AP US Government & Politics – Nichols
Unit 5 – Congress
Key Terms and Concepts
Congress – Institutions of National Government (College Board)
Students must become familiar with the organization and powers both formal and informal, of the major political institutions in the United States – the Congress, the presidency, the bureaucracy, and the federal courts. Students should understand that these are separate institutions sharing powers and the implications of that arrangement. The functions these institutions perform and do not perform, as well as the powers that they do and do not possess, are important. It is necessary for students to understand that power balances and relationships between these institutions may evolve gradually or change dramatically as a result of crises. Students are also expected to understand ties between the various branches of national government and political parties, interest groups, the media, and state and local governments. For example, a study of the conflicting interests and powers of the president and Congress may help explain recent and repeated struggles to adopt a national budget.
Georgia Performance Standards – Note that many of the standards weave a thread throughout the entire course; enumerated below are the standards that are most directly linked to this unit of study.
SSCG3 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the United States Constitution.
SSCG4 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the organization and powers of the national government.
SSCG5 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the federal system of government described in the United States Constitution.
SSCG6 The student will demonstrate knowledge of civil liberties and civil rights.
SSCG7 The student will describe how thoughtful and effective participation in civic life is characterized by obeying the law, paying taxes, serving on a jury, participating in the political process, performing public service, registering for military duty, being informed about current issues, and respecting differing opinions.
SSCG9 The student will explain the differences between the House of Representatives and the Senate, with emphasis on terms of office, powers, organization, leadership, and representation of each house.
SSCG10 The student will describe the legislative process including the roles played by committees and leadership.
SSCG17 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the organization and powers of state local government described in the Georgia Constitution.
SSCG18 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the powers of Georgia’s state and local governments.
SSCG20 The student will describe the tools used to carry out United States foreign policy (diplomacy; economic, military, and humanitarian aid; treaties; sanctions and military intervention).
SSCGRC1 Students will enhance reading in all curriculum areas
Map and Globe Skills: The student will use maps to retrieve social studies information. In grades 9-12 students will continue to apply and improve skills mastered in the lower grades.
Information Processing Skills Goal: The student will be able to locate, analyze, and synthesize information related to social studies topics and apply this information to solve problems/make decisions. In grades 9-12 students will continue to apply and improve skills mastered in the lower grades.
Information Sources / Materials
O’Connor and Sabato: Chapter 4 pgs. 131-133, Chapter 7
Handouts: Key Congressional Legislation, Congressional Committees
Videos: John Stossel video clip on Pork Spending, “Power Game” (bridge to Executive Branch)
Current/Salient Issues
Essential Questions
- What is the Constitutional basis for Congress?
- How is Congress organized – including committees?
- In comparing the differences between the two chambers, what is the affect on the course of legislation?
- How do members get elected?
- What are the various factors that influence how members of Congress make decisions?
- What are the processes bearing upon the law-making function of the legislature?
- What is the dynamic of the Congressional/Presidential relationship – including foreign policy?
- What is the nature of the relationship between Congress and the judiciary?
Key Terms – Be able to provide examples and applications for the terms, acts, and entities below - any of the same covered in class whether or not enumerated.
bicameralparty caucus or conferenceclosed rule
cloturecommittee systemconference committee
Congressional Budget OfficeCongressional Research ServiceCongressional Quarterly
discharge petitionsbillgermane
filibusterfranking privilegeGovernment Accountability Office
incumbencyjoint committeesmajority leader
minority leadermultiple referralsopen rule
presidential vetopresident pro temporequorum
constituentsroll call voteRule 22
select committeeseniority systemSpeaker of the House
standing committeesubcommitteeterm limits
voice votewhippork barrel
caseworkfederal budgetOffice of Management and Budget
delegate dutiestrustee dutiespolitico duties
fiscal yearearmarkrevenue
congressional reviewCommittee of the Wholediscretionary spending
special interest groupsparty hierarchymark up
lobbyistsrank and filefunded/unfunded mandates
oversightapportionmentdivided government
holdimpeachmentlogrolling
War Powers ActChristmas tree billcitizen legislatures
GA General AssemblyredistrictingArticle 1, Section 8
senatorial courtesyGang of Fourteenmomentum
litmus testpolitical capital/equity
Key Committees(same as Faces)
House: Appropriations, Budget, Commerce and Energy, Financial Services, Rules, Ways and Means
Senate: Appropriations, Armed Services, Budget, Finance, Foreign Relations, Judiciary
Legislation/Court Cases - Separate Handout for Key Congressional Legislation
Legislative Authority
Most of the cases that are based on challenges to legislative authority are found in the Federalism section.
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)
NLRB v. Jones & Laughlin Steel Corporation (1937)Watkins v. United States (1957)
South Carolina v. Katzenbach (1966)Powell v. McCormack (1969)
Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha (1983)U.S. Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton (1995)
Boumediene v. Bush (2008)United States v. Comstock (2010)
Federalism
Note that many of these cases are based on challenges to legislative authority; however, most are not duplicated in that section.
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) – See legislative authority
Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) – See 14th Amendment
Slaughterhouse Cases (1873)
Civil Rights Cases (1883)
Plessy v. Ferguson (1896) – See 14th Amendment
Lochner v. New York (1905)
Hammer v. Dagenhart (1918)
Adkins v. Children’s Hospital (1923)
NLRB v. Jones and Laughlin Steel Co. (1937) – See legislative authority
United States v. Darby Lumber (1941)
South Dakota v. Dole (1987)
Webster v. Reproductive Health Services (1989) – See reproductive privacy rights
Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992) – See reproductive privacy rights
United States v. Lopez (1995)
Seminole Tribe v. Florida (1996)
Boerne v. Flores (1997)
Printz v. U.S. (1997)
Saenz v. Roe (1999)
Florida Prepaid v. College Savings Bank (1999)
Alden v. Maine (1999)
Stenberg v. Carhart (2000) – See reproductive privacy rights
United States v. Morrison (2000)
Gonzalez v. Raich (2005)
Ayotte v. Planned Parenthood (2005) – See reproductive privacy rights
Gonzalez v. Oregon (2006)
Watson v. Philip Morris Companies, Inc. (2007)
Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency (2007)
Altria Group v. Good (2008)
Wyeth v. Levine (2009)
Additional Notes(including various discussed acts)