Legislative Branch
How many Houses does the Legislative Branch have?
2
How many total representatives make up the House?
435
How many total Representatives are in the Senate?
100
What is a Congressional Committee?
group of congress members who handle specific areas/tasks
What are the 3 different types of Congressional Powers?
1. Expressed Powers
2. Implied Powers
3. Inherent Powers
Name the 2 houses of the legislative branch?
House of Representatives
Senate
How long are the terms in the House?
2 years
How long are terms in the Senate?
6 years
Who decides which bills a committee votes on?
Chairman of that committee (Chosen by speaker of the house)
Define expressed, implied, and inherent powers:
Expressed: powers listed in the Constitution
Implied: powers not listed in the Constitution but are deemed "necessary" (Necessary and Proper Clause)
Inherent: powers that belong to a government simply because it exists
Which Article of the Constitution creates the Legislative Branch?
Article 1
How old do you have to be to serve in the House of Representatives?
25 years old
What role does the Senate play in the impeachment process?
1. Serve as judge and jury
2. Deciding if Federal officer is actually removed
3. Requires a 2/3 vote
List the 3 types of committees.
1. Standing
2. Select
3. Joint
Explain how the Legislative Branch can check the power of the Executive Branch:
- Impeach executive officials
- Deny presidential appointments
How many total representatives make up the legislative branch? (House + Senate)
535
What does a member of the House of Representatives represent?
a. The state they are from
b. Their home district
c. The Nation as a whole
d. Themselves
b. Their home district
Who is the President of the Senate?
Vice President
Kamala Harris
Why have congressional Committees?
1. More efficient to write or discuss legislation in a smaller group
2. Allows a congress member to develop expertise on certain topics
Explain how the Legislative Branch can check the power of the Judicial Branch:
Impeach Judges
Explain how a bill becomes a law:
1. Introduced (in either house)
2. Committee hearing
3. Voted on by the house it starts in
4. sent to other chamber
5. Debated and voted on
6. Signed or vetoed by President
Who is the current Speaker of the House?
Mike Johnson
When does the President of the Senate get to vote?
When there is a tie
Explain the difference between the 3 types of committees:
1. Standing: permanent and broad issues that will never go away
2. Select: Temporary, created to cover issues not in the scope of an already existing standing committee
3. Joint: made up of members from both houses to ensure they are working together as efficiently as possible
Explain the Money Power of Congress:
- Congress has the authority to mint money and determine its value.
- Congress can establish banks