(9) H Civics - The Legislative Branch
Where can bills come from?
constituents (citizens), organized groups (ex: businesspeople), congressional committees, members of Congress, the president
What is the job of the whip?
count votes, encourage party loyalty, and ensure that the party's members are present for important votes
What are caucuses?
meetings of congressional members of a certain party to determine party policy and leaders
What is different about debate for a bill in the Senate?
speeches can last indefinetly long, and some representatives may filibuster
What is a filibuster?
talking a bill to death to prevent a bill from passing
What is an act?
term for law
What are limits on power?
the Constitution limits certain things from Congress and sometimes gives them to the state
What happens after a bill is assigned letters and a number?
the bill is assigned to a standing committee.
What are the two houses of Congress?
Senate and House of Representatives
What is impeachment?
accusing an office holder of misconduct
How much does a member of Congress make?
$174,000
How much does the pro tempore of the Senate make?
$193,400
How much does the Speaker of the House make?
$223,500
How many members are in the Senate?
100 (2 per state)
How long are terms in the House?
2 years
How many congressional districts are there?
435
How many maximum members are in the House of Representatives?
435 representatives
How long are terms in the Senate?
6 years
How does the impeachment process work?
A majority of the members of the House must vote for these charges in order to impeach the president. After the charges of misconduct are filed, the Senate has the power to try impeachment cases like a court. Two-thirds of the senators must vote for conviction. Vice President becomes judge.
How can a filibuster be stopped?
Cloture. 3/5 vote is required (60 senators)
What happens when sessions conclude?
Congress adjourns,
What are joint sessions?
Congress meets together
What happens when a bill is passed through a committee?
If in house, placed on house calendar. Usually, though, speaker of the house determines what bills to discuss. House rule committee decides the amount of time to discuss the bill, which is divided evenly between supporters and opponents. Amendments can be offered to the bill, but after discussion, the bill is voted on. If a majority vote for the bill, it is passed on to the Senate
What does a conference committee do?
It irons out the differences between Senate and House versions of a bill; creating a compromise bill to be voted on
What happens when a bill is introduced?
Its is assigned letters and a number EX: Hr1215 House of Reps, 1215 bill introduced
When does a Congressional term begin?
January 3 of odd numbered years, as stated in the 20th Amendment
What are the floor leaders?
Members of the House and Senate selected by their parties, head of their party
When are the House of Representatives elected?
November of each even-numbered year
When are elections held?
November of even numbered years
What 3 actions can the president take with the bill?
President can sign it and declare it a law, Bill can be vetoed, or President can keep the bill for 10 days. If he does not sign it, two things can happen --> If congress is in session, passed If congress's session ends, pocket veto
What are the qualifications of the House?
Qualifications: 25 years old, US citizen for at least 7 years, legal residents of the state they represent
What are the qualifications of the Senate?
Qualifications: 30 years old, US citizen for 9 years, legal resident of the state they represent
What is a quorum?
The amount of members present required to conduct a meeting.
What is a congressional district?
The area that a member of the House represents
What are congressional sessions?
The name of the two parts into which a term of Congress is divided
What is a standing committee?
a permanent congressional committee that meets regularly
What is a bill?
a proposed law
What is treason?
act that betrays or endangers one's country
What are the special powers given to the Senate?
all impeachment trails must be held in the Senate, Senate chooses a vice president if there are not enough electoral votes, all treaties must be approved by 2/3 of Senate, and certain high officials, like Supreme Court members, must be approved by the Senate
How are the representatives regulated?
apportioned
What are Congressional whips?
assistant of a party's floor leader
What is an appropriation bill?
bill approving of the spending of money, which must begin in the House of Representatives
What happens when the bill is sent to the Senate?
bill is approved, sent to committee, committee revises, committee sends it back.
What 4 things can happen to a bill when sent to a committee?
can be "set aside" = dead, after hearings and discussion, bill can be passed, changed and passed, or killed
What is Defending the Country?
declare war/maintain armed forces
What are the four types of Congressional powers?
delegated, implied, impeachment, and special powers
What are the 3 rules about how Congress should be organized in the Constitution?
directs the House of Representatives to select a presiding officer, names the vice president of the US as the president of the Senate, calls for selection of a senator to preside in the vice president's absence
What happens when a compromise bill is approved of?
final version of the bill is sent to the president
What are the 5 general categories of delegated powers?
financing government, regulating and encouraging American Trade and Industry, Defending the Country, Creating Lower Courts, and Providing for Growth
What is censure?
formal disapproval of a Congress members action
What is veto?
formal rejection
What are codes of conduct?
formalized rules and standards that the members of Congress must follow
What is a bicameral legislature?
lawmaking body composed of two houses
What is cloture?
legislative procedure for ending debate in the Senate and taking a vote
What do these codes of conduct establish?
limits to the amount of outside income a member of Congress may earn
What is the majority and minority party?
majority - most members minority - fewest members
What are the special powers given to the House of Representatives?
must start all bills for raising revenue, has the sole power to impeach public officials, chooses the president if no presidential candidate receives enough electoral votes
What is the elastic clause?
necessary and proper clause has been stretched to do many things
What is special about the Senate elections?
only 1/3 of membership is elected, so that at least 2/3 has experience
What is expulsion?
person must give up his or her seat in Congress
What is financing the Government?
power to finance the federal government, can raise tax, borrow money, print and coin money
What are implied powers?
powers that Congress has exercised under the clause "necessary and proper"
What are the Rules of Conduct?
practices and rules followed by the members of Congress
pocket veto
president's power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for 10 days
What is the Speaker of the House?
presider over the daily meetings of the House from the majority party
What is the president pro tempore?
presider over the daily meetings of the Senate from the majority party
Members of Congress have the right to ________ other members, as said in the Rules of Conduct
question
What is Regulating and Encouraging American Trade and Industry
regulate foreign and interstate trade, pass laws to protect the rights of the inventors
What is Providing for Growth?
regulating immigration/natural growth, adding territories and new states
What can the supreme court do of Congress in questioning a representative?
review their actions
What are franking privileges?
right to mail official letters or packages for free
What is Creating Lower Courts
set up system of national courts
What is apportioned?
the number of representatives fluctuates with a states population
What is gerrymandering?
the practice of drawing district lines that favor a particular political party, politician, or group of people
Can veto or pocket veto be overridden?
veto, 2/3 of vote by Congress
What is immunity?
when Congress is in session, members can not be arrested
