National Legislature Overview
Congress has two chambers, the House of Representatives and the Senate. What is this structure called?
What is a bicameral legislature?
This is the number of voting member in the U.S. House of Representatives.
What is 435?
These are the three types of powers delegated to Congress: powers specifically listed in the Constitution, powers inferred from listed powers, and powers related to national sovereignty.
What are expressed, implied, and inherent powers?
Also known as the Necessary and Proper Clause, this constitutional clause allