Congress
What number Congress are we in today?
116th Congress
What is a budget deficit?
When there is not enough expected revenue to cover expenses.
How long is each term in the house?
2 years
How long is a term in the Senate?
6 years
What is a pocket veto?
When the president does not sign the bill and Congress adjourns within the 10 day period.
The people that live within each members geographic area are called that members what?
Constituents
What are subpoenas?
They are legal documents that require a person to testify in a certain matter.
What is a qualification to be a member of the house?
At least 25 years of age, U.S. citizen for seven years or more, and a resident of the state they represent.
What is a qualification for becoming a member of the Senate?
At least 30 years old, U.S. citizen for at least 9 years, and a resident of the state he or she represents
What are concurrent resolutions?
Both houses of Congress address matters that affect the operations of both chambers or express an opinion.
What is the structure of Congress?
Bicameral Legislature
Give two examples of the Expressed Powers of Congress.
Coining money, collecting taxes, regulating commerce, raising and maintaining armed forces, and declaring war
What is gerrymandering?
It is when the district boundaries are redrawn for political advantage.
What is cloture?
It is the end of a debate after there has already been a two-thirds vote
What kind of vote is it when each member publicly announces their vote?
Roll-call vote
Name one way Congress uses checks and balances in the executive branch.
Congress can override presidential vetoes and they can also force executive branch members to show up to court for hearings.
The elastic clause, or necessary and proper clause, gives Congress the power to what?
It allows Congress to make laws that are necessary and proper for all other powers in Congress.
Every 10 years we take a census which allows the seats to be redistributed among the house. What is this called?
Reapportionment
What is it called when opponents of a measure take the floor of the senate and refuse to stop talking in an effort to prevent the measure coming up for a vote?
Filibuster
What is a discharge petition?
It is when the majority of members in the house sign it which forces the bill out of committee.
Give two examples in which Congress would impeach the president.
Treason, bribery, or high crimes and misdemeanors.
Explain what Inherent Powers are.
Inherent Powers are the powers that all countries have. They do not have to be explained in great detail, where they are simple such as controlling a border.
What is the purpose of the whips?
Whips attempt to get the votes of the party members. They also gather information from them to tell the leaders so they can base their campaign a certain way. They also say who they cannot count on getting their vote.
When a seat becomes vacant due to retirement or death, what happens to that vacant seat?
The governor of that seats state is then in charge of finding somebody to replace the senator
What are the three things a president can do with a bill when it arrives to him?
Sign it which makes it a law, he may veto the bill which sends it back to Congress, or he can also do nothing and after 10 days of Congress being in session it becomes a bill.