a legislature consisting of 2 parts or houses
bicameral
population count
census
a person from a legislatures district
constituent
an oddly shaped legislative district designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group
gerrymander
party with most members
majority party
party with least members
minority party
permanent committees that continue their work from session to session in congress
standing committee
years of service
seniority
powers congress has that are specifically listed in the constitution
expressed powers
powers congress has that are not stated specifically in the constitution
implied powers
gives congress the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out its expressed powers
elastic clause
to accuse government officials of misconduct in office
impeach
requires police to bring prisoners to court to explain why they are holding the person
writ of habeas corpus
law that punishes person accused of crime without a trial or fair hearing in court
bill of attainder
law that allows a person to be punished for an action that wasn't against the law when commited
ex post facto law
right of senators and representatives to send job related mail without paying postage
franking privilege
representative of a group who contacts law makers or other government officials directly to influence policy making
lobbyist
work that a law maker does to help constituents with a problem
casework
government projects and grants that primarily benefit the home district or state
pork-barrel project
resolution passed by both houses
joint resolution
organization of people with some common interest who try to influence government decisions
special-interest groups
unrelated amendment tacked on a bill
rider
tactic to defeat bill in senate by talking until the bill's sponsor withdraws it
fillibuster
procedure used in senate to limit debate on a bill
cloture
voting method in which those in favor say "yea" and those against say "no
voice vote
voting method in senate in which members voice their vote in turn
roll-call vote
refusal to sign bill
veto
presidents power to kill a bill if congress is not in session by not signing it for 10 days
pocket veto
total number of members in congress
535
what did james madison call congress?
first branch
Date of official start of congress each year
january 3rd
in which year?
odd years
length of each congressional session
2 years
how is the congressional session divided?
two sessions
what is a joint session? When does this usually occur?
when the house and senate meet
gathers to hear president's state of union address, times of crisis, or a special event
what could bring congress together when they are out of session?
times of crisis
what are the two houses of congress?
house of representatives and senate
how is representation calculated for the house?
population
what are the people called who live in a congressional district?
constituents
what are oddly shaped district called? why would they be like this? Who is it named after?
gerrymander
increase voting strength
governor Elbridge gerry
how long is a house member's term?
2 years
what was the goal of the founders when they created the house's representation rules?
they can be closer to the people
how many members in the senate?
100
how many members does each state get?
2
how long is a senator's term?
6 years
how are their terms staggered? Why is it like this?
so no more than 1/3 of the senators are up for reelection at one time
more stable
What does the Speaker of the House do?
steers legislation through house
who is our current speaker of the house?
paul ryan
Does the senate have anyone with as much power as the speaker of the house?
no
who does the president pro tempore replace?
president of the senate
does the president pro tempore have a great amount of power?
no, the position is more ceremonial
What are the four types of congressional committees?
standing, select, joint, and conference committees
how are committee assignments determined?
by who elected them
What article and section of the constitution give congress expressed powers?
article 1 section 8
what article, section, and clause of the constitution give congress implied powers? What is another name for implied powers?
article 1 section 8 clause 18
elastic clause
what is congress suppose to do for our nation?
make laws
govern federal properties
create post offices
establish federal courts
raise and spend money
regulate commerce
deal with foreign nations
collected by congress so that it can spend money
taxes
where do all tax bills have to start? Why did the founders set it up that way?
house of representatives
they are closest to the people
what is the two-step process that congress uses to spend money?
pass authorization of bills and appropriation of bills
article 1 section 8 clause 3 is called the "Commerce clause". What does that give congress the power to do? Why is this so important?
regulate foreign and interstate commerce
maintains balanced playing field
Only congress can __________
declare war
congress has the power to create ____________________
an army and navy
the senate must approve any ________________________________________
treaties the president makes with other countries
congress regulates commerce ____________________
with other countries
congress can propose ______________________________
constitutional amendments
congress can count ____________________
electoral votes
the senate has the power to approve or reject ________________
presidents nominees for various official
congress can remove from office any __________
federal official
which two presidents were impeached?
andrew johnson and bill clinton
does the constitution grant congress watchdog authority?
no
does congress practice watchdog authority?
yes
What is watchdog authority?
watch federal spending
congress may not ban __________
freedom of speech or religion
congress may not favor__________
one state over another
congress may not tax __________
interstate commerce
congress may not tax __________
exports
congress cannot suspend __________
writ of habeas corpus
congress may not pass bills of __________
attainder
congress may not pass ex __________
post facto laws
minimum age to be a senator
30
residency requirement to be a senator
live in state they represent
citizenship requirement to be a senator
9 years
minimum age to be a representative
25
residency requirement to be a representative
live in represented state
citizenship requirement to be a representative
7 years
most common type of employment background for congressmen and women
lawyers
most common education level for congressmen and women
college degree
true/false: most members of congress have never served in any government role before
false
approximate salary for a congressman
$165200
what perks do congressmen get?
free office space, free parking, free trips to home state for work, franking privilege, and immunity
how do personal staffs help congressmen in their home districts and in DC?
helps run for office, research, scheduling, writes speeches, deal with lobbyists, work on reelection, and review constituent letters
how do lobbyists influence congressmen?
influence and money to sway their vote
what do interns do?
research, help with office duties, and run errands
what do committee staff members do?
draft bills, gather info, organize hearings, and negotiate with lobbyists
What is the library of congress?
the largest library in the world. place for congressional research
what is the congressional research service?
part of the library of congress that looks up information, helps with bill writing and bill voting, and keeps track of every bill in congress
What is the general accounting office?
investigate financial issues an review federal spending
what is the congressional budget office?
give information for budget
When congress is in session what are their three major jobs?
law making
casework
helping the district or state
what is a bill?
a proposed law
what is a private bill?
proposed law that concerns individual people or small groups
what is a public bill?
Concerns entire nation and general matters
how can a joint resolution become a law?
signed by president
how do special interest groups participate in bill making?
suggest bills, send experts to testify for or against bills in committees, and hire lobbyists
who can introduce bills?
senators and representatives
who can recommend bills?
anyone
what five powers does a standing committee have over a bill?
pass without changes, mark up, replace with better alternative, ignore and let die, and kill by majority vote
what role does the house rules committee play in the life or death of a bill?
can kill bills they don't like or prioritize bills they like
why would a congressman put a rider on a popular bill?
to benefit constituents
how can a filibuster impact a proposed bill?
can kill it and can draw attention to bills
How can the senate end a filibuster
3/5 vote for cloture
how long was the 1964 civil rights act filibuster?
74 days
what are the three ways to vote on a bill?
voice vote, roll call vote, and standing vote
once a bill passes in one house what is the next step?
go to other house
once a bill passes both houses, where does it go for approval?
the president
what are the four things that can happen to that bill when it gets to the president?
sign it, veto, do nothing for 10 days and it becomes law if congress is in session, and do nothing for 10 days and it dies if congress is adjourned
List the steps for a bill becoming a law
step 1: bill is introduced
step 2: goes to a committee
step 2a possibility: gets passed
step 2b possibility: revised then passed
step 2c possibility: gets killed
step 3: goes to house floor
step 4: goes to other ouse and repeats process
where does oversight take place?
committees
Congressional oversight may lead to __________
select committee
who is the majority whip for the House of Representatives?
steve scalise