Congress by the Numbers
This term describes Congress because it consists of two separate chambers.
What is bicameral?
A person must be at least this age to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives.
What is 25 years old?
This House officer presides over the chamber, influences the legislative agenda, and is second in the presidential line of succession.
Who is the Speaker of the House?
Article I, Section 8 powers specifically written into the Constitution, including taxing, coining money, and regulating commerce, are called these.
What are expressed powers?
A proposed law introduced for consideration by Congress is called this.
What is a bill?
Before a bill can be sent to the president, this must occur in both chambers: each must pass the identical version of the bill.
What is approval by both the House and Senate?
This chamber has 435 voting members, with each state’s representation based on population.
What is the House of Representatives?
A person must be at least this age to serve in the U.S. Senate.
What is 30 years old?
This constitutional officer serves as president of the Senate and may vote only to break a tie.
Who is the vice president of the United States?
This clause authorizes Congress to make laws that are “necessary and proper” for carrying out its enumerated powers.
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)?
Only a member of Congress can formally introduce a bill; in the House, the member traditionally places it in this receptacle.
What is the hopper?
The president’s refusal to sign a bill into law is called this.
What is a veto?
This chamber gives every state equal representation through two members, regardless of population.
What is the Senate?
This is the length of a term for a member of the House of Representatives.
What is two years?
This senator, usually from the majority party, presides over the Senate when the vice president is absent and is third in the presidential line of succession.
Who is the president pro tempore?
This power allows the House of Representatives to formally charge a federal official with misconduct.
What is impeachment?
A committee that ignores or sets aside a bill so that it does not advance has taken this action.
What is pigeonholing a bill?
Congress can enact a bill despite a presidential veto with this fraction of votes in each chamber.
What is a two-thirds vote?
This constitutionally required population count occurs every 10 years and is used to reapportion seats in the House.
What is the census?
This is the length of a term for a U.S. senator.
What is six years?
This permanent type of congressional committee handles bills within an ongoing policy area, such as agriculture, armed services, or education.
What is a standing committee?
This Senate power serves as a check on the president by requiring approval of major appointments and treaties.
What is the power to confirm appointments and ratify treaties?
In the Senate, a tactic using extended debate to delay or prevent a vote on legislation is called this.
What is a filibuster?
If the president takes no action on a bill for 10 days, excluding Sundays, while Congress remains in session, the bill becomes law through this constitutional outcome.
What is becoming law without the president’s signature?
This process redistributes House seats among the states after the census to reflect population changes.
What is reapportionment?
Redrawing district boundaries to advantage a political party or group is known by this term.
What is gerrymandering?
When the House and Senate pass differing versions of a bill, members from both chambers may form this committee to negotiate a single compromise version.
What is a conference committee?
A law that punishes conduct retroactively—after the conduct was committed—is prohibited by the Constitution under this Latin term.
What is an ex post facto law?
The Senate procedure requiring a three-fifths vote to limit debate and overcome a filibuster is called this.
What is cloture?
If Congress adjourns during the 10-day period and the president does not sign the bill, this indirect veto prevents the bill from becoming law.
What is a pocket veto?