Vocabulary
House of Representatives
Congress
Senate
100

An idea for a new law.

An idea for a new law.

100

435.

How many members are in the House of Representatives?

100
What is Congress' major function?
Their major function is to make laws.
100
What is a bicameral legislature?
It is a legislature made up of two houses.
200

When the President does not agree with a bill, he does this.

What is a veto?

200

The Speaker of the House.

Who leads the House of Representatives?
200
How long does each term in Congress last for?
Each term in Congress lasts for two years and numbered consecutively.
200
Who is the only one that may call a special session?
The President.
300

Another name for the Legislative Branch.

What is Congress?

300
Two years.

How long is a term for members in the H. of R.?

300
How many different powers in all does the Constitution grant to Congress?
27 different powers.
300
A committee composed of members from both houses is called?
Joint Committee
400

The House of Representatives and the Senate.

What are the two parts of Congress?

400

Each state has a different number of members in the H. of R. based on population.

What is the amount of members in the House of Representatives based upon?
400
If Congress is able to borrow money, is there a constitutional limit on the amount that Congress can borrow?
Congress puts a statutory ceiling on the public debt as a political gesture, but there isn’t a limit on how much Congress can borrow.
400
What is direct tax? What is indirect tax?
Direct tax is one that must be paid by the person on whom it is imposed. Indirect tax is one first paid by one person but then passed on to another.
500

A government that allows people to make decisions by voting.

What is a democracy?

500
They are elected.
How are members chosen for Congress?
500
What are two reasons the Congress may choose to conduct investigations?
1) gather information useful to Congress in the making of some legislation; 2) oversee the operations of various executive branch agencies; 3) focus public attention on a particular subject; expose the questionable activities of public officials and/or private persons; 5) promote the particular interests of some members of Congress
500
What is eminent domain and give a hypothetical example of when it is used.
Eminent domain is who Congress has the inherent power to take private property for public use. An example is if the government wants to establish a military base in a certain area, but there are houses or buildings in the way, Congress will use eminent domain in order to build the base.
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