SAMPLE American Government

‭THE ULTIMATE‬ ‭CREDIT-BY-EXAM‬ ‭STUDY GUIDE FOR:‬ ‭American Government‬ ‭2‬ ‭nd‬ ‭Edition‬

‭03/04/2024‬

‭Acknowledgements‬ ‭We‬‭would‬‭like‬‭to‬‭thank‬‭the‬‭author‬‭for‬‭their‬‭patience,‬‭support,‬‭and‬‭expertise‬‭in‬‭contributing‬‭to‬‭this‬ ‭study‬‭guide;‬‭and‬‭our‬‭editors‬‭for‬‭their‬‭invaluable‬‭efforts‬‭in‬‭reading‬‭and‬‭editing‬‭the‬‭text.‬‭We‬‭would‬ ‭also‬ ‭like‬ ‭to‬ ‭thank‬ ‭those‬ ‭at‬ ‭Achieve‬ ‭Test‬ ‭Prep‬ ‭whose‬ ‭hard‬ ‭work‬ ‭and‬ ‭dedication‬ ‭to‬ ‭fulfilling‬ ‭this‬ ‭project‬ ‭did‬ ‭not‬ ‭go‬ ‭unnoticed.‬‭Lastly,‬‭we‬‭would‬‭like‬‭to‬‭thank‬‭the‬‭Achieve‬‭Test‬‭Prep‬‭students‬‭who‬ ‭have contributed to the growth of these materials over the years.‬

‭This study guide is subject to copyright‬

‭Copyright © 2024 by Achieve‬ ‭All‬ ‭rights‬ ‭reserved.‬ ‭This‬ ‭book‬ ‭or‬ ‭any‬ ‭portion‬ ‭thereof‬ ‭may‬ ‭not‬ ‭be‬ ‭reproduced‬ ‭or‬ ‭used‬ ‭in‬ ‭any‬ ‭manner‬ ‭whatsoever‬ ‭without‬ ‭the‬ ‭express‬ ‭written‬ ‭permission‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭publisher‬ ‭except‬ ‭for‬ ‭the‬ ‭use‬ ‭of‬ ‭brief‬ ‭quotations in a book review.‬

‭Printed in the United States of America‬

‭First Printing, 2020‬

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‭Contents‬

‭Chapter 1:‬ ‭United States Government Background‬

‭1‬

‭A. United States Government Background‬

‭1‬ ‭2‬ ‭6‬ ‭8‬ ‭9‬

‭B. Democracy‬

‭C. Political Power‬

‭D. Early Self-Government‬ ‭E. American Revolution‬

‭F. Background of the Constitution‬

‭15‬ ‭16‬ ‭18‬ ‭20‬ ‭24‬ ‭25‬ ‭27‬ ‭28‬ ‭30‬ ‭31‬ ‭34‬ ‭36‬ ‭45‬ ‭45‬ ‭50‬ ‭50‬ ‭51‬ ‭53‬ ‭54‬ ‭56‬ ‭59‬ ‭60‬ ‭63‬ ‭65‬ ‭67‬ ‭68‬ ‭68‬ ‭70‬ ‭73‬ ‭73‬ ‭36‬

‭G. The beginning of a National Government‬

‭H. Articles of Confederation‬

‭I. The Western Lands‬ ‭J. Shays’ Rebellion‬

‭K. Compromises and the US Constitution‬

‭L. Ratification of the Constitution‬

‭M. The US Constitution‬ ‭N. Limited Government‬ ‭O. The Bill of Rights‬

‭Chapter 1 Review Questions‬

‭Chapter 2:‬ ‭Political Parties and Congress‬

‭A. Political Parties‬

‭B. Dealignment - Bipartisanship - Independents‬

‭C. Campaign Finance‬ ‭D. Political Identity‬ ‭E. Divided Government‬ ‭F. Selection of Candidates‬

‭G. Voting‬

‭H. Rational Choice Theory‬

‭I. Voters‬

‭J. Electoral College‬

‭K. Congress: Powers and Organization‬

‭L. How Legislation Works‬

‭M. Filibuster‬

‭N. Veto‬

‭O. Pork and Earmarks‬

‭P. Congressional Elections‬ ‭Q. House of Representatives‬

‭R. Impeachment‬

‭S. The Senate‬

‭Chapter 2 Review Questions‬

‭75‬

‭Chapter 3:‬ ‭Congress: Rules and Operations Overview‬

‭77‬

‭A. Congress: Rules and Operations‬ ‭B. Congressional Committees‬

‭77‬ ‭78‬ ‭82‬ ‭83‬ ‭85‬ ‭86‬ ‭86‬ ‭88‬ ‭90‬ ‭90‬ ‭92‬ ‭93‬

‭C. Seniority System‬

‭D. Lobbyists and Discipline‬ ‭E. Operations of Congress‬ ‭F. Structure of Congress‬ ‭G. Demographics of Congress‬

‭H. Election of the Congress Members‬

‭I. Powers of Congress‬

‭J. Impeachment‬

‭K. How a bill becomes a law‬

‭L. Lobbying‬

‭M. Taxes‬

‭102‬ ‭106‬ ‭110‬ ‭111‬ ‭116‬ ‭117‬ ‭120‬ ‭121‬ ‭124‬ ‭130‬ ‭133‬ ‭134‬ ‭141‬ ‭143‬ ‭145‬ ‭148‬ ‭149‬ ‭158‬ ‭160‬ ‭161‬ ‭162‬ ‭164‬ ‭164‬ ‭143‬

‭N. Collection of Taxes and Payment of Debt‬ ‭O. Criminal Liability and Compensation of Congress‬

‭P. Budgeting‬

‭Q. Relations with Native Americans and Other Nations‬

‭R. Interstate Commerce Commission‬

‭S. Department of Commerce‬

‭T. Citizenship‬

‭U. Currency, Post Offices, and Inventions‬ ‭V. Federal Courts, War, State Militias‬ ‭W. Governance of Washington, D.C.‬ ‭X. Powers Congress does NOT have‬

‭Chapter 3 Review Questions‬

‭Chapter 4:‬ ‭The Presidency, Federal Bureaucracy, and‬‭the Media‬

‭A. Executive Branch Responsibilities‬

‭B. The Cabinet‬

‭C. The Presidency‬

‭D. Presidential Powers‬

‭E. Presidential Succession Act (1947)‬ ‭F. Executive Office of the President‬

‭G. Responses to Crisis‬ ‭H. Approval Ratings‬

‭I. The White House Press Secretary‬ ‭J. The President as a Lobbyist‬

‭K. The Vice President‬

‭165‬ ‭166‬ ‭167‬ ‭171‬ ‭173‬ ‭174‬ ‭178‬ ‭180‬ ‭183‬ ‭184‬ ‭184‬ ‭193‬ ‭195‬ ‭196‬ ‭205‬ ‭206‬ ‭211‬ ‭214‬ ‭214‬ ‭216‬ ‭218‬ ‭218‬ ‭219‬ ‭221‬ ‭223‬ ‭223‬ ‭223‬ ‭226‬ ‭195‬

