Structure of Congress
Congress belongs to this branch of government.
What is the legislative branch?
A bill can be introduced in these two places.
What are the House of Representatives or the Senate?
The primary legislative function of Congress is to do this.
What is make laws?
These are permanent committees that focus on specific policy areas.
What are standing committees?
Each state has this number of senators.
What is two?
After introduction, a bill is sent here for review and amendments.
What is a committee?
The power to levy taxes is found in this part of the Constitution.
What is Article I, Section 8?
This temporary committee reconciles differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.
What is a conference committee?
Members of the House serve this length of term.
What is two years?
In the Senate, this tactic can be used to delay or block a bill.
What is a filibuster?
This amendment gives Congress the power to impose an income tax.
What is the 16th Amendment?
This type of committee is created temporarily to investigate a specific issue.
What is a select committee?
To serve in the Senate, a person must be at least this age and a citizen for this many years.
What is 30 years old and 9 years a citizen?
This procedure requires 60 votes in the Senate and ends a filibuster.
What is cloture?
This clause allows Congress to pass laws necessary to carry out its enumerated powers.
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)?
The Senate is composed of this many members.
What is 100?
Explain how representation differs between the House and the Senate and why that matters for federal lawmaking.
What is the House is based on population, reflecting majority rule, while the Senate gives equal representation to each state, protecting state equality and shaping how laws must gain broad support?
Describe the full process of how a bill becomes a law, including presidential options and how Congress can respond to a veto.
What is introduction, committee review, floor debate and vote in both chambers, presidential signature or veto, and Congress may override a veto with two-thirds in both houses?
Name and explain three specific powers listed in Article I, Section 8 and why they are important to national sovereignty.
What are powers such as declaring war, regulating commerce, taxing and spending, raising armies, coining money, etc., and explanations should connect to national authority and governance?
Compare standing, select, joint, and conference committees and explain why each is necessary in the legislative process.
What is standing are permanent policy committees, select are temporary investigative, joint include members of both chambers for study, and conference reconcile bill differences?