AP U.S. Government & Politics Review - Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches and Government - 2.1 Congress: The Senate and House of Representatives

Sep 20, 2026

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AP U.S. Government & Politics Review Unit 2 focuses on how Congress and the presidency interact. It explains bicameral structure, including Senate and House membership requirements, terms, and responsiveness, then details Congress’s legislative process and committee roles. It covers representation models and congressional behavior through key cases like Baker v. Carr and Shaw v. Reno, and summarizes presidential powers, including vetoes and executive actions. The unit also reviews nominations, confirmations, cabinet roles, and checks on presidential authority.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages18

Reading Time45 min

AccessFree to download

2.1 Congress: The Senate and House of Representatives

Important Documents

Main Topics

2.2 Structures, Powers, and Functions of Congress

Legislative Process

Roles/Organization of the Senate vs. House of Representatives

Types of Committees

2.3 Congressional Behavior

Important Cases

Models of Representation

2.4 Roles and Powers of the President

Important Documents

Veto

Signing Statement

Treaties vs. Executive Agreement

Executive Order

Formal vs. Informal Powers of the President

2.5 Checks on the Presidency

Presidential Nomination

Cabinet & White House Staff

Senate Confirmation

2.6 Expansion of Presidential Powers

Important Documents

| The Senate | The House of Representatives | | --- | --- | | ● Upper chamber of Congress
● Each state has two representatives (100 Senators total)
● Six-year term
● ⅓ of Senators run for reelection every two years
● Senators must be at least 30 years old
● Less formal debate procedures | ● Lower chamber of Congress
● Number of representatives is based on state’s population (435 Representatives total)
○ Determined by the census
● Two-year term
● Representatives must be at least 25 years old
● Typically more responsive to constituents | AP U. S. Government & Politics Review Unit 2: Interactions Among Branches and Government (25-36% Exam Weight 2.1 Congress: The Senate and House of Representatives Important Documents ● Article I of the Constitution ○ Established bicameral legislature Main Topics 2.2 Structures, Powers, and Functions of Congress Commented [1]: Check to make sure you covered all the info Commented [2]: Check to make sure you covered all the info Main Topics ● Legislative Process ○ Process is slow by design to ensure that Bills compromises are made ○ can only be introduced by a member of Congress (Grace Zhang) ● Roles/Organization of the Senate vs. House of Representatives (Rebecca Artavia) 2.2 Structures, Powers, and Functions of Congress (continued) ● Types of Committees ○ Allows Congress to perform oversight to review work of the bureaucracy ■ Can also check the executive branch ○ Majority power holds committee chair position ■ Party in power controls the committee ○ Most proposed bills die in committee ○ Committee of the Whole = all representatives of the House of Representatives serve to review details ofa proposal ○ House Rules Committee = schedules and manages the flow of legislation for the House of Representatives ■ Dictates how easy/ difficult to pass a bill | Standing | | Joint | Select | Conference | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | ● Permanent | ● | Committee | ● Temporary | ● Temporary | | committees | | made up of | committees | committee | | ● Members are | | member from | ● Limited | that comes to | | experts in | | both the | purpose | a compromise | | their | | House and | | regarding a | | respective | | Senate | | bill | | topic | ●
● | Most are permanent committees Jurisdiction over matters involving both houses | | ● Compromise
bill must be appropriate to both Senate
and House | 2.3 Congressional Behavior Important Cases ● Baker v. Carr (1961) ○ Established “one-person, one-vote” principle ■ One person’s vote is equal to another’s in the same state ○ Established that the Court has the power to review state redistricting issues ● Shaw v. Reno (1993) ○ Ruled that redistricting on the basis of race violated the Voting Rights Act of 1965 Main Topics ● Models of Representation | Trustee | Delegate | Politico | | --- | --- | --- | | ● Member of Congress | ● Member of Congress | ● Member of Congress | | that takes into account | that will listen and | that follows the trustee | | the views of their | follow their | model on issues their | | constituents but acts | constituents' | constituents do not | | on their judgement | preferences | care about, but follow the delegate model on issues they do | ● Divided Government ○ Gridlock = no compromise can be made on an issue ○ Gerrymandering = changing the boundaries of a district to favor a specific party ○ Redistricting = process of adjusting electoral districts 2.4 Roles and Powers of the President Important Documents ● Article II of the Constitution ○ Established the formal powers ○ Established the executive branch ■ Stated the power of the federal government Main Topics ● Veto ○ Constitutional power of the President to reject a bill passed by Congress ○ Congress can override a veto w/ a ⅔ vote from both houses ○ Pocket Veto = an indirect veto, where if the president neither signs or vetoes the

FAQs

How do the Senate and House of Representatives differ in size, terms, and age requirements?

Each state has two Senators with a six-year term, and Senators must be at least 30. The House has 435 Representatives with a two-year term based on state population, and Representatives must be at least 25.

What are the key steps and purposes of the legislative process in Congress?

The legislative process is slow by design to ensure compromises, and only members of Congress can introduce bills. Committees often stop bills, and the House Rules Committee manages how easily a bill will pass.

What kinds of powers does the President have, and how do they differ between formal and informal powers?

Formal powers include commander-in-chief duties, nominating officials and judges with Senate approval, treaty-making, granting pardons, recommending legislation, delivering the State of the Union, and vetoing legislation. Informal powers include issuing executive orders, signing statements, negotiating executive agreements, and persuading Congress to support the President’s policy agenda.

Sep 20, 2026

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