‭L. The First Lady and First Gentleman‬

‭M. Federal Bureaucracy‬

‭N. Privatization‬ ‭O. Deregulation‬ ‭P. Regulation‬

‭Q. Government Corporations‬

‭R. Civil Service Jobs‬

‭S. Making Rules‬

‭T. Bureaucracy and Congress‬

‭U. Media‬

‭Chapter 4 Review Questions‬

‭Chapter 5:‬ ‭Federal Courts, Civil Rights and Public‬‭Opinion‬

‭A. Federal Courts, Civil Rights, and Public Opinion‬

‭B. Court Systems in the United States‬ ‭C. Civil Liberties and Civil Rights‬

‭D. The Bill of Rights‬

‭E. Federalism‬

‭F. American Immigration Policies‬ ‭G. Religious Freedoms‬ ‭H. Freedom of Expression‬ ‭I. Freedom of the Press‬ ‭J. War against Terrorism‬ ‭L. Feminist Movement‬ ‭M. Real ID Act (2005)‬ ‭N. Some Mistrust Issues‬ ‭K. Discrimination and Segregation‬

‭O. Public Opinion and Political Socialization‬

‭Chapter 5 Review Questions‬

‭Chapter Quiz‬ ‭Answer Key‬

‭228‬

‭Practice‬ ‭Exam‬

‭229‬

‭Chapter 1:‬ ‭United States Government Background‬ ‭Overview‬ ‭U.S.‬‭Government‬‭is‬‭the‬‭study‬‭of‬‭the‬‭historical‬‭backgrounds,‬‭governing‬‭principles,‬‭and‬‭institutions‬‭of‬‭the‬ ‭government‬‭within‬‭the‬‭United‬‭States.‬‭This‬‭chapter‬‭comprises‬‭the‬‭principles,‬‭beliefs‬‭and‬‭history‬‭that‬‭the‬ ‭United‬ ‭States‬ ‭was‬ ‭founded‬ ‭upon.‬ ‭The‬ ‭structure,‬ ‭functions,‬ ‭and‬ ‭powers‬ ‭of‬ ‭government,‬ ‭as‬‭well‬‭as‬‭the‬ ‭principles‬‭of‬‭popular‬‭sovereignty,‬‭separation‬‭of‬‭powers,‬‭checks‬‭and‬‭balances,‬‭republicanism,‬‭federalism,‬ ‭and individual rights as all primary foci.‬ ‭Learning Objectives‬ ‭1.‬ ‭Understand‬ ‭governmental‬ ‭structure,‬ ‭Theories‬‭of‬‭Democracy,‬‭the‬‭Separation‬‭of‬‭Powers‬‭and‬‭the‬ ‭System of Checks and Balances.‬ ‭2.‬ ‭Be‬‭able‬‭to‬‭identify‬‭Federalism,‬‭Articles‬‭of‬‭Confederation,‬‭Three-Fifths‬‭Compromise,‬‭Bill‬‭of‬‭Rights‬ ‭and The Federalist Papers‬ ‭3.‬ ‭Understand‬ ‭the‬ ‭development‬ ‭of‬‭Majority‬‭Rule,‬‭Minority‬‭Rights,‬‭the‬‭Great‬‭Compromise,‬‭and‬‭the‬ ‭formulation and adoption of the Constitution.‬ ‭A. United States Government Background‬ ‭At the end of this chapter, you should be able to:‬

‭The‬ ‭Government‬ ‭of‬‭the‬‭United‬‭States‬‭is‬‭defined‬ ‭as‬‭a‬‭representative‬‭democracy.‬‭A‬‭democracy‬‭is‬‭a‬ ‭government‬ ‭in‬ ‭which‬ ‭political‬ ‭power‬ ‭influences‬ ‭institutions,‬‭leaders,‬‭and‬‭policies‬‭and‬‭rests‬‭in‬‭the‬ ‭hands‬‭of‬‭the‬‭people.‬‭A‬‭republic‬‭is‬‭a‬‭government‬ ‭that‬ ‭does‬ ‭not‬ ‭have‬‭a‬‭monarch.‬‭The‬‭government‬ ‭sets‬ ‭rules‬ ‭for‬ ‭a‬ ‭society‬ ‭and‬ ‭tries‬ ‭to‬ ‭keep‬ ‭it‬ ‭running smoothly, securely, and peacefully.‬

‭Some of the main functions of the government include:‬

‭Creating‬ ‭and‬ ‭enforcing‬ ‭laws‬ ‭:‬ ‭The‬ ‭government‬ ‭is‬ ‭responsible‬ ‭for‬ ‭creating‬ ‭laws‬ ‭intended‬ ‭to‬ ‭promote‬ ‭public‬‭safety,‬‭protect‬‭the‬‭rights‬‭of‬‭citizens,‬‭and‬‭maintain‬‭order‬‭within‬‭the‬‭country.‬‭It‬‭is‬‭also‬‭responsible‬ ‭for enforcing these laws through various agencies, such as the police and the judicial system.‬ ‭Providing‬ ‭public‬ ‭goods‬ ‭and‬ ‭services:‬ ‭The‬ ‭government‬ ‭provides‬ ‭several‬ ‭goods‬ ‭and‬ ‭services‬ ‭that‬ ‭are‬ ‭considered essential to the well-being of society, such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure.‬ ‭Managing‬ ‭the‬ ‭economy‬ ‭:‬ ‭The‬ ‭government‬ ‭plays‬ ‭a‬ ‭significant‬ ‭role‬ ‭in‬ ‭managing‬ ‭the‬ ‭country's‬‭economy‬ ‭through‬ ‭various‬ ‭tools,‬ ‭including‬ ‭monetary‬ ‭policy‬ ‭(conducted‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭Federal‬ ‭Reserve)‬‭and‬‭fiscal‬‭policy‬ ‭(conducted through the budget process).‬

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‭Protecting‬ ‭national‬ ‭security‬ ‭:‬ ‭The‬ ‭government‬ ‭is‬ ‭responsible‬ ‭for‬ ‭protecting‬ ‭the‬‭country‬‭from‬‭external‬ ‭threats,‬ ‭such‬ ‭as‬ ‭military‬ ‭attacks,‬ ‭and‬ ‭terrorism,‬ ‭and‬ ‭maintaining‬ ‭diplomatic‬ ‭relations‬ ‭with‬ ‭other‬ ‭countries.‬‭Regulating‬‭industry‬‭and‬‭commerce:‬‭The‬‭government‬‭regulates‬‭various‬‭aspects‬‭of‬‭industry‬‭and‬ ‭commerce to protect consumers and promote fair competition.‬ ‭The‬ ‭government‬ ‭plays‬ ‭many‬ ‭other‬ ‭roles‬ ‭and‬ ‭responsibilities‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭United‬ ‭States,‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬ ‭specific‬ ‭functions of the government can vary depending on the level of government (federal, state, or local).‬

‭How did the Government‬ ‭originate?‬

‭Why was the Government‬ ‭created?‬

‭When was the Government‬ ‭created?‬

‭The government originated‬ ‭through the efforts of notable‬ ‭figures such as Thomas‬ ‭Jefferson, George‬ ‭Washington, and James‬ ‭Madison, who were guided by‬ ‭Enlightenment principles such‬ ‭as liberty, equality, and‬ ‭justice; to establish a new‬ ‭form of government.‬

