Unit 5 Ap Gov Progress Check

Mastering Unit 5 AP Gov: A Comprehensive Guide to Congress

The intricacies of the United States Congress often seem daunting, but understanding its structure, powers, and functions is crucial for success in AP Government and Politics. This comprehensive guide will dissect Unit 5, providing you with the knowledge and strategies to ace your progress check and beyond.

The Foundations of Congress: Understanding Its Structure and Powers

The United States Congress, established by Article I of the Constitution, is the legislative branch of the federal government. It is a bicameral legislature, meaning it consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. This structure, born from the Connecticut Compromise, balances the representation of states based on population in the House with equal representation in the Senate.

Key Concepts:

• Bicameralism: The division of a legislature into two separate assemblies.
• Connecticut Compromise (Great Compromise): An agreement during the Constitutional Convention that created a bicameral legislature.
• Article I of the Constitution: Outlines the structure, powers, and limitations of Congress.

The House of Representatives:

• Membership: 435 members, apportioned among the states based on population.
• Term Length: Two years.
• Leadership: Led by the Speaker of the House, elected by the majority party.
• Key Powers: Initiates all revenue bills, impeaches federal officials, and elects the President in case of an electoral college tie.

The Senate:

• Membership: 100 members, two from each state.
• Term Length: Six years, with one-third of the Senate up for election every two years.
• Leadership: Led by the Vice President (President of the Senate) and the President Pro Tempore (usually the most senior member of the majority party).
• Key Powers: Approves treaties, confirms presidential appointments (including federal judges), and tries impeached officials.

Enumerated Powers:

Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution lists the enumerated powers of Congress, which are the specific powers granted to the legislative branch. These include the power to:

• Tax and Spend: Levy taxes and appropriate funds for the general welfare of the United States.
• Borrow Money: Coin money and regulate its value.
• Regulate Commerce: Regulate interstate and foreign commerce.
• Declare War: Declare war, raise and support armies, and provide for a navy.
• Establish Post Offices: Establish post offices and post roads.
• Make Laws: Make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers. (Necessary and Proper Clause/Elastic Clause)

Implied Powers and the Necessary and Proper Clause:

The Necessary and Proper Clause (also known as the Elastic Clause) grants Congress the power to make laws that are "necessary and proper" for carrying out its enumerated powers. This clause has been interpreted broadly by the Supreme Court, allowing Congress to exercise powers that are not explicitly listed in the Constitution. These are known as implied powers.

Example: The creation of a national bank is not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, but Congress argued that it was necessary and proper for carrying out its powers to regulate commerce and coin money.

The Legislative Process: From Bill to Law

Understanding the legislative process is crucial for understanding how Congress works. Here's a step-by-step breakdown:

1. Introduction of a Bill: A bill can be introduced in either the House or the Senate (except for revenue bills, which must originate in the House).
2. Committee Action: The bill is referred to a standing committee, which has jurisdiction over the subject matter of the bill. The committee may hold hearings, conduct research, and amend the bill.
3. Subcommittee Review: Often, the bill is first referred to a subcommittee for more detailed review.
4. Committee Vote: If the committee approves the bill, it is reported out to the full chamber.
5. Floor Debate: The bill is debated on the floor of the House or Senate. Amendments can be offered during this stage.
6. Vote: After debate, the bill is put to a vote. In the House, a simple majority is required for passage. In the Senate, a simple majority is usually required, but some votes (such as cloture votes to end a filibuster) require a supermajority (60 votes).
7. Conference Committee: If the House and Senate pass different versions of the same bill, a conference committee is formed to reconcile the differences. The conference committee produces a compromise bill.
8. Presidential Action: The bill is sent to the President, who can either sign it into law or veto it.
9. Override Veto: If the President vetoes the bill, Congress can override the veto with a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate.

