Purpose & Influence
The legislative branch is the branch of government that... (does what?)
makes the laws
What is the term length for a member of the House
2 years
The majority party is the political party with the most...
members in congress
Expressed Powers are...
clearly stated in the Constitution.
A bill is a...
proposed law.
How many parts make up the legislative branch?
2- the house and the senate
What is a bicameral Congress?
A congress with two chambers (the house and the sente)
What do the majority and minority whips do?
They serve as the assistants to the majority and minority leaders
Implied powers are...
not clearly stated in the Constitution.
Name one place where ideas for bills can come from:
citizens, the president, or special interest groups
What are constituents?
The citizens that a member of congress represents/the voters of that member
Why is the Senate considered the upper chamber?
- longer terms (6 years)
- older age (minimum 30)
-each senator represents more constituents (2 per state)
-more powers (may filibuster, may make unrelated amendments to bills, etc.)
What is the highest ranking position in the legislative branch?
The Speaker of the House
What does the elastic clause/necessary and proper clause do?
Gives Congress the ability to stretch its powers to make any laws which are "Necessary and Proper".
What group of people review and debate bills first?
Committees
What is gerrymandering?
Redrawing a district boundary to benefit a particular party
What is proportional representation? Which chamber uses this method?
The number of members of congress being determined by the state's population.
The house of representatives has this.
What do committees do?
They are groups of Congressional members who work on bills of a certain topic. They review and debate bills before sending them to the floor of their chamber.
List 3 Expressed Powers of Congress:
- Collect Taxes
- Borrow Money
- Regulate Trade
- Declare war
- Create laws about naturalization
- Confirm/reject Presidential appointments
- Admit new states the the Union
- Impeach the President
What does it mean to pidgeonhold a bill?
To ignore or put aside a bill until the end of session
Groups of people with similar interests who are trying to sway legislatures may be called...
interest groups (represented by lobbyists)
Where does Congress meet?
The U.S. Capitol building
Define Select Committees, Standing Committees, and Joint Committees:
- A special committee for a specific issue and a limited time frame
Standing Committees:
- Permanent and used every term
Joint Committees:
- Group consisting of members from both houses
Can you define any of these limits on Congressional power?
Congress cannot make any:
1.Laws that Deny a Writ of Habeas Corpus
2. Bills of Attainder
3. Ex Post Facto laws
1. Court order requiring police to bring a prisoner to court and explain why the prisoner is being held
2. Laws that would punish a person without having a trial or hearing
3. Laws that punish an action that was not against the law when the action was committed
What is the purpose of a filibuster?
To prevent a vote on a bill that that senator does not like.