‭The Founding Fathers‬ ‭designed the government to‬ ‭prevent any single individual,‬ ‭political party, or group from‬ ‭gaining too much power and‬ ‭control. The Founding Fathers‬ ‭proposed a national‬ ‭government. Powers were‬

‭The United States government‬ ‭was created on September‬ ‭17, 1787, with the signing of‬ ‭the United States‬ ‭Constitution. The Constitution‬ ‭established the framework for‬ ‭the United States federal‬ ‭government, which replaced‬ ‭the Articles of Confederation‬ ‭as the country's governing‬ ‭document.‬

‭divided between three‬ ‭separate branches of‬ ‭government:‬

‭The Executive‬ ‭The Legislative‬ ‭The Judiciary‬

‭●‬ ‭●‬ ‭●‬

‭James‬‭Madison‬‭was‬‭a‬‭delegate‬‭at‬‭the‬‭Constitutional‬‭Convention‬‭in‬ ‭1787,‬ ‭where‬ ‭he‬ ‭played‬ ‭a‬ ‭key‬ ‭role‬ ‭in‬ ‭drafting‬ ‭and‬ ‭ratifying‬ ‭the‬ ‭United‬ ‭States‬ ‭Constitution.‬ ‭He‬ ‭is‬ ‭known‬ ‭as‬ ‭the‬ ‭"Father‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Constitution"‬ ‭for‬ ‭his‬ ‭contributions.‬ ‭He‬ ‭also‬ ‭drafted‬ ‭the‬ ‭first‬ ‭ten‬ ‭amendments,‬‭also‬‭known‬‭as‬‭the‬‭Bill‬‭of‬‭Rights.‬‭George‬‭Washington‬ ‭presided over the convention.‬

‭Who wrote the Constitution of‬ ‭the United States?‬

‭B. Democracy‬ ‭The‬ ‭word‬ ‭“democracy”‬ ‭derives‬ ‭from‬ ‭a‬ ‭Greek‬ ‭word‬ ‭translated‬ ‭as‬ ‭“the‬ ‭rule‬ ‭of‬ ‭people.”‬ ‭Democracy‬ ‭pertains‬‭to‬‭the‬‭form‬‭of‬‭government‬‭in‬‭which‬‭the‬‭people’s‬‭power‬‭is‬‭exercised‬‭directly‬‭or‬‭indirectly‬‭through‬ ‭a‬‭system‬‭of‬‭representation‬‭usually‬‭involving‬‭periodically‬‭held‬‭free‬‭elections.‬‭There‬‭are‬‭different‬‭types‬‭of‬ ‭democracies.‬ ‭Direct‬‭democracy‬ ‭:‬‭This‬‭is‬‭a‬‭form‬‭of‬‭government‬‭in‬‭which‬‭all‬‭laws‬‭and‬‭policies‬‭imposed‬‭by‬‭governments‬ ‭are‬ ‭determined‬ ‭by‬‭the‬‭people‬‭themselves‬‭rather‬‭than‬‭by‬‭representatives‬‭who‬‭are‬‭elected‬‭to‬‭represent‬ ‭the‬ ‭people,‬ ‭such‬ ‭as‬ ‭Brexit.‬ ‭Every‬ ‭member‬ ‭of‬ ‭society‬ ‭participates‬ ‭directly‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭political‬ ‭process.‬ ‭Americans exercise direct democracy when they vote directly on political issues, and the majority wins.‬

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‭Indirect‬‭democracy‬‭(representative‬‭democracy)‬ ‭:‬‭In‬‭a‬‭representative‬‭democracy,‬‭members‬‭of‬‭a‬‭society‬ ‭vote‬ ‭for‬ ‭leaders‬ ‭to‬ ‭represent‬ ‭them‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭decisions‬ ‭and‬ ‭actions‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭political‬‭process.‬‭This‬‭helps‬‭to‬ ‭largely reflect the population's general will.‬ ‭The‬‭United‬‭States‬‭is‬‭a‬‭representative‬‭democracy.‬‭This‬‭means‬‭that‬‭citizens‬‭elect‬‭the‬‭government.‬‭Citizens‬ ‭vote‬ ‭for‬ ‭their‬ ‭government‬ ‭officials.‬ ‭These‬ ‭officials‬ ‭represent‬ ‭the‬ ‭citizens’‬ ‭ideas‬ ‭and‬ ‭concerns‬ ‭in‬ ‭government.‬ ‭Every‬ ‭citizen‬ ‭who‬ ‭is‬ ‭18‬ ‭years‬ ‭of‬ ‭age,‬ ‭is‬ ‭not‬ ‭a‬ ‭felon‬ ‭serving‬ ‭time‬ ‭in‬ ‭prison,‬ ‭or‬ ‭has‬ ‭not,‬ ‭because‬ ‭of‬ ‭insanity,‬ ‭been‬ ‭placed‬ ‭under‬ ‭the‬ ‭supervision‬ ‭of‬‭another‬‭person‬‭has‬ ‭suffrage‬ ‭or‬‭the‬‭right‬‭to‬ ‭vote. To the United States, Japan, South Korea & New Zealand, democracy means freedom.‬

‭●‬ ‭Freedom of speech‬ ‭●‬ ‭Freedom of religion‬

‭●‬ ‭Freedom of protest non-violently against the government‬ ‭●‬ ‭Freedom to be uninvolved (Australia requires voting)‬ ‭Other countries may say they are a democracy, but it's only in name such as North Korea.‬ ‭What are the principles of American democracy?‬

‭Participation‬

‭Can vote and express their opinions‬

‭Equality‬

‭Everyone’s vote counts‬

‭Tolerance‬

‭Differences in viewpoints are accepted‬

‭Accountability‬

‭Take responsibility‬

‭Transparency‬

‭No deals under the table‬

‭Republic‬

‭A political system without a monarch‬

‭Fair elections‬

‭Elections are free from manipulation, or coercion‬

‭Economic freedom‬

‭Members can control their own labor and property‬

‭Human rights‬

‭Live by-laws to maintain order‬

‭Proper use of power‬

‭Cannot use their positions for personal gain‬

‭The rule of law‬

‭Live by-laws, to maintain order‬

‭The right to vote‬

‭This‬‭is‬‭an‬‭essential‬‭element‬‭of‬‭democracy‬‭in‬‭any‬‭country.‬‭Free,‬‭fair,‬‭and‬‭frequent‬‭elections‬‭measure‬‭how‬ ‭democratic a country is.‬ ‭●‬ ‭In‬‭1828,‬‭the‬‭presidential‬‭election‬‭was‬‭the‬‭first‬‭in‬‭which‬‭non-property-holding‬‭white‬‭males‬‭could‬ ‭vote in most states.‬

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‭●‬ ‭By‬ ‭the‬ ‭end‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭1820s,‬ ‭attitudes‬ ‭and‬‭state‬‭laws‬‭had‬‭shifted‬‭in‬‭favor‬‭of‬‭universal‬‭white‬‭male‬ ‭suffrage.‬ ‭For‬‭much‬‭of‬‭United‬‭States‬‭history,‬‭the‬‭right‬‭to‬‭vote‬‭was‬‭restricted‬‭or‬‭denied‬‭for‬‭the‬‭poor,‬‭people‬‭of‬‭color,‬ ‭and‬‭women.‬‭The‬‭14th‬‭Amendment‬‭to‬‭the‬‭U.S.‬‭Constitution‬‭grants‬‭full‬‭citizenship‬‭rights,‬‭including‬‭voting‬ ‭rights, to all men born or naturalized in the United States.‬ ‭Representative democracy‬