Key Concepts:

• Standing Committee: A permanent committee with jurisdiction over a specific subject matter.
• Subcommittee: A smaller committee within a standing committee that specializes in a particular area.
• Conference Committee: A temporary committee formed to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.
• Filibuster: A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill by continuously speaking.
• Cloture: A procedure used in the Senate to end a filibuster; requires a supermajority of 60 votes.
• Veto: The President's power to reject a bill passed by Congress.
• Override: Congress's power to pass a bill over the President's veto with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

Factors Influencing Congressional Decision-Making

Members of Congress are influenced by a variety of factors when making decisions about legislation. These factors include:

• Constituents: Members of Congress are elected to represent the interests of their constituents. They often consider the views and concerns of their constituents when deciding how to vote on legislation.
• Party Affiliation: Members of Congress are typically loyal to their political party and often vote along party lines. Party leaders play a significant role in shaping the legislative agenda and influencing members' votes.
• Interest Groups: Interest groups are organizations that seek to influence government policy. They often lobby members of Congress, provide them with information, and contribute to their campaigns.
• Lobbyists: Individuals paid to represent the interests of specific groups or organizations to lawmakers.
• Ideology: Members of Congress have their own ideological beliefs and values, which can influence their voting decisions.
• Colleagues: Members of Congress often consult with their colleagues and seek their advice on legislative matters.
• Staff: Congressional staff members play a crucial role in researching legislation, drafting bills, and advising members on policy issues.

Key Concepts:

• Constituent: A person who lives in the district or state represented by a member of Congress.
• Party Polarization: The increasing divergence of political attitudes toward ideological extremes.
• Lobbying: Activities aimed at influencing public officials, especially legislators, and the policies they enact.
• Interest Group: A group of people who share common goals and try to influence government policy.

Congressional Committees: The Workhorses of Congress

Committees are essential to the functioning of Congress. They allow members to specialize in particular areas of policy, conduct in-depth research, and hold hearings on important issues. There are several types of committees:

• Standing Committees: Permanent committees that have jurisdiction over a specific subject matter. Examples include the House Ways and Means Committee (taxes), the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (foreign policy), and the House Armed Services Committee (military affairs).
• Select Committees: Temporary committees created to address a specific issue. Examples include the House Select Committee on the January 6th Attack and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
• Joint Committees: Committees composed of members from both the House and the Senate. These committees often focus on issues that are of concern to both chambers.
• Conference Committees: As mentioned earlier, these committees are formed to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

The Committee System and Power:

The committee system allows for a division of labor within Congress, but it also concentrates power in the hands of committee chairs. Committee chairs have significant influence over the legislative process, including the power to:

• Schedule hearings: Determine which bills will be considered by the committee.
• Control the agenda: Decide which issues will be debated and voted on.
• Influence the content of legislation: Amend bills and shape the final product.
• Recommend legislation to the full chamber: Decide whether to report a bill out to the House or Senate floor.

Representation: Models and Dynamics

Understanding different models of representation is crucial for grasping the relationship between members of Congress and their constituents.

• Delegate Model: In this model, representatives act as mouthpieces for their constituents and vote according to their wishes, regardless of their own personal beliefs.
• Trustee Model: In this model, representatives are entrusted to use their own judgment and expertise to make decisions on behalf of their constituents, even if those decisions are not always popular.
• Politico Model: This model is a hybrid of the delegate and trustee models. Representatives act as delegates on issues that are important to their constituents, but they act as trustees on issues that are less salient.

Factors Affecting Representation:

Several factors can affect the quality of representation in Congress, including:

• Gerrymandering: The practice of drawing congressional district lines to favor one political party over another.
• Incumbency Advantage: The tendency for incumbents (those already holding office) to win reelection at a high rate.
• Campaign Finance: The role of money in political campaigns can influence who runs for office and how they represent their constituents.

Key Concepts:

• Gerrymandering: Drawing electoral district boundaries to advantage a particular party or group.
• Incumbency Advantage: The electoral advantage a candidate enjoys by virtue of being an incumbent, over new challengers.

