bicameral legislature
A lawmaking body of two houses.
whip
Assistant to the floor leader in each house of Congress who tries to persuade party members to vote for bills the party supports.
gerrymandering
Process of drawing congressional district lines to favor a political party.
bill
Proposed law being considered by a lawmaking body.
censure
Formal disapproval of the actions of a member of Congress by the other members.
Speaker of the House
Person who presides over the House of Representatives when it is in session.
cloture
Procedure for ending debate in the Senate.
joint session
Combined meeting of both houses of Congress, sometimes called by the president.
expulsion
Removal of a member of Congress for serious misconduct.
impeach
To accuse an office holder of official misconduct.
filibuster
Method of delaying action on a bill in the Senate by making long speeches.
elastic clause
Section of the Constitution granting Congress the authority to extend its delegated powers.
veto
A refusal by the president to sign a bill into law.
pocket veto
When the president keeps a bill for 10 days without signing it when Congress is not in session.
based on state population
How is membership in the House of Representatives determined per state?
one - every state has at least one
What is the lowest number of representatives any state can have in the House of Representatives?
Vice President
Who does the Constitution name as president of the Senate?
To make the laws
What role is the legislative branch given in the federal government?
Yes - Congress can override a president veto with 2/3's vote in both houses.
Can Congress pass a bill over the president's veto?
President Pro Tempore
Who presides over the Senate when the Vice President is absent?
appropriation bill
What is a bill that gives approval for spending money called?
100
How many total voting members are in the Senate?
435
How many total voting members are in the House of Representatives?
a quorum (majority)
In order for Congress to conduct official business how many members must be present?
caucuses
What are private meetings held by political parties to choose their leaders called?
standing committees
Permanent congressional committees that meet regularly.
at least 25 years old, 7 years as a US citizen, resident of the state you represent
What are the 3 qualifications for members of the House of Representatives?
at least 30 years old, 9 years as a US citizen, resident of the state you represent
What are the 3 qualifications for members of the Senate?
Speaker of the House
Who is the most powerful members of Congress?
Only 1/3 of the senators are reelected every two years.
How does the Senate make sure a majority of its members have prior experience?
the bill becomes a law
Congress is in session, and the president is given a bill to sign. He let the bill sit on his desk without action for 10 days. What happens to the bill?
yes - Congress can collect taxes
Can Congress collect taxes?
yes - Congress can declare war and make peace by approving treaties
Can Congress declare war and make peace?
yes - Congress can grant patents and issue copyrights
Can Congress grant patents and copyrights?
no - Congress cannot grant titles of nobility
Can Congress grant titles of nobility?
it stays the same - every state has 2
If a state's population decrease, what happens to its number of senators?
November of even-number years
When are regular elections for members of the House of Representatives held?
November of even-numbered years
When are regular elections for members of the Senate held?
6 years
How long do members of the Senate serve when elected to a term?
2 years
How long do members of the House of Representatives serve when elected to a term?
age, citizenship, legal residence
What three categories/guidelines does each house of Congress have set for their member qualifications?
subcommittees
Each standing committee is divided into smaller groups know as?
representative
A 32 year old member of Congress has recently been reelected for her second term of office. Which house of Congress does this person likely belong to?
yes - Congress can pass naturalization laws.
Can Congress pass naturalization laws?
no - Congress cannot favor the trade of one state over another state.
Can Congress favor the trade of one state over another state?
A censured member of Congress must stand alone at the front of the House or Senate as charges are read against them.
What happens to a censured member of Congress?
yes - Congress can override the president's veto or if Congress is in session after the bill has been on the president's desk for 10 days it becomes a law without the president's signature.
Can a bill become a law without the President's signature?
It is sent to committee.
Where is a bill sent after it has been introduced in a house of Congress?
every 10 years, after the census is taken.
How often does Congress determine how the seats in the House of Representatives are to be apportioned?
Senate
Who approves treaties?
Senate
Who approves presidential appointments to the federal courts, cabinet members and foreign ambassadors?
conference committee
If different versions of the same bill pass through the House and the Senate where does the bill go to work out compromises?
Any member of Congress
Who can introduce a bill in Congress?
House of Representatives
Which house of Congress has the power to impeach an official?
Senate
Which house of Congress has the power to hold an impeachment trial for federal officials?
House of Representatives
Which house of Congress has the power to introduce bills for spending money (an appropriation bill)?
Vice President
Who serves as judge over impeachment trials?
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
If the president has been impeacher, who will serve as judge during the impeachment trial?
Both the House of Representatives and Senate have to pass it.
What must happen for a bill to become a law (including bills that become laws without the president's signature)?
A bill is introduced in one house of Congress and assigned a number then sent to a committee for review. Once passed by the committee it will be sent to the entire house floor for debate and if passed by a majority it will be sent to the other house of Co
Describe the process a bill goes through to become a law.