‭Three basic institutions fulfill representative‬ ‭democracy‬

‭Representative democracy is based on many‬ ‭complex principles‬

‭●‬ ‭Electorate‬ ‭●‬ ‭The representative body‬ ‭●‬ ‭The center of political decision-making‬

‭The most important principles are:‬

‭●‬ ‭Equality of all citizens before the law‬ ‭●‬ ‭Free and fair elections‬ ‭●‬ ‭Protection and respect for human life‬ ‭●‬ ‭The legitimacy of state power‬ ‭●‬ ‭Fulfillment of popular sovereignty‬ ‭●‬ ‭Political pluralism‬ ‭●‬ ‭Majority rule and minority rights‬ ‭●‬ ‭Separation and restriction of power‬ ‭●‬ ‭The legality of state power‬

‭Direct democracy and recall elections‬ ‭Direct‬‭democracy‬‭can‬‭best‬‭be‬‭seen‬‭in‬‭a‬‭recall‬‭election.‬‭A‬ ‭recall‬ ‭election‬ ‭(also‬ ‭called‬ ‭a‬ ‭recall‬ ‭referendum,‬ ‭recall‬ ‭petition,‬‭or‬‭representative‬‭recall)‬‭is‬‭a‬‭procedure‬‭by‬‭which,‬ ‭in‬ ‭certain‬ ‭polities,‬ ‭voters‬ ‭can‬ ‭remove‬ ‭an‬ ‭elected‬ ‭official‬ ‭from‬ ‭office‬ ‭through‬ ‭a‬ ‭referendum‬ ‭before‬ ‭that‬ ‭official's‬ ‭term of office has ended.‬ ‭Different forms of direct democracy‬

‭Two leading forms of‬ ‭direct democracy‬

‭●‬ ‭Participatory democracy‬ ‭●‬ ‭Deliberative democracy‬

‭Semi-direct‬ ‭democracies‬ ‭:‬ ‭Representatives‬ ‭administer‬ ‭day-to-day‬ ‭governance,‬ ‭but‬ ‭the‬ ‭citizens‬ ‭remain‬ ‭the‬ ‭sovereign allowing for four forms of popular action:‬

‭The‬ ‭popular‬ ‭referendum‬ ‭process‬ ‭allows‬ ‭voters‬ ‭to‬ ‭approve‬ ‭or‬ ‭repeal‬ ‭an‬ ‭act‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭legislature.‬ ‭The‬ ‭citizen‬ ‭initiative‬ ‭process‬ ‭enables‬ ‭citizens‬ ‭to‬ ‭bypass‬ ‭their‬ ‭state‬ ‭legislature‬ ‭by‬ ‭placing‬ ‭proposed‬ ‭statutes‬ ‭and,‬ ‭in‬ ‭some‬ ‭states,‬ ‭constitutional‬ ‭amendments‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭ballot. Twenty-four states have citizen initiative processes.‬

‭Referendum‬

‭Initiatives‬

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‭Recall‬

‭This is the power of the voters to remove elected officials before their terms expire.‬

‭An‬ ‭active‬ ‭effort‬ ‭through‬ ‭a‬ ‭set‬ ‭of‬ ‭policies‬ ‭and‬ ‭practices‬ ‭to‬ ‭improve‬ ‭employment‬ ‭or‬ ‭educational opportunities for members of minority groups and women.‬

‭Affirmative Action‬

‭Theories of democracy‬

‭Everyone‬‭has‬‭the‬‭right‬‭to‬‭participate‬‭in‬‭government‬‭either‬‭by‬‭direct‬‭or‬‭representative‬ ‭vote. This situation works well on a small scale.‬ ‭People‬ ‭with‬ ‭common‬ ‭interests‬ ‭form‬ ‭organized‬ ‭groups‬ ‭to‬ ‭promote‬ ‭their‬ ‭causes‬ ‭and‬ ‭influence‬ ‭the‬ ‭political‬ ‭party‬ ‭agenda.‬ ‭This‬ ‭theory‬ ‭maintains‬ ‭that‬ ‭no‬ ‭single‬ ‭group,‬ ‭industry, or government agency dominates politics.‬ ‭A‬ ‭theory‬ ‭of‬ ‭government‬ ‭and‬ ‭politics‬ ‭contending‬ ‭that‬ ‭groups‬ ‭are‬ ‭so‬ ‭strong‬ ‭that‬ ‭the‬ ‭government is weakened.‬ ‭A‬ ‭small‬ ‭number‬ ‭of‬ ‭individuals,‬ ‭groups,‬ ‭and‬ ‭industries‬ ‭hold‬ ‭the‬ ‭most‬‭political‬‭power‬ ‭and‬ ‭influence.‬ ‭President‬ ‭Eisenhower,‬ ‭in‬ ‭his‬ ‭farewell‬ ‭address,‬ ‭warned‬ ‭against‬ ‭the‬ ‭possible‬ ‭problems‬ ‭created‬ ‭by‬ ‭the”military-industrial‬ ‭complex,”‬ ‭which‬ ‭is‬ ‭symbolic‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬‭elitism‬‭in‬‭government.‬‭Some‬‭believe‬‭that‬‭no‬‭matter‬‭how‬‭the‬‭vote‬‭turns‬‭out,‬‭a‬‭small‬ ‭group of elites will do what they want.‬

‭The Traditional Theory‬

‭The Pluralist Theory‬

‭Hyperpluralism‬

‭The Elite Theory‬

‭What's the theory of Madison?‬ ‭James‬ ‭Madison‬ ‭:‬ ‭The‬ ‭Father‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭Constitution,‬ ‭the‬ ‭Bill‬ ‭of‬ ‭Rights,‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬ ‭4th‬ ‭President‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭United‬ ‭States‬ ‭established‬ ‭a‬ ‭government‬ ‭whose‬ ‭very‬ ‭structure‬ ‭would‬ ‭encourage‬ ‭the‬ ‭growth‬ ‭of‬ ‭fractions‬ ‭(now‬ ‭special‬ ‭interest‬ ‭groups).‬ ‭He‬ ‭believed‬ ‭that‬ ‭limiting‬ ‭factions‬ ‭would‬ ‭ultimately‬ ‭violate‬ ‭individual‬ ‭freedoms.‬ ‭He‬ ‭wrote‬ ‭about‬ ‭factions‬ ‭(now‬ ‭special‬‭interest‬‭groups)‬‭and‬‭how‬‭people‬‭would‬‭argue‬ ‭for those rights that affected them if it wasn’t for the good of the nation.‬ ‭Special‬ ‭interest‬ ‭groups‬ ‭:‬ ‭A‬ ‭group‬ ‭of‬ ‭people‬ ‭or‬ ‭organizations‬ ‭seeking‬ ‭or‬ ‭receiving‬ ‭special‬ ‭advantages,‬ ‭typically through political lobbying.‬ ‭Pluralism‬ ‭:‬ ‭Pluralism‬ ‭as‬ ‭a‬ ‭political‬ ‭philosophy‬ ‭is‬ ‭the‬ ‭recognition‬ ‭and‬ ‭affirmation‬ ‭of‬ ‭diversity‬ ‭within‬ ‭a‬ ‭political body.‬

