Congressional Powers & Structure
This chamber of Congress is based on population and has 435 members.
What is the House of Representatives?
This constitutional role makes the president the head of the executive branch and responsible for enforcing laws.
What is Chief Executive?
This term refers to the thousands of federal agencies and employees responsible for implementing laws.
This judicial power allows courts to declare laws or executive actions unconstitutional.
What is judicial review?
This is the highest court in the United States, with final appellate jurisdiction.
What is the Supreme Court?
This expressed power allows Congress to collect taxes and spend money for the general welfare.
What is the power of taxation?
What is spending power?
This formal power allows the president to reject legislation passed by Congress.
What is veto power?
This term refers to the set of ironclad relationships among congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups.
What is the iron triangle?
This congressional power of the purse allows it to limit the executive branch by controlling this essential resource.
What is funding?
What is appropriations?
This doctrine allows lower courts to follow the legal precedents set by higher courts.
What is stare decisis?
This clause in Article I, Section 8 allows Congress to pass laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers.
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
What is the Elastic Clause?
This agreement with another country does not require Senate approval, unlike a treaty.
What is an executive agreement?
This principle gives bureaucratic agencies the power to make decisions and choose how to implement laws.
What is discretionary authority?
This process allows Congress to remove the president and other government officials from office through charges in the House and a trial in the Senate.
What is impeachment?
This majority of justices is needed for the Supreme Court to agree to hear a case.
What is four justices?
What is the Rule of Four?
This leadership position in the House controls the legislative agenda and is third in line to the presidency, after the Vice-President.
What is the Speaker of the House?
This group of advisors, including the heads of executive departments, helps the president make decisions.
What is the President's Cabinet?
This type of federal organization regulates specific sectors of the economy and operates independently from executive departments.
What is an independent regulatory agency or commission?
This congressional power allows lawmakers to investigate the executive branch and hold hearings to ensure laws are properly enforced.
What is congressional oversight?
This type of opinion is written by a justice who agrees with the Court’s decision but for different legal reasons.
What is a concurring opinion?
This Senate power allows it to approve or reject presidential appointments and treaties.
What is advise and consent?
This presidential power allows the granting of forgiveness for federal crimes.
What is a pardon?
This process requires agencies to publish proposed rules, allow public comment, and then issue final regulations.
What is rulemaking authority?
This presidential power allows the executive to refuse to disclose information to Congress or the courts in certain cases.
What is executive privilege?
This term describes the power of the courts to interpret the Constitution in a "living' manner and apply it to modern issues.
What is judicial activism?