Vocab
Numbers
Expressed Powers
How a Bill Becomes a Law
Congressional Leadership
100
the drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent
what is gerrymandering
100
Guaranteed by Article I of the Constitution to ensure equal representation, every U.S. state gets exactly this many Senators.
what is 2
100
The Constitution grants Congress the power to "lay and collect" these to pay debts and provide for the common defense and general
What are taxes
100
Anyone can come up with a bright idea for a new law, but only these two types of elected federal officials can formally introduce and sponsor a bill in Congress
Who are Representatives and Senators
100
The Constitution designates the Vice President to fill this specific leadership role, though they only vote in the chamber to break a tie
What is the president of the senate?
200
a time when both houses of Congress temporarily suspend business
recess
200
Because they have longer terms, Senators are elected to this many years in office
what is 6 years
200
Only this specific branch of the federal government has the constitutional authority to officially declare war, even if the President serves as Commander in Chief
what is congress?
200
Once a bill is introduced, it is sent here to be researched, debated, and tweaked by lawmakers before it ever reaches the full floor for a vote
What is a Committee?
200
As the only House officer explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, this leader is elected by the entire body of representatives and controls the chamber's agenda
Who is the speaker of the house?
300
period of time each year when Congress assembles and conducts business
what is session (of Congress)
300
This number of Senators representing each state ensures that highly populated states like California and less populated states like Wyoming have equal voting power in the upper chamber
what is 2
300
The Constitution explicitly gives Congress the power to mint and regulate this, as well as to fix the standards of weights and measures
What is Money?
300
If the House and Senate pass different versions of the same legislation, members of both chambers must meet in this special joint group to iron out the differences
What is a Conference Committee
300
These "enforcers" serve as the hardest-working members of Congress by keeping tabs on their colleagues, counting votes, and ensuring members vote along party lines.
What are Party whips?
400
electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office
what is single-member district
400
Representatives in the lower chamber serve terms of this length, meaning they must run for reelection every even-numbered year
what is 2 years
400
Also known as the Commerce Clause, this explicit power authorizes Congress to regulate business and trade with foreign nations and among the several states.
What is the power to regulate commerce
400
When a bill lands on the President's desk, they can officially reject it using this Latin-rooted term, which means "I forbid"
What is a Veto?
400
Because the actual Vice President is rarely present, this ceremonial position is typically given to the most senior member of the majority party to preside over the Senate.
Who is the president pro tempore?
500
an adjective describing a legislative body composed of two chambers
what is bicameral
500
Combined together, the House of Representatives' voting seats and the Senate's seats make up this total number of voting members in the U.S. Congress
what is 535
500
Tied to the currency and judicial powers, this expressed authority allows Congress to establish punishments for those who create fake or unauthorized versions of U.S. coins and securities.
What is the power to punish counterfeiting?
500
If the President vetoes a bill, Congress can still make it a law if both chambers manage to get this large fraction of members to vote in favor of overriding the decision.
What is a two-thirds majority?
500
Along with the Speaker of the House, this primary floor leader is elected by the majority party caucus to manage the legislative calendar and steer party policy on the floor.
Who is the majority leader?