‭●‬ ‭Executive‬ ‭●‬ ‭Legislative‬ ‭●‬ ‭Judicial‬

‭The Madisonian model is a structure of government in which the powers of‬ ‭the government are separated into three branches:‬

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‭Chapter 2:‬ ‭Political Parties and Congress‬ ‭Overview‬

‭The‬‭focus‬‭of‬‭this‬‭lesson‬‭discusses‬‭political‬‭parties‬‭of‬‭the‬‭United‬‭States.‬‭This‬‭chapter‬‭will‬‭look‬‭deeply‬‭into‬ ‭the‬‭history‬‭of‬‭political‬‭parties,‬‭how‬‭they’ve‬‭changed‬‭over‬‭time,‬‭and‬‭where‬‭they‬‭are‬‭today.‬‭Moreover,‬‭we‬ ‭will‬‭delve‬‭into‬‭the‬‭nature‬‭of‬‭third‬‭parties,‬‭their‬‭influence,‬‭and‬‭how‬‭they‬‭assist‬‭in‬‭shaping‬‭political‬‭policy.‬ ‭Additionally, this lesson examines the powers and organization of the United States Congress.‬ ‭Learning Objectives‬ ‭1.‬ ‭Understand and analyze the type and nature of political parties and voting patterns.‬ ‭2.‬ ‭Understand the powers and organization of the United States Congress.‬ ‭3.‬ ‭Know and recognize the qualifications US citizens must have to be elected to Congress.‬ ‭A. Political Parties‬ ‭A‬‭political‬‭party‬‭comprises‬‭individuals‬‭who‬‭organize‬‭to‬‭win‬‭elections,‬‭operate‬‭government,‬‭and‬‭influence‬ ‭public‬‭policy.‬‭Since‬‭the‬‭1850s,‬‭the‬‭Democratic‬‭and‬‭Republican‬‭parties‬‭have‬‭been‬‭the‬‭primary‬‭parties‬‭in‬ ‭Congress.‬ ‭What led to the rise of political parties?‬ ‭Political‬‭factions‬‭or‬‭parties‬‭began‬‭to‬‭form‬‭during‬‭the‬‭struggle‬‭over‬‭ratification‬‭of‬‭the‬‭federal‬‭Constitution‬ ‭of‬‭1789.‬‭Friction‬‭between‬‭them‬‭increased‬‭as‬‭attention‬‭shifted‬‭from‬‭creating‬‭a‬‭new‬‭federal‬‭government‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭question‬ ‭of‬ ‭how‬ ‭powerful‬ ‭that‬ ‭federal‬ ‭government‬ ‭would‬ ‭be.‬ ‭The‬ ‭Constitution‬ ‭encouraged‬‭the‬ ‭concept of two political parties.‬ ‭How were most political parties formed in American history?‬ ‭In‬ ‭the‬ ‭1700s‬ ‭and‬ ‭early‬ ‭1800s,‬ ‭senators‬ ‭were‬ ‭divided‬ ‭into‬ ‭rival‬ ‭parties‬ ‭based‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭support‬ ‭of‬ ‭and‬ ‭opposition‬‭to‬‭the‬‭policies‬‭of‬‭Presidents‬‭George‬‭Washington‬‭and‬‭John‬‭Adams‬‭regarding‬‭foreign‬‭relations‬ ‭with‬‭Great‬‭Britain‬‭and‬‭France‬‭and‬‭the‬‭federal‬‭government's‬‭role.‬‭Founded‬‭in‬‭1828,‬‭the‬‭Democratic‬‭Party‬ ‭is‬‭the‬‭oldest‬‭of‬‭the‬‭two‬‭largest‬‭U.S.‬‭political‬‭parties.‬‭The‬‭Republican‬‭Party‬‭was‬‭officially‬‭founded‬‭in‬‭1854.‬ ‭The‬‭histories‬‭of‬‭both‬‭parties‬‭are‬‭intrinsically‬‭connected.‬‭We‬‭can‬‭trace‬‭the‬‭two‬‭parties'‬‭history‬‭back‬‭to‬‭the‬ ‭Founding Fathers.‬ ‭At the end of this chapter, you should be able to:‬

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‭Congress - Powers and Organization‬

‭The Constitution grants Congress the sole authority to enact legislation and‬ ‭declare war, the right to confirm or reject many Presidential appointments,‬ ‭and substantial investigative powers.‬ ‭Congress is a bicameral legislature divided into two equal institutions: the‬ ‭House of Representatives and the Senate. They each have their own roles‬ ‭and responsibilities; they work together to pass legislation. No bill can‬ ‭become law without passing both the House and Congress.‬

‭Powers of Congress‬

‭How Congress Runs‬

‭The current holder of an office or position in relation to an election. This‬ ‭person has an obligation to the position or office they hold.‬

‭Incumbents‬

‭If a federal official commits a crime or otherwise acts improperly, the‬ ‭House of Representatives may impeach (formally charge) that official. If the‬ ‭official subsequently is convicted in an impeachment trial, he is removed‬ ‭from office.‬

‭Impeachment‬

‭It makes and passes federal laws. The House is one of Congress’s two‬ ‭chambers and part of the federal government’s legislative branch.‬

‭House of Representatives‬

‭The Senate is considered the upper chamber of Congress. Every state‬ ‭elects two U.S. Senators, comprising 100 members in the Senate.‬

‭Senate‬

‭Political parties and voting patterns‬ ‭The‬ ‭US‬ ‭Constitution‬ ‭does‬ ‭not‬ ‭address‬ ‭political‬ ‭parties‬ ‭essentially.‬ ‭The‬ ‭country‬ ‭has‬ ‭had‬ ‭two‬ ‭political‬ ‭parties. However, the founding fathers had hoped to avoid them.‬ ‭George‬‭Washington‬ ‭favored‬‭the‬ ‭Federalist‬‭Party‬ ‭;‬‭the‬‭opposing‬‭party‬‭was‬‭the‬ ‭Democratic-Republican‬ ‭Party,‬ ‭which‬ ‭favored‬ ‭strong‬ ‭state‬ ‭governments‬ ‭(the‬ ‭first‬ ‭president‬ ‭under‬ ‭this‬ ‭party‬ ‭was‬ ‭Thomas‬ ‭Jefferson‬ ‭).‬ ‭●‬ ‭Political‬ ‭Parties‬ ‭:‬ ‭America‬ ‭is‬ ‭a‬ ‭multi-party‬ ‭system.‬ ‭Democratic‬ ‭and‬ ‭Republican‬ ‭parties‬ ‭are‬ ‭currently‬ ‭the‬ ‭primary‬ ‭parties‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭country..‬ ‭Other‬ ‭parties‬ ‭(third‬ ‭parties),‬ ‭such‬ ‭as‬ ‭the‬ ‭U.S.,‬ ‭including‬ ‭the‬ ‭Reform,‬ ‭Socialist,‬ ‭Green‬ ‭Party,‬ ‭Libertarians,‬ ‭Constitution‬ ‭Party,‬ ‭and‬ ‭Natural‬ ‭Law‬ ‭Party, can promote candidates in a presidential election.‬ ‭●‬ ‭Electing‬ ‭Officials‬ ‭:‬ ‭In‬ ‭most‬ ‭states,‬ ‭state‬ ‭offices‬ ‭include‬ ‭the‬ ‭Governor,‬ ‭Lieutenant‬ ‭Governor,‬ ‭Secretary‬ ‭of‬ ‭State,‬ ‭Attorney‬ ‭General,‬ ‭State‬ ‭Supreme‬ ‭Courts‬ ‭Justices,‬ ‭Comptroller,‬ ‭Treasurer,‬ ‭State‬ ‭Senators,‬ ‭and‬ ‭state‬ ‭legislators.‬ ‭These‬ ‭officials‬ ‭are‬ ‭elected‬ ‭by‬ ‭the‬ ‭voters‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭districts‬ ‭they serve.‬ ‭●‬ ‭Voting‬ ‭:‬‭A‬‭most‬‭common‬‭voting‬‭method‬‭used‬‭in‬‭U.S.‬‭elections‬‭is‬‭the‬‭first-past-the-post‬‭system,‬ ‭where‬ ‭the‬ ‭highest-polling‬ ‭candidate‬ ‭wins‬ ‭the‬ ‭election.‬ ‭Under‬ ‭this‬ ‭system,‬ ‭a‬ ‭candidate‬ ‭only‬ ‭requires a plurality of votes to win rather than an outright majority.‬

