AP U.S. Government & Politics Study Guide
Unit 5 – Congress
(Chapter 12 in the textbook & Chapter 10 in the Crash Course book)
General Information:
Framers’ intention for Congress
bicameral system
general powers of Congress (Table 12.2 on page 342)
general qualifications (House & Senate)
distinguishing powers (House v. Senate)
descriptive representation
substantive representation
under-representation?
Incumbency:
incumbent
statistics regarding reelection
House v. Senate – regarding incumbency
why do they win?
constituents
franking privilege
casework
pork-barreling
importance of political party
defeating an incumbent?
Congressional Districting:
constitutionally…
single-member districts
Reapportionment Act of 1929
“reapportionment”
Census Bureau
Baker v. Carr (1962)
Wesberry v. Sanders (1964)
“one person, one vote”
general districting guidelines
gerrymandering
Shaw v. Reno (1993)
Bush v. Vera (1996)
Congressional Leadership & Legislation:
majority party
minority party
Speaker of the House
President of the Senate
President Pro Tempore
majority leader(s)
minority leader(s)
party whips
House of Representatives “structure”
Senate “structure”
“Millionaire’s Club”
filibuster
cloture
committee work
types of committees:
- standing committees
- select committees
- joint committees
- conference committees
House Rules Committee
open rule v. closed rule
House Ways & Means Committee
other powerful Congressional committees?
joining a committee
committee chairperson
seniority
personal staff
committee staff
congressional agencies:
- Congressional Research Services (CRS)
- Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
- Government Accountability Office (GAO)
caucusing
bill(s)
“the hopper”
PROCESS of Bill  Law
discharge petition
simple majority vote
supermajority vote
quorum
open seat
polarization
omnibus bill
rider
pigeonhole
mark-up
voting:
- required numbers
- methods of voting
- how/why vote…
o instructed delegate
o trustee
o politico
o logrolling
Presidential approval (or veto)
Congressional override
Congressional (legislative) oversight
divided government
*Don’t forget that your terms are due the day of the
test! 