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What are the two houses of the US Congress?
The House of Representatives and the Senate
How many members are in the House of Representatives?
435
How many members are in the Senate?
100, 2 for each state
What is the purpose of a congressional committee?
research, evaluate, and revise before they go to the full House or Senate for a vote.
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause, and why is it important?
It grants Congress the power to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out its duties, expanding its authority through implied powers.
What is the main role of Congress in the federal government?
making federal laws
How is the number of representatives for each state determined?
By population (the US Census)
US Senator term length?
6 year terms, with staggered elections every two years.
What is a filibuster?
A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill, typically by extended debate.
The primary role of the Speaker of the House.
The Speaker presides over the House of Representatives, directs legislative business, and represents the House in negotiations with the Senate and the President.
Who presides over the Senate?
The Vice President of the US
Term length for a House of Representative member?
2 Years
Who conducts impeachment trials?
The Senate, with a 2/3 majority vote required to convict.
How can a filibuster be ended?
By a cloture vote, which requires a 3/5 majority.
How does Congress influence foreign policy?
Congress has the power to approve treaties, declare war, and regulate foreign commerce.
What happens to a bill after it is introduced in Congress?
It is sent to a committee for review and discussion to be amended, approved, or vetoed.
The House of Representatives have the sole power to impeach __________.
federal officials.
Who has the power to introduce a bill in Congress?
Any member (whether in the House or Senate)
What required for a bill to become law after both houses pass it?
2 possible answers
The President must sign the bill OR if the president vetoes it, Congress can override it with 2/3 majority in both houses.
How often does Congress convene a new session?
Congress convenes a new session every two years, following House elections.
Give an example of an expressed power of Congress
Thoe power of lvy taxes, coin money, and regulate interstate commerce.
What is a joint session of Congress?
when both the House and Senate meet together, often for important events such as the State of the Union address.
What is the role of the Senate in confirming presidential appointments?
The power to approve or reject the President's nominees for federal positions.
What is the difference between an expressed power and an implied power of Congress?
Expressed powers are explicitly listed in the Constitution, while implied powers are not specifically stated but are necessary to carry out expressed powers
What is a congressional override, and when is it used?
A congressional override is when both houses pass a bill with a two-thirds majority to override a presidential veto.