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‭●‬ ‭Electoral‬ ‭College‬ ‭:‬ ‭The‬ ‭Electoral‬ ‭College‬ ‭is‬ ‭the‬ ‭process‬ ‭we‬ ‭use‬ ‭to‬ ‭elect‬ ‭the‬ ‭U.S.‬ ‭President.‬ ‭Established‬ ‭in‬‭the‬‭U.S.‬‭Constitution‬‭(Article‬‭ll,‬‭Section‬‭1),‬‭its‬‭purpose‬‭is‬‭to‬‭spread‬‭the‬‭power‬‭to‬ ‭elect‬‭the‬‭president‬‭across‬‭all‬‭50‬‭states.‬‭It‬‭was‬‭designed‬‭to‬‭ensure‬‭that‬‭the‬‭more‬‭populous‬‭states‬ ‭wouldn’t overpower the smaller states when choosing the nation’s leader.‬ ‭What were the major political parties in colonial America?‬ ‭The‬ ‭Federalists‬ ‭dominated‬ ‭until‬ ‭1800,‬ ‭while‬ ‭the‬ ‭Republicans‬ ‭dominated‬ ‭after‬ ‭1800.‬ ‭The‬ ‭parties‬ ‭originated‬ ‭in‬ ‭national‬ ‭politics‬ ‭and‬ ‭soon‬ ‭expanded‬ ‭their‬ ‭efforts‬ ‭to‬ ‭gain‬ ‭supporters‬ ‭and‬ ‭voters‬ ‭in‬ ‭every‬ ‭state.‬ ‭The‬ ‭Federalists‬ ‭appealed‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭business‬ ‭community,‬ ‭and‬ ‭the‬ ‭Republicans‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭planters‬ ‭and‬ ‭farmers.‬ ‭Before‬ ‭the‬ ‭American‬ ‭Civil‬ ‭War‬ ‭,‬ ‭there‬ ‭were:‬ ‭Democratic-Republicans,‬ ‭Whigs,‬ ‭National‬ ‭Republicans, Anti-Masonic, Free Soilers, and Democrats.‬

‭The first Republican President was Abraham Lincoln (1861-1865)‬ ‭Abraham‬ ‭Lincoln,‬ ‭elected‬ ‭in‬ ‭1860,‬ ‭was‬ ‭an‬ ‭American‬ ‭lawyer‬‭and‬‭statesman‬‭who‬ ‭served‬ ‭as‬ ‭the‬ ‭16th‬ ‭President‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭United‬ ‭States‬ ‭from‬ ‭1861‬ ‭until‬ ‭his‬ ‭assassination‬‭in‬‭1865.‬‭With‬‭the‬‭Republican‬‭Party’s‬‭success‬‭in‬‭guiding‬‭the‬‭Union‬‭to‬ ‭victory‬‭in‬‭the‬‭American‬‭Civil‬‭War‬‭and‬‭the‬‭Party’s‬‭role‬‭in‬‭the‬‭abolition‬‭of‬‭slavery,‬‭the‬ ‭Republican Party largely dominated the national political scene until 1932.‬ ‭Why did the United States develop a two-party system?‬

‭Political‬‭factions‬‭or‬‭parties‬‭began‬‭to‬‭form‬‭during‬‭the‬‭struggle‬‭over‬‭ratification‬‭of‬‭the‬‭federal‬‭Constitution‬ ‭of‬‭1787.‬‭Friction‬‭between‬‭them‬‭increased‬‭as‬‭attention‬‭shifted‬‭from‬‭creating‬‭a‬‭new‬‭federal‬‭government‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭question‬ ‭of‬ ‭how‬ ‭powerful‬ ‭the‬ ‭federal‬ ‭government‬ ‭should‬ ‭be.‬ ‭In‬ ‭the‬ ‭1820s,‬ ‭Democratic-Republicans‬ ‭in‬ ‭Congress‬ ‭divided‬ ‭over‬ ‭questions‬ ‭about‬ ‭the‬ ‭federal‬ ‭government's‬ ‭powers.‬ ‭Later,‬‭between‬‭1824‬‭and‬‭1840,‬‭emerging‬‭political‬‭parties‬‭would‬‭transform‬‭American‬‭politics,‬‭engaging‬ ‭the‬ ‭general‬ ‭public‬ ‭in‬ ‭politics‬ ‭and‬ ‭organizing‬ ‭two‬ ‭rival‬ ‭parties‬ ‭dedicated‬ ‭to‬ ‭a‬ ‭different‬ ‭vision‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭constitution and government.‬ ‭The role and nature of third parties‬ ‭Third‬‭Parties‬ ‭are‬‭also‬‭called‬ ‭minor‬‭parties‬‭and‬‭spoilers‬ ‭.‬‭They‬‭are‬‭spoilers‬‭because‬‭they‬‭do‬‭not‬‭have‬‭a‬ ‭chance of acquiring electoral votes.‬

‭●‬ ‭Economic protest parties‬ ‭●‬ ‭Ideological parties‬ ‭●‬ ‭Libertarian Party‬

‭●‬ ‭Issue parties‬ ‭●‬ ‭Factional parties‬ ‭●‬ ‭Green Party‬

‭The importance of third parties in a political system‬ ‭●‬ ‭Grants voters another avenue to voice their opinion‬ ‭●‬ ‭Takes some influence and power away from the two major parties‬

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‭Chapter 3:‬ ‭Congress: Rules and Operations‬ ‭Overview‬

