After reading Chapter 4, the student should be able to:

1. Evaluate the difficulty legislators face in trying to reconcile local and national interests.
2. Explain the prominent background characteristics of members of Congress.
3. Define and explain the significance of malapportionment, gerrymandering, term limits, seniority, standing committees, conference committees, subcommittees, select and joint committees, senatorial courtesy, legislative oversight, and the filibuster, among others.
4. Detail the various stages of the legislative process, including committee debate, floor votes, role of party leadership, consideration by both houses, and the veto process.
5. Explain the reasoning behind the organization of both the House and Senate.
6. Review the congressional budget process, the failure of Gramm-Rudman, the Clinton and Republican proposals, and the key roles of major committees in both houses.
7. Explain the major innovations brought to congressional procedures by the Republican majorities, especially in the House of Representatives under Speaker Gingrich.
8. Summarize the political tactics, the differing results from both houses, and the reasons for the defeat of the Balanced Budget Amendment of 1995.

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