons once elected, an incumbent is likely to remain in office awhile.
11. In one complete sentence describe the diversity of Congress over the past 70 years.
12. In your opinion, how should a member of congress vote--as a trustee, delegate or politico?
Explain.
How Congress Is Organized
13. What is the majority party? Minority party?
14. Complete this chart (with “D” or “R”) using current information:
Majority Party
Minority Party
Senate
House
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What is accomplished in party conferences or caucuses?
Why must the House be more tightly structured and organized?
Describe the job duties of the Speaker of the House.
Why is a “whip” a fitting name for the position?
What’s more powerful and prestigious:
a. Speaker of the House or President Pro Tempore of the Senate?
b. House Majority Leader or Senate Majority Leader?
How has the Senate culture changed in the past 30 years?
Describe the four types of committees in your own words.
What does the House Committee on Rules do and why is there no counterpart in the Senate?
Representative Eubanks is a freshman congressman from rural NE Iowa (home of corn, corn and
more corn). What committee might he want to serve on? What pork projects/earmarks could he
pursue?
Describe the powers of a committee chair?
Powers of Congress
25. What percent of introduced bills become law?
26. To successfully sponsor a bill that becomes a law, a member of Congress must overcome possible
opposition ____times!
27. Draw a simplistic chart describing how a bill becomes a law. Page 189 might help.
28. What is a filibuster? How can it be stopped?
29. Describe the 2 ways a president can make a bill a law.
30. Describe the 2 ways a president can veto a bill.
How Members Make Decisions
31. Explain why a member of Congress should consider their party’s views before deciding how to
vote on a bill?
32. Explain why a member of Congress should consider their constituent’s views before deciding how
to vote on a bill?
33. Explain why a member of Congress should consider their colleagues and caucuses’ views before
deciding how to vote on a bill?
34. What is logrolling (or quid pro quo or reciprocal back scratching)?
35. Explain why a member of Congress should consider an interest group’s views before deciding
how to vote on a bill?
36. Describe a member of Congress’s staff and how they might exert influence.
Toward Reform: Balancing Institutional Power
37. According to O’Connor/Sabato, what are the weaknesses of Congress that allowed President
George W. Bush to claim unprecedented presidential powers during his presidency?
38. Explain how congressional oversight works.
39. How did the War Powers Act attempt to reassert Congressional war making powers? Did it work?
40. What checks does Congress have over the Courts?
41. What is senatorial courtesy?
Review the Chapter
42. Read the chapter review on page 201 summarizing the main idea of each section.
43. Summarize any of the ‘Learn the Terms’ not previously addressed in questions.
44. Summarize the answers for the Test Yourself questions 1-10 on page 202-203.