POLS 1510 Chapter Notes - Chapter 10: Bicameralism, 6 Years
Chapter 10: Book
• Congressional caucus: a group of House or Senate members that convene regularly to discuss
common interests; they may share demographic characteristics, geography, or issue concerns
• Floor: the full chamber, either in the House of Represetaties or i the “eate. A ill goes to
the floor for the fial deate ad ote
• Conference committee: temporary collection of House and Senate members, appointed to work
out a compromise version of legislation that passed both chambers in different forms
• Introducing Congress
o Near the center of American government
o Two houses, Different styles
▪ Congress is bicameral (two houses)
▪ House has 435 members
▪ 114th Congress: the congress elected in 2014
▪ House has 2 year terms
▪ Senate has 100 members (2 from each state); 6-year term
▪ Legislative hold: an informal way for a senator to object a bill or other measure
reaching the Senate floor. The action effectively halts Senate proceedings on
that issue, sometimes for weeks or longer
▪ Filibuster: rule unique to the U.S. Senate that allows any senator to hold the
floor indefinitely and thereby delay a vote on a bill to which they object. Ended
only when 60 senators vote for closure.
o House and Senate Have Some Unique Roles
▪ Senate is directly elected by the people
▪ House has the poer to ipeah puli offiials for high ries ad
isdeeaors. After the House ipeahes a offieholder, the “eate holds a
trial and decides whether to remove him or her must be a ¾ majority.
▪ Senate also has the power to review presidential appointments –constitution
alls it adie ad oset
• Congressional Representation
o Graphic representation: live in same state or district
o Substantive representation: share political views about political issues
o Descriptive representation: the extent to which they look like the people they
represent in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, age, national origin and so on
• Trustees and delegates
o Do the right thing
▪ “eate eers’ jo is to pursue hat is est for you (trustee of
representation)
o Do what the people want
▪ House and senate members faithfully follow popular preferences (delegate view
of representation)
• Elections: getting to congress –and staying there
o Congressional elections
▪ House members face the voters every 2 years
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Document Summary
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