Question
11. What is oversight? List three tools of Congressional oversight. 12. What is agenda setting? 13. Compare the House and Senate (a diagram may be useful here) Consider size, terms qualifications office, special duties. 14. Describe each of the four types of congressional committees. What is the purpose of each? How do they play a role in how a bill becomes a law? 15. What is the function of the committee chair?What is the seniority system? 16. What is the purpose of a committee hearing?What is a markup? 17. What is the function of the House Rules Committee? What is a unanimous consent agreement in the Senate? 18. Define Filibuster, Cloture and nuclear option. 19. What is the purpose of a conference committee? 20. Describe Congressional leadership in both houses of Congress. A chart may be beneficial to illustrate the hierarchy of positions.Be sure to note:Speaker of the House majority leaders , whips,minority leaders, vice president.
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Palmer
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Answer
11. **Oversight** is the process by which Congress monitors the executive branch to ensure that laws are implemented as intended and that federal agencies are carrying out their responsibilities effectively and efficiently. It's a key part of checks and balances.Three tools of Congressional oversight include:* **Hearings:** Committees hold hearings to gather information and question officials about agency performance, potential wrongdoing, or the implementation of laws.* **Investigations:** Congress can launch investigations into specific issues or agencies, often through special committees or subcommittees.* **Budgetary appropriations:** Congress controls the funding for federal agencies, giving them leverage to influence agency priorities and hold them accountable for how they spend taxpayer money.12. **Agenda setting** is the process by which issues are identified and prioritized for consideration by policymakers. It determines which topics gain public and governmental attention and which are neglected. Media, interest groups, public opinion, and political leaders all play a role in shaping the political agenda.13. **House vs. Senate:**| Feature | House of Representatives | Senate ||----------------|------------------------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------|| Size | 435 members | 100 members || Term Length | 2 years | 6 years || Qualifications | 25 years old, 7 years a citizen, resident of the state | 30 years old, 9 years a citizen, resident of the state || Special Duties | Initiates revenue bills, Impeachment power | Confirms presidential appointments, Tries impeachment cases, Ratifies treaties |14. **Types of Congressional Committees:*** **Standing Committees:** Permanent committees that focus on specific policy areas (e.g., agriculture, defense, judiciary). They play a crucial role in the legislative process by reviewing and revising bills, holding hearings, and conducting oversight.* **Select Committees:** Temporary committees created for a specific purpose, such as investigating a particular issue. They disband once their task is complete.* **Joint Committees:** Composed of members from both the House and Senate, they typically focus on issues of common concern, such as taxation or the Library of Congress. They generally have limited legislative power.* **Conference Committees:** Temporary committees formed to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of the same bill. Their work is essential for a bill to become law.15. The **committee chair** is the leader of a congressional committee. They have significant influence over the committee's agenda, the scheduling of hearings, and the markup process. The **seniority system** is a traditional practice (though less strictly adhered to now than in the past) where the chair of a committee is typically the member of the majority party who has served on the committee the longest.16. A **committee hearing** is a formal meeting held by a congressional committee to gather information and perspectives on a particular issue or bill. A **markup** is a session where committee members revise and amend a bill before it is reported to the full chamber for consideration.17. The **House Rules Committee** determines the rules of debate for bills considered on the House floor, including how long debate will last and what amendments, if any, can be offered. In the Senate, a **unanimous consent agreement** is a negotiated agreement among all senators that sets the terms for considering a bill. It's used to expedite the legislative process.18. A **filibuster** is a tactic used in the Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill by extending debate indefinitely. **Cloture** is a procedure used to end a filibuster, requiring a three-fifths vote (60 senators). The **nuclear option** refers to changing Senate rules, typically by a simple majority vote, to eliminate the filibuster for certain types of nominations or legislation.19. A **conference committee** is a temporary joint committee formed to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of the same bill. Their goal is to produce a compromise version that can be passed by both chambers.20. **Congressional Leadership:**| Position | House of Representatives | Senate ||-------------------------|--------------------------|---------------------------|| Presiding Officer | Speaker of the House | Vice President (President of the Senate), President Pro Tempore || Majority Leader | Majority Leader | Majority Leader || Majority Whip | Majority Whip | Majority Whip || Minority Leader | Minority Leader | Minority Leader || Minority Whip | Minority Whip | Minority Whip |The Speaker of the House is the most powerful member of the House and is elected by the majority party. The majority and minority leaders in both chambers guide their party's legislative strategy. Whips are responsible for ensuring party discipline and counting votes. The Vice President presides over the Senate but only votes to break ties. The President Pro Tempore presides in the Vice President's absence.