2. Name the two houses of Congress.
House of Representatives and Senate
3. What branch of government is Congress?
Legislature
4. What is the main duty of the Congress?
Make laws
5. What are the requirements to be a member of the House of Representatives?
25 years of age; 7 years; live in district and state you represent
6. How long a term do Representatives serve?
2 years
7. How many terms can they serve?
Unlimited
8. How many total Representatives are in the House of Representatives?
435
9. What determines the number of Representatives each state is given?
Census population and distribution
10. What geographic area does each member of the House, represent?
Congressional District
11. What are the requirements to be a Senator?
30 years old; 9 years citizen; live in state they represent
12. Why are these requirements greater for Senators?
Upper chamber/ more prestige
13. How many Senators are from each state?
2
14. How are Senator's representation determined?
Constitution
15. What is the length of a Senator's term?
6 years
16. How many terms are Senators allowed to serve?
Unlimited
17. What is the total membership of the Senate?
100
18. Who do Senators represent in their state?
The whole state
19. What is the franking privilege?
Congressman may send info by mail for free
20. Why is this needed as a power of a Congressmen?
To get information out about proposed bills to constituents
21. Define censure?
Disapproval of legislator's conduct�kept from speaking during debates (expulsion=removal from congress)
22. What can happen to a Congressmen, who has gotten into legal troubles?
Can get expelled
23. How long does each Congress serve?
2 years
24. How much time does Congress spend meeting every year?
January to Nov/Dec
25. What part of the Constitution gives Congress its powers?
Article 1
26. List the four major terms that all describe powers given only to the Congress?
Expressed, Exclusive, Enumerated, Delegated
27. These are other powers that are not written directly into the Constitution, but are deemed necessary?
Implied Powers= Necessary and proper clause
28. What is meant by the "power of the purse" when speaking of the House of Representatives?
All money/appropriation bills start in the House of Representatives
29. Which part of Congress must approve all Treaties made with foreign nations?
Senate
30. Which house of Congress has the power to pick a President if no one wins the electoral college?
House of Representatives
31. Which house of Congress acts as the jury and decides guilt or innocence in an impeachment?
Senate
32. Which house of Congress must approve Presidential appointments to high government positions?
Senate
33. Name two other ways in which the power of the Congress is limited in our system?
1. 10th amendment; Checks and balances 2. Two-party system
34. Why does each house of Congress have rules to follow in conducting their business?
To get things done they need to set up a structure and follow it
35. Why does the House of Representatives have many more rules than the Senate?
Different in size and how fast they need to conduct business. Very large number 435 vs. 100
36. Who is the leader of the House of Representatives?
Speaker of the House
37. What powers does this person (leader of HOR) possess?
Set up calendar; set up committee appointments
38. Who is the Constitutional leader of the Senate?
Vice President
39. What power does this (Constitutional leader of Senate) person have?
Only votes when there are tie votes
40. Who is the ceremonial leader of the Senate?
President Pro Tempore
41. The leader in each house of the largest political party is called what?
Majority
42. The leader in each house of the smaller political party is called what?
Minority
43. What is the job of the party whips in both houses of Congress?
Keep track of voting on important issues and get party members to vote for "Their" party.
44. How does Congress manage to propose, research, and pass hundreds of laws every year?
Divide work into Committees
45. How do Congressmen get placed onto a committee usually?
Seniority and by party affiliation
46. Who is chosen to be the chairperson in each of these committees?
Senior member of majority party
47. What is the first step in passing a law?
Propose a bill and drop it in the hopper (box)
48. What must happen to an idea for a law in order for it to become an official bill in Congress?
Sponsored by a member of Congress and get a number
49. What happens to a bill after it is introduced?
Assigned to a committee
50. What three basic options might a committee do with a bill after receiving it?
Send bill to next stage; Kill the Bill; Pigenhole
51. If a bill makes it to the debate stage, how are debates different in the House and the Senate?
Time of debate-- limited in house and unlimited in Senate; Each party speaks about the bill
52. Name the three methods that can be used to vote in Congress?
Voice; Standing; Roll call
53. Why are traditional and computerized roll-call votes most often used?
Computer�quicker records for big bills, Traditional�voice for procedure "ayes" and "nays
54. In what way must a bill pass each house of Congress?
Majority vote
55. What happens to a bill that has passed both Houses?
1. Goes to president for pass/fail
56. What four options does the President have after getting a proposed law from Congress?
� Sign into law;
� pocket veto;
� veto;
� not sign�become law in 10 days
57. What can happen if the President does veto a bill?
Can get over-ridden by Congress
58. What type vote is required to go over a veto?
2/3 vote of both House and Senate
1. Our two-House Congress came about because of what agreement at the Constitutional Convention?
Great Compromise --Connecticut compromise