This committee is responsible for tax laws, and it only exists in the House.
What is Ways and Means?
100
How often does the number of representatives have to change based on population?
What is every ten years?
100
This is the best predictor in the outcome of a Congressional election.
What is incumbency?
100
Most of the work in Congress, including lawmaking, is done here.
What are committees & subcommittees?
100
They are responsible for communicating information to the party leaders, including counting votes and leaning on members to vote with the party.
What is a party whip?
200
Which type of condition on debate sets a time limit for debate and forbids any amendments on the floor?
What is a closed rule?
200
To propose an amendment to the Constitution, what would Congress have to pass?
What is a joint resolution?
200
Who is the representative for California District 6? SPELLING COUNTS.
Who is Doris Matsui?
200
This phrase in the Constitution gives Congress their IMPLIED POWERS.
Necessary and Proper/Elastic Clause
200
This amendment changed the election of senators to a direct election by the people. How were senators elected BEFORE?
What is the 17th amendment and state legislatures?
300
This type of committee is a permanent committee focusing on an area of expertise.
What is a standing committee?
300
Who has the power of impeachment?
What is the House of Representatitves?
300
Name one advantage of incumbency.
What is increased campaign contributions, services for constituents, franking, etc.
300
This is a type of legislation that provides funding for local projects that are intended to benefit constituents.
What is pork barrel legislation?
300
This staff agency advises Congress on the potential economic impact of a bill.
What is the Congressional Budget Office (CBO)?
400
These members of Congress typically hold the most power in each house (not the leadership).
What are committee chairs?
400
This device is used by the minority party to stall debate or kill a bill by talking it to death.
What is a filibuster?
400
The right of members of Congress to send mail to their constituents at the government's expense.
What are franking privileges?
400
If a bill is stalled in committee for more than 30 days, this device can be used to bring the bill to the floor for debate.
What is a discharge petition?
400
Of the 3 branches of government, which branch is consistently the least popular according to public opinion polls?
What is Congress?
500
Which committee in the House acts as a "traffic cop" & sets conditions for debate and amendments?
What is Rules Committee?
500
This is used in the Senate to end debate on a bill, but it requires 60% of the vote.
What is cloture?
500
Name one restriction on redistricting & gerrymandering?
Districts must be contiguous (connected).
Districts must have equal population.
Lines cannot be drawn strictly based on race.
Minority party must still be represented.
500
This is the minimum number required to conduct business (51 in the Senate, 218 in the House).
What is a quorum?
500
An example of this would be Congress conducting an investigation to uncover an executive department's wrongdoing.