Structure of the Legislative Branch
Congress is divided into two chambers; name them.
House and Senate
Congress’s primary duty under the Constitution.
Make Laws
The President serves this length of term.
4 years
As chief diplomat, the President negotiates these agreements.
Treaties and executive agreements.
Congress can override a presidential veto with this fraction of votes in both chambers.
What is two-thirds?
The Great Compromise settled disputes over state representation; explain how it affects legislative structure.
It created a bicameral legislature balancing population-based and state-based representation.
Clause allowing Congress to create laws necessary to carry out its enumerated powers.
The Necessary and Proper (Elastic) Clause.
The President is elected through this system; explain why the framers chose it.
The Electoral College; to balance popular vote with state representation.
As Commander-in-Chief, the President oversees this branch of the military; explain the constitutional check on this power.
The armed forces; Congress controls funding and can declare war.
The Senate checks the President’s power by confirming or rejecting these.
What are judicial appointments or cabinet nominations?
Senators serve six-year terms while House members serve two-year terms. How does this reflect the framers’ goals?
Long Senate terms provide stability; short House terms allow responsiveness to the people.
Senate must approve these presidential actions. Explain the check this creates on the executive branch.
Appointments and treaties; ensures the President cannot act unilaterally.
The President oversees this federal bureaucracy. Discuss its role in policy implementation.
The executive departments and agencies; they carry out federal laws and programs.
The Senate has the power to approve these two types of presidential actions.
What are treaties and appointments?
Congress can investigate the executive branch through this oversight method.
What are hearings or committee investigations?
Identify the leadership positions responsible for guiding legislation in the House and Senate, and explain their influence.
Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader; they control the legislative agenda and influence debate.
Process allowing Congress to remove federal officials. Discuss how this power ensures accountability.
Impeachment and conviction; holds officials accountable for misconduct.
Identify the President’s primary advisory group and explain how it shapes decision-making.
The Cabinet; provides advice and expertise on policy areas.
This power allows Congress to remove federal officials from office.
What is impeachment?
The legislative branch checks the judicial branch by having this power over courts.
What are creating lower courts and confirming judges?
Explain how the bicameral structure balances responsiveness to the people with state representation, and give a real-world example.
House represents population (responsive to voters), Senate represents states (stable); e.g., Senate confirmation of appointments vs. House budget control.
Analyze how Congress’s control over taxation and spending can influence executive policy decisions, citing a real example.
Through the power of the purse; e.g., Congress can withhold funds to influence policy programs.
Analyze how the executive branch structure allows the President to balance national policy priorities with administrative efficiency.
Delegation to agencies and departments allows simultaneous management of complex programs while pursuing policy goals.
Explain how Congress’s control of taxation and spending gives it influence over other branches.
What is through the power of the purse—Congress funds or defunds programs to limit executive actions?
Explain one way each chamber uniquely checks another branch (House vs. Senate).
What is the House can impeach, and the Senate can try impeachments or confirm appointments/treaties?