Structure
Another name for a two-house legislature?
Bicameral
Another name for "voters"
Constituents
Leadership roles in Congress are largely determined by ___________.
Seniority
What do we call powers that are stated in the Constitution?
Expressed Powers
All Bills start out as ____________.
Ideas
Which part of Congress today bases representation off of a state's population?
House of Representatives
What do we call an official count of population?
Census
(Done every 10 years in the U.S.)
What position is considered the leader of the House of Representatives?
Speaker of the House
What do we call powers that are not listed in the Constitution but are needed to carry out the expressed powers.
Implied Powers
After the bill is proposed in either the HoR or the Senate, it is then sent to ______________.
Committees.
(Who are knowledgeable on the topic)
How many Senators does each state get?
2 Senators (2x50=100 total)
What are the qualifications of running for the House of Representatives and how do they compare to qualifications of running for the Senate?
House of Reps
- 25 yrs old
- US citizen for 7 yrs
- live in state you represent
Senate
- 30 yrs old
- US citizen for 9 yrs
- live in state you represent
Who is given the title, "President of the Senate"?
Vice President
(Ex. Kamala Harris)
What is a Power Congress does NOT have?
1. Taxing Exports (sent out of the country)
2. Favoring one state over the other
3. Interfere with state powers or individuals' rights
4. Suspend Habeas Corpus
5. Pass Ex Post Facto Laws
6. Pass Bills of Attainder
What are the three actions a president can take when a bill makes it to them?
1. Sign it into law
2. Veto
3. Ignore it
What is the difference between a standing committee and a select committee?
Standing= Permanent
Select= Temporary
Another name for a congressmen (or women) who is currently holding office, but running for re-election
Incumbent
(Ex. The Incumbent Republican candidate is Chuck Grassley)
This position gets there members to show up and vote (and vote the way their party needs them to)
Whips
(Both Majority and Minority parties have these)
What are three actual Expressed Powers of Congress?
1. Power to Tax
2. Power to Declare War
3. Power to Borrow
4. Commerce Power (interstate trade)
5. Postal Power (post offices/regulate mail)
6. Copyrights and Patents
7. Naturalization Process
8. Print and Coin Money
What do we call organizations with a common interest who try to influence government decisions?
Special-Interest Groups
How long is a term of Congress?
Hint: We are currently in the 119 term currently
2 Years
(Current session is Jan 3rd, 2025-Jan 3rd, 2027)
Frowned on tactic where an oddly shaped election district is designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group?
Gerrymandering
What position is 4th in line to the Presidency of the United States?
President Pro Tempore
What is another name for the "Necessary and Proper Clause?
(Which gives Congress the power to “make laws which shall be necessary and proper” for carrying out the expressed powers.)
Hint: Think Rubber bands
The Elastic Clause
What is needed in order for Congress to override a president's veto?
A 2/3's vote to override the veto by both houses.