‭Overview‬

‭Congress‬‭is‬‭divided‬‭into‬‭2‬‭houses:‬‭the‬‭House‬‭of‬‭Representatives‬‭and‬‭the‬‭Senate.‬‭In‬‭this‬‭lesson,‬‭we‬‭will‬ ‭explore‬ ‭the‬ ‭organization‬‭of‬‭Congress,‬‭standing‬‭committees,‬‭temporary‬‭committees,‬‭and‬‭the‬‭process‬‭of‬ ‭impeachment.‬ ‭Learning Objectives‬

‭At the end of this chapter, you should be able to:‬

‭1.‬ ‭Understand‬ ‭the‬ ‭parts‬ ‭of‬ ‭Congress,‬ ‭Lobbyists,‬ ‭the‬ ‭Congressional‬ ‭Record,‬ ‭and‬ ‭how‬‭committees‬ ‭operate.‬ ‭2.‬ ‭Understand how the US budget operates, currency, post offices, and inventions.‬ ‭3.‬ ‭Discuss the federal courts, war powers, state militias, and the powers of Congress.‬ ‭A. Congress: Rules and Operations‬ ‭Section 5, Article I‬ ‭●‬ ‭Each‬‭House‬‭shall‬‭be‬‭the‬‭judge‬‭of‬‭the‬‭elections,‬‭returns,‬‭and‬‭qualifications‬‭of‬‭its‬‭members,‬‭and‬‭a‬ ‭majority‬ ‭of‬ ‭each‬ ‭shall‬ ‭constitute‬ ‭a‬ ‭quorum‬ ‭to‬ ‭do‬‭business,‬‭but‬‭a‬‭smaller‬‭number‬‭may‬‭adjourn‬ ‭from‬ ‭day‬ ‭to‬ ‭day‬‭and‬‭may‬‭be‬‭authorized‬‭to‬‭compel‬‭the‬‭attendance‬‭of‬‭absent‬‭members,‬‭in‬‭such‬ ‭manner, and under such penalties, as each House may provide.‬ ‭●‬ ‭Each‬ ‭House‬ ‭may‬ ‭determine‬ ‭the‬ ‭rules‬ ‭of‬ ‭its‬ ‭proceedings,‬ ‭punish‬ ‭its‬ ‭members‬ ‭for‬ ‭disorderly‬ ‭behavior, and expel a member with the concurrence of two-thirds, expel a member.‬ ‭●‬ ‭Each‬ ‭House‬ ‭shall‬ ‭keep‬ ‭a‬ ‭journal‬ ‭of‬ ‭its‬ ‭proceedings‬ ‭and,‬ ‭from‬ ‭time‬ ‭to‬ ‭time,‬‭publish‬‭the‬‭same,‬ ‭excepting‬ ‭such‬ ‭parts‬ ‭as‬ ‭may,‬ ‭in‬ ‭their‬ ‭judgment,‬ ‭require‬ ‭secrecy.‬ ‭The‬ ‭yays‬ ‭and‬ ‭nays‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭members‬ ‭of‬ ‭either‬ ‭House‬ ‭on‬ ‭any‬‭question‬‭shall,‬‭at‬‭the‬‭desire‬‭of‬‭one-fifth‬‭of‬‭those‬‭present,‬‭be‬ ‭entered in the journal.‬ ‭●‬ ‭Neither‬ ‭House,‬‭during‬‭the‬‭session‬‭of‬‭Congress,‬‭shall,‬‭without‬‭the‬‭consent‬‭of‬‭the‬‭other,‬‭adjourn‬ ‭for‬ ‭more‬ ‭than‬ ‭three‬ ‭days‬ ‭nor‬ ‭to‬ ‭any‬ ‭other‬ ‭place‬ ‭than‬ ‭that‬ ‭in‬ ‭which‬ ‭the‬ ‭two‬ ‭Houses‬ ‭shall‬ ‭be‬ ‭sitting.‬ ‭How does Congress operate?‬ ‭Congress‬ ‭enacts‬ ‭laws‬ ‭that‬ ‭influence‬ ‭the‬ ‭daily‬ ‭lives‬ ‭of‬ ‭all‬ ‭Americans‬ ‭and‬ ‭is‬ ‭intended‬ ‭to‬ ‭serve‬ ‭as‬ ‭the‬ ‭people's‬‭voice.‬‭Its‬‭responsibilities‬‭include‬‭funding‬‭government‬‭functions‬‭and‬‭programs,‬‭holding‬‭hearings‬ ‭to inform the legislative process, and overseeing the executive branch.‬

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‭What body determines the rules of the US Congress?‬ ‭The‬‭Constitution‬‭authorizes‬‭each‬‭House‬‭to‬‭determine‬‭the‬‭rules‬‭of‬‭its‬‭proceedings.‬‭Under‬‭that‬‭authority,‬ ‭the‬‭House‬‭of‬‭Representatives‬‭adopts‬‭its‬‭rules‬‭anew‬‭each‬‭Congress,‬‭ordinarily‬‭on‬‭the‬‭opening‬‭day‬‭of‬‭the‬ ‭first session.‬ ‭B. Congressional Committees‬ ‭Congressional‬ ‭committees‬ ‭do‬‭the‬‭majority‬‭of‬‭the‬‭work‬‭and‬‭research‬‭for‬‭these‬‭legislative‬‭bodies.‬‭They‬ ‭provide‬ ‭valuable‬ ‭information‬ ‭services‬ ‭to‬ ‭Congress‬ ‭by‬ ‭investigating‬ ‭and‬ ‭reporting‬ ‭about‬ ‭specialized‬ ‭subjects.‬ ‭Congress‬ ‭divides‬ ‭its‬ ‭legislative,‬ ‭oversight,‬ ‭and‬ ‭internal‬ ‭administrative‬ ‭tasks‬ ‭among‬ ‭approximately 200 committees and subcommittees. Within assigned areas, these functional subunits:‬ ‭●‬ ‭gather information‬ ‭●‬ ‭compare‬ ‭and‬ ‭evaluate‬ ‭legislative‬ ‭alternatives‬ ‭●‬ ‭identify‬ ‭policy‬ ‭problems‬ ‭and‬ ‭propose‬ ‭solutions‬ ‭●‬ ‭select,‬‭determine,‬‭and‬‭report‬‭measures‬ ‭for full chamber consideration‬ ‭●‬ ‭monitor‬ ‭executive‬ ‭branch‬ ‭performance‬ ‭(oversight)‬ ‭●‬ ‭investigate allegations of wrongdoing.‬ ‭Investigatory‬ ‭functions‬ ‭are‬ ‭important‬ ‭for‬‭drafting‬‭and‬‭writing‬‭new‬‭laws,‬‭such‬‭as‬‭the‬‭House‬‭discharge‬ ‭petition‬‭process.‬‭However,‬‭committees‬‭often‬‭dominate‬‭this‬‭process‬‭due‬‭to‬‭its‬‭complexity.‬‭From‬‭1995‬‭to‬ ‭2007,‬ ‭only‬ ‭1‬ ‭out‬ ‭of‬‭73‬‭discharge‬‭petitions‬‭submitted‬‭to‬‭the‬‭full‬‭House‬‭successfully‬‭secured‬‭a‬‭decisive‬ ‭vote‬ ‭for‬ ‭a‬ ‭bill.‬ ‭Congressional‬ ‭Committees‬ ‭are‬ ‭divided‬ ‭into‬ ‭areas‬ ‭they‬ ‭are‬ ‭familiar‬ ‭with‬ ‭in‬ ‭their‬ ‭life‬ ‭(military men on military committees). Committees are divided into‬ ‭subcommittees‬ ‭.‬ ‭What is the purpose of the congressional committee?‬ ‭Committees‬ ‭monitor‬ ‭ongoing‬ ‭governmental‬ ‭operations,‬ ‭identify‬ ‭issues‬ ‭suitable‬ ‭for‬ ‭legislative‬ ‭review,‬ ‭gather and evaluate information, and recommend courses of action to the Senate.‬ ‭What role do congressional committees play in the legislative process?‬ ‭Through‬ ‭investigations‬ ‭and‬ ‭hearings,‬ ‭committees‬ ‭gather‬ ‭information‬ ‭on‬ ‭national‬ ‭and‬ ‭international‬ ‭problems‬ ‭within‬‭their‬‭jurisdiction‬‭to‬‭draft,‬‭consider,‬‭and‬‭recommend‬‭legislation‬‭to‬‭the‬‭full‬‭membership‬ ‭of the Senate. Only a small percentage of bills considered by committees reach the Senate floor.‬ ‭Which congressional committee is influential in the legislative process?‬ ‭The‬‭Senate‬‭Committee‬‭on‬‭Judiciary‬‭is‬‭considered‬‭one‬‭of‬‭the‬‭most‬‭influential‬‭committees‬‭in‬‭the‬‭United‬ ‭States‬ ‭Congress.‬ ‭Established‬ ‭in‬ ‭1816‬ ‭as‬ ‭one‬ ‭of‬ ‭the‬ ‭original‬‭standing‬‭committees‬‭in‬‭the‬‭Senate,‬‭it‬‭has‬ ‭broad‬ ‭legislative‬‭jurisdiction‬‭and‬‭plays‬‭a‬‭central‬‭role‬‭in‬‭discussing‬‭social‬‭and‬‭constitutional‬‭issues.‬‭The‬ ‭committee‬‭is‬‭also‬‭responsible‬‭for‬‭overseeing‬‭the‬‭activities‬‭of‬‭the‬‭executive‬‭branch‬‭and‬‭is‬‭involved‬‭in‬‭the‬ ‭initial stages of the confirmation process for all federal judicial nominations.‬

