Vocabulary
Bills & Laws
House of Representatives & Senate
Congress
Legislative Questions
100

What is a constituent?

A person that is represented by an elected official

100

What is a bill?

Proposed laws presented to the House or Senate

100

Who is the President of the Senate?

The Vice President of the United States

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
What does it mean to impeach?
To bring charges
200

What happens when the president vetoes a bill?

The bill dies.

200
How is each state represented in the Senate?
Each state is represented equally with two senators each.
200

What does "power of the purse" mean?

Only Congress can spend money.

200

How many members in the House of Representatives?

435

300

What is appropriations?

Funds allocated by a legislature as part of a spending bill

300

True or False: Bills must first be voted on by a committee before the House or Senate debates it.

True

300
What is the role of the “Speaker of the House”?
He/she is the elected presiding officer of the House and the acknowledged leader of its party.
300

What does oversight mean?

When Congress oversees the executive agencies to make sure they are carrying out the law.

300
A committee composed of members from both houses is called?
Joint Committee
400

What is casework?

Personal services provided by member of Congress to their constituents.

400
All revenue bills must originate in which chamber?

The House of Representatives

400
What is the role of the House and the Senate when it comes to impeachment?
The House has the sole power to impeach and the Senate has the sole power to judge in impeachment cases.
400

What part of the Constitution specifies the enumerated powers of Congress?

Article 1

400

How many senators must vote for a veto override?

67

500

What is apportionment?

Distributing how many House seats each state gets based on the census.

500

What does the conference committee do?

The conference committee reconciles the House and Senate versions of a bill

500

What is a caucus?

An unofficial group of Members of Congress that pursues a particular goal and interest.

500

What is the title of the senior-most senator of the majority party and presides over the Senate most of the time?

President Pro Tempore

500

What is the Elastic Clause and what does it do?

Also known as the Necessary and Proper Clause, it allows Congress to pass all laws that are "necessary and proper"

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