Congress in the Constitution
Congressional Powers
Congressional Vocab
Structure of Congress
Congressional Relationships
100

This article of the Constitution establishes the powers of Congress.

What is Article I?

100

This clause grants Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and between states.

What is the Commerce Clause?

100

Before a law is passed, it is known as this.

What is a bill?

100

This person leads the majority party in the Senate.


Who is the Senate Majority Leader?

100

The president can take this action when they refuse to sign a bill passed by Congress.

What is a veto?

200

This house of Congress places limits on the amount of time a representative can spend debating on any given topic.

What is the House of Representatives?

200

In response to low federal funding under the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution gave Congress the power to do this to the states.

What is collecting taxes?

200

A senator may do this to stall the passage of a bill that they disagree with by talking for an extended period of time.

What is a filibuster?

200

This person presides over the House of Representatives.

Who is the Speaker of the House?

200

As noted by James Madison in Federalist no. 58, Congress can use this power to check other branches by withholding or providing funding. 

What is the power of the purse?

300

This word describes the U.S. Congressional system, which consists of two distinct houses.

What is bicameral?

300

This power has been limited by the War Powers Act, which gives the President the authority to do this without Congress' approval for a limited time.

What is the power to declare war?

300

A bill that has been pushed aside without a formal vote on it has been ______.

What is "tabled?"

300

These people urge members of their party to vote in a way that is favorable to party interests.

What are whips?

300

These hearings act as a key check on Presidential appointments.

What are Senate confirmation hearings?

400

This fraction represents the proportion of Senate members that must vote to successfully impeach the President.

What is 2/3?

400

This power has allowed Congress to greatly expand its influence over time through the addition of implied provisions.

What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?

400

This is the name for a vote by 3/5 of the Senate to end a filibuster.

What is cloture?

400

This person is the leader of the Senate and the deciding vote in the event of a tie.

Who is the President of the Senate/Vice-President of the United States?

400

Congress can choose to launch these things against government institutions suspected of wrongdoing.

What are investigations?

500

Revenue Bills must originate in this house of Congress.

What is the House of Representatives?

500

This power of Congress protects the ideas of individual Americans from unlawful reproduction.

What is the power to issue patents and copyright?

500

This gives Congress the authority to continue spending as usual in the event that the annual budget has not yet been passed.

What is a continuing resolution?

500

This person presides over the Senate when the Vice-President is not present.

Who is the President Pro Tempore of the Senate?

500

Congress can take this action in response to a Supreme Court decision, in which they directly supersede said decision.

What is a Constitutional Amendment?

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