House vs. Senate
How many total voting members serve in the U.S. House of Representatives?
435
According to Article I, what is the primary responsibility of the Legislative Branch?
To make and pass federal laws
What happens to a bill if either the House or the Senate votes "no" on it during the legislative process?
The bill dies and does not become a law.
Who serves as the official constitutional President of the United States Senate?
The Vice President of the United States.
What is logrolling?
Vote-trading between lawmakers (promising to support each other's bills)
Which amendment changed senator elections from state legislature appointment to a direct popular vote by the people?
17th Amendment
What is the minimum age required by the Constitution to serve in the U.S. Senate?
30
What do we call the powers that are explicitly written down in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution?
Expressed or Enumerated
If the President disagrees with a bill passed by Congress, what official action can they take to block it?
Issue a veto.
What is the official title of the presiding officer and highest-ranking leader in the House of Representatives?
The Speaker of the House.
What is gerrymandering, and what is its main goal during redistricting?
Redrawing district boundaries to give one political party an unfair voting advantage.
Which amendment gave Congress the explicit constitutional power to collect income taxes?
16th Amendment
How long is one full term of office for a member of the House of Representatives versus a U.S. Senator?
House = 2 years
Senate = 6 years
Which clause gives Congress implied powers to create laws on topics not explicitly named in the Constitution, such as commercial aviation?
Necessary and Proper Clause
What specific fraction of votes is required in both the House and Senate to override a presidential veto?
A two-thirds (2/3) supermajority vote
If both the President and Vice President are unable to serve, who is next in line for presidential succession?
The Speaker of the House
What is an earmark?
A line-item added to a bill that directs federal money to a specific local project in a lawmaker's home state or district.
Who are the two current U.S. Senators representing the State of Georgia?
Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock
How is state representation determined in the House of Representatives compared to the Senate?
House = based on state population
Senate = equal representation (2 per state)
According to Article I, Section 7, in which specific chamber of Congress must all tax and revenue bills originate?
The House of Representatives
Which special committee is formed to merge different House and Senate versions of a bill into one identical version?
A Conference Committee (or Joint Committee)
Who presides over the U.S. Senate when the Vice President is absent?
The President Pro Tempore
What is the primary objective of a special interest group?
To influence public policy and lawmakers on specific issues without running candidates for office.
Which U.S. Congressional District in Georgia represents White County?
Georgia's 9th Congressional District
How many years of U.S. citizenship are required to run for the House of Representatives, and where must the candidate reside?
7 years of citizenship, and they must live in the state/district they represent
What term describes an unconstitutional law that punishes someone for an act that was legal when committed?
An ex post facto law
What is a Senate filibuster, and how many votes are needed to invoke cloture to stop it?
A long speech used to delay or block a vote; 60 votes are required for cloture
Which house of Congress holds the exclusive power to confirm presidential appointments and approve foreign treaties?
The U.S. Senate
What role does a lobbyist play on behalf of special interest groups?
They directly contact and try to persuade lawmakers to vote in favor of their group's policies
What is the total number of voting members in the entire United States Congress?
535 members (435 Representatives + 100 Senators)