Vocabulary
Bills & Laws
House of Representatives & Senate
Congress
Legislative Questions
100
What is copyright?
Copyright is the exclusive right of an author to reproduce, publish, and sell his or her creative work
100
What is a bill?
Proposed laws presented to the House or Senate for enactment
100
Does Congress have the power “to borrow money on the credit of the United States”?
Yes
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 are the two types of bills?
Private bills and public bills
200
How is each state represented in the Senate?
Each state is represented equally with two senators each.
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
What is a hopper?
The hopper is a box, which members of the houses drop a bill they want to introduce into it
300

What committee is always in place?

Standing Committee

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

How many different powers are listed in Article I, Section 8?

18 different powers.

300
A committee composed of members from both houses is called?
Joint Committee
400
What is filibuster?
The tactic to delay or prevent Senate action on a bill
400
What’s the difference between private and public bills?
Private bills are measures that apply to certain people or places, whereas public bills are those measures that apply to the nation as a whole.
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

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

Where do all revenue-related bills start?

The House of Representatives

500

What is meant when a bill is pigeonholed?

A bill is sent to committee and nothing is done on the bill.  It is left alone and it "dies".

500
What does the conference committee do?
The conference committee produces a compromise bill to the president when the bills both houses pass are not identical.
500

What are the “two executive powers” that the Constitution gives to the Senate?

Confirming or denying presidential appointments (must be confirmed by a majority of the Senate) and accepting or rejecting treaties made by the president.

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 a major national call of action that can only take place if there is an agreed majority vote in BOTH the House of Representatives and Senate

Declare War

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