Challenges and Reforms Facing Congress

Congress faces a number of challenges in the 21st century, including:

• Party Polarization: The increasing division between the two major political parties has made it more difficult for Congress to reach compromises and pass legislation.
• Gridlock: The inability of Congress to pass legislation due to partisan gridlock.
• Decline in Public Trust: Public trust in Congress has declined in recent years, leading to calls for reform.
• Influence of Money in Politics: The increasing role of money in political campaigns has raised concerns about the influence of special interests on government policy.

Potential Reforms:

Several reforms have been proposed to address these challenges, including:

• Campaign Finance Reform: Limiting the amount of money that can be contributed to political campaigns.
• Lobbying Reform: Increasing transparency and regulation of lobbying activities.
• Gerrymandering Reform: Establishing independent commissions to draw congressional district lines.
• Term Limits: Limiting the number of terms that members of Congress can serve.
• Ranked-Choice Voting: Allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference, which could lead to more moderate outcomes.

AP Gov Progress Check Strategies: Unit 5

Now that you have a comprehensive understanding of the concepts covered in Unit 5, let's discuss strategies for acing your progress check:

• Review Key Terms: Make sure you understand the definitions of all the key terms listed above.
• Practice Multiple-Choice Questions: Work through practice multiple-choice questions to test your knowledge and identify areas where you need to improve. The College Board website and AP review books are excellent resources.
• Analyze Free-Response Questions (FRQs): Review past FRQs related to Congress and practice writing responses. Pay attention to the scoring guidelines to understand what the graders are looking for.
• Understand Supreme Court Cases: Familiarize yourself with landmark Supreme Court cases related to Congress, such as McCulloch v. Maryland (implied powers) and Baker v. Carr (one person, one vote).
• Stay Up-to-Date on Current Events: Pay attention to current events related to Congress, such as debates over legislation, committee hearings, and the role of Congress in addressing national challenges.

Sample FRQ Prompts:

Here are a few sample FRQ prompts that you might encounter on your progress check:

• "Explain how the structure of Congress, as established by the Constitution, reflects the principles of federalism and separation of powers."
• "Describe the role of congressional committees in the legislative process. Explain how the committee system can both facilitate and impede the passage of legislation."
• "Analyze the factors that influence congressional decision-making. Explain how constituents, party affiliation, and interest groups can shape the behavior of members of Congress."
• "Evaluate the effectiveness of Congress in representing the interests of the American people. Consider the challenges of gerrymandering, incumbency advantage, and campaign finance in your analysis."

FAQ: Common Questions About Congress

• What is the difference between a bill and a law? A bill is a proposed law. It becomes a law only after it has been passed by both the House and the Senate and signed by the President (or passed over the President's veto).
• How does a filibuster work? A filibuster is a tactic used in the Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill by continuously speaking. Any senator can speak for as long as they want, as long as they adhere to Senate rules. To end a filibuster, a cloture vote is required, which requires a supermajority of 60 votes.
• What is the role of the Speaker of the House? The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives and is elected by the majority party. The Speaker has significant power over the legislative process, including the power to control the agenda, assign bills to committees, and recognize members to speak on the floor.
• Why is incumbency advantage so strong? Incumbents have a number of advantages over challengers, including name recognition, access to campaign funds, and the ability to provide services to their constituents.
• How does gerrymandering affect elections? Gerrymandering can create safe districts for one political party, making it difficult for the other party to win elections in those districts. This can lead to less competitive elections and a more polarized political environment.

Conclusion: Congress and Your AP Gov Success

Mastering Unit 5 of AP Government and Politics requires a thorough understanding of the structure, powers, and functions of the United States Congress. By understanding the legislative process, the factors that influence congressional decision-making, and the challenges facing Congress, you will be well-prepared to ace your progress check and succeed on the AP exam. Remember to review key terms, practice multiple-choice questions, analyze FRQs, and stay up-to-date on current events. With dedication and hard work, you can master the complexities of Congress and achieve your academic goals. Good luck!