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‭Standing committees‬ ‭Standing‬ ‭Committees‬ ‭are‬‭permanent‬‭committees.‬‭The‬‭standing‬‭committee‬‭is‬‭a‬‭permanent‬‭committee‬ ‭in‬‭Congress‬‭that‬‭lasts‬‭from‬‭session‬‭to‬‭session.‬‭Standing‬‭committees‬‭review‬‭bills‬‭about‬‭broad‬‭issues‬‭such‬ ‭as‬ ‭education,‬ ‭health‬ ‭care,‬ ‭or‬ ‭the‬ ‭budget.‬ ‭There‬ ‭are‬ ‭twenty‬ ‭standing‬ ‭committees‬ ‭in‬ ‭the‬ ‭House‬ ‭of‬ ‭Representatives‬‭and‬‭sixteen‬‭in‬‭the‬‭Senate.‬‭They‬‭determine‬‭which‬‭bills‬‭the‬‭full‬‭chamber‬‭should‬‭consider‬ ‭under their jurisdiction or authority.‬

‭Standing committees in the Senate‬

‭Standing committees in the House‬

‭●‬ ‭Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry‬ ‭●‬ ‭Appropriations‬ ‭●‬ ‭Armed Services‬ ‭●‬ ‭Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs‬ ‭●‬ ‭Budget‬ ‭●‬ ‭Commerce, Science, and Transportation‬ ‭●‬ ‭Energy and Natural Resources‬ ‭●‬ ‭Environment and Public Works‬ ‭●‬ ‭Finance‬ ‭●‬ ‭Foreign Relations‬ ‭●‬ ‭Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions‬ ‭●‬ ‭Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs‬ ‭●‬ ‭Judiciary‬ ‭●‬ ‭Rules and Administration‬ ‭●‬ ‭Small Business and Entrepreneurship‬ ‭●‬ ‭Veterans' Affairs‬

‭●‬ ‭Agriculture‬ ‭●‬ ‭Appropriations‬ ‭●‬ ‭Armed Services‬ ‭●‬ ‭Budget‬

‭●‬ ‭Education and Labor‬ ‭●‬ ‭Energy and Commerce‬ ‭●‬ ‭Ethics‬ ‭●‬ ‭Financial Services‬ ‭●‬ ‭Foreign Affairs‬ ‭●‬ ‭Homeland Security‬ ‭●‬ ‭House Administration‬ ‭●‬ ‭J udiciary‬ ‭●‬ ‭N atural Resources‬ ‭●‬ ‭Oversight and Reform‬ ‭●‬ ‭Rules‬ ‭●‬ ‭Science, Space, and Technology‬ ‭●‬ ‭Small Business‬ ‭●‬ ‭Transportation and Infrastructure‬

‭●‬ ‭Veterans' Affairs‬ ‭●‬ ‭Ways and Means‬

‭Special or Select Committees‬ ‭A‬ ‭special‬‭or‬‭select‬‭committee‬‭is‬‭a‬‭temporary‬‭committee‬‭established‬‭by‬‭Congress‬‭to‬‭perform‬‭a‬‭specific‬ ‭task‬ ‭or‬‭investigation.‬‭They‬‭are‬‭also‬‭called‬‭ad‬‭hoc‬‭committees.‬‭These‬‭committees‬‭may‬‭or‬‭may‬‭not‬‭have‬ ‭the‬ ‭authority‬ ‭to‬ ‭draft‬ ‭and‬ ‭report‬ ‭legislation.‬ ‭They‬ ‭are‬ ‭often‬ ‭investigative‬ ‭and‬ ‭dissolve‬ ‭once‬ ‭their‬ ‭designated‬‭duties‬‭are‬‭completed.‬‭However,‬‭some‬‭select‬‭committees‬‭are‬‭treated‬‭as‬‭permanent‬‭standing‬ ‭committees‬ ‭and‬ ‭continue‬ ‭from‬ ‭one‬ ‭Congress‬ ‭to‬ ‭the‬ ‭next.‬ ‭Some‬ ‭select‬ ‭committees‬ ‭have‬ ‭significantly‬ ‭impacted‬ ‭legislation,‬ ‭and‬ ‭American‬ ‭history,‬ ‭such‬ ‭as‬ ‭the‬ ‭Missouri‬ ‭Compromise‬ ‭Select‬ ‭Committee‬ ‭established‬ ‭in‬ ‭1821,‬ ‭which‬ ‭helped‬ ‭draft‬ ‭a‬ ‭compromise‬ ‭on‬ ‭the‬ ‭question‬ ‭of‬ ‭slavery‬ ‭in‬ ‭newly‬ ‭admitted‬ ‭states.‬‭Both the Senate and the House have:‬

‭●‬ ‭Appropriations Committees‬ ‭●‬ ‭Armed Service Committees‬ ‭●‬ ‭Judiciary Committees‬

‭●‬ ‭Veterans Affairs Committees‬ ‭●‬ ‭Homeland Security Committees‬

‭The Senate also has a Government Affairs Committee.‬

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