Legislative Branch Test
How many members make up the Senate?
100 Members
What is another name for Clause 18, the "necessary and proper" clause?
The Elastic Clause
What are enumerated powers? Provide examples.
The Federal Powers; To regulate interstate trade; To coin money; To establish a post office;
What is the most powerful position in the Senate?
The Vice President
What is a non-legislative power of Congress? Provide several examples.
- Propose amendments to the constitution - May declare war - Can impeach and remove the President and other civil officials of the government, including judges - May rule on Presidential disability and reinstatement - Regulate conduct of the members
Outline the process a bill takes in becoming a law.
-The Bill Is Proposed -The Bill Is Introduced -The Bill Goes to Committee -The Bill Is Reported -The Bill Is Debated -The Bill Is Voted On -The Bill Is Referred to the Senate -The Bill Is Sent to the President -The Bill Is a Law
How many senators are in the Senate? How many representatives are on the House?
100; 435
How many senators are afforded each state?
2 Senators
How many members make up the House of Representatives?
435 Members
How long is one term of office for a Senator? Representative?
6 year term; 2 year term
In what way(s) must a filibuster end?
A filibuster can be stopped when the Senate invokes cloture. 1. Wait two days after a filibuster begins. 2. Obtain sixteen signatures on a motion to invoke cloture. 3. Wait another two days before the Senate can vote on cloture. 4. Make sure that three-fifths of the Senate (sixty Senators) vote to end debate. 5. Endure and additional thirty hours of debate before the final roll call vote.
The legislative tactic of filibustering may only occur in the Senate. Explain why this is so.
A filibuster can only happen on the United States Senate because it is the only function that does not have a time limit on speeches and debates concerning a proposal
How does a pocket veto occur? (there are two outcomes)
A pocket veto occurs when a bill fails to become law because the president does not sign the bill and cannot return the bill to Congress within a 10-day period because Congress is not in session.
Which amendment gives the states reserved powers?
Amendment 10
Which Constitutional Article describes the Legislative Branch of government?
Article 1
Which article provides for states' rights?
Article 4
How are the House and Senate similar?
Both groups are charged with drafting legislation that may become law
Which two presidents were impeached?
Clinton; Harrison
Where does most of the work for bills take place?
Congress's Committee
What is the major purpose of congressional committee?
Congressional committees, which fall into several areas of specialization, accept, analyze, amend and sometimes pass federal laws. The laws enacted and approved by congressional committees ultimately affect citizens as these laws govern the actions of people and set standards for behavior.
What are people from a representative's district called?
Constituents
What are the requirements to become a Representative?
Each representative must: (1) be at least twenty-five years old; (2) have been a citizen of the United States for the past seven years; and (3) be (at the time of the election) an inhabitant of the state they represent.
How frequently is a census taken?
Every 10 years
What are the checks from the other branches upon the Legislative?
Executive over Legislative: - Veto power -Emergency calling into session of one or both houses of Congress Judicial over Legislative: -Judicial review -Compensation cannot be diminished
What is an oddly shaped district designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group?
Gerrymandering
How are the House and Senate different?
House: - 435 members with two-year terms - More committees and subcommittees Senate: - 100 members with six-year terms - Fewer committees and subcommittees
What are appropriations bills and which house must they originate?
It is a bill that sets money aside for specific spending; House of Reps
What does it mean if a committee tables a bill?
It means that the bill is set aside to be reviewed at a later date. The bill is basically put on hold.
Which branch of government has the power to declare war?
Legislative Branch
What are checks upon the other branches form the Legislative?
Legislative over Executive: -Power to declare war -Senate approves treaties and ambassadors Legislative over Judicial: -Senate approves federal judges -Impeachment power (House)
What is a standing Committee? Conference committee? Joint Committee?
Permanent Committee; When both houses meet to work out differences between similar bills; When both houses meet for house keeping
After a national census has been taken, changes in population distribution causes the changing of Congressional seats among states. What is the effect commonly called?
Reapportionment
What does it mean to impeach an officeholder?
Remove them from office
Which house confirms or rejects presidential appointments?
Senate
What are the two houses of Congress?
Senate and House of Representatives (HoRs)
What is known as the upper house? Lower house?
Senate; The House of Representative
What options does the President have upon receiving a bill?
Sign it; Veto it; Do nothing
What is the most powerful position in the House of Representatives?
Speaker of the House
What is the name of the plans and ultimately the compromise that created Congress?
The NJ and Virginia Plan
What are concurrent powers? Provide examples.
The Shared Powers; To protect the welfare of the citizens; To punish law breakers; To collect taxes; To borrow money; To set up courts
In order of succession, who follows the VP to the office of the POTUS?
The Speaker of the House
What are reserved powers? Provide examples.
The State Powers; To conduct elections; To establish marriage and divorce laws; To set up local government
What is a filibuster? Explain its purpose.
The filibuster is often a last-ditch effort by the minority party to delay or kill a bill or nomination
How many terms does a Representative serve?
There are no limits on how many terms a member may serve.
How many terms does a Senator serve?
There are no limits on how many terms a member may serve.
What are the requirements to become a Senator?
To be a senator, individuals must be: - at least 30 years old. - a U.S. citizen for at least nine years at the time of election to the Senate. - a resident of the state one is elected to represent in the Senate.
Who elects the Speaker of the House?
To be elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of votes cast, which may be less than a majority of full membership of the House, because of absentees of Members voting "present." If no candidate receives the requisite majority, the roll call is repeated until a Speaker is elected.
In relation to laws, what is the major job of the Legislative Branch of government?
To make laws
What is a formal agreement between two or more countries?
Treaty
How many representatives are afforded each state?
Varies depending on population
The President of the Senate, Vice President of the United States, may only vote on legislation when what occurs?
When a tie occurs
What is a referendum?
a vote in which all the people in a country or an area decide on an important question
What does bicameral mean and how is it applied to our government?
having two branches, chambers, or houses, as a legislative body; House of Reps and Senate make Legislative Branch
Who can introduce bills in congress?
members of Congress
What is a quorum?
the minimum number of members of an assembly or society that must be present at any of its meetings to make the proceedings of that meeting valid.
Define and provide an example of a pork-barrel project.
the use of government funds for projects designed to please voters or legislators and win votes. $7.2 million to the Harkin Grant Program. Proposed by Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa. Harkin originally asked for $10 million for his self-titled program benefiting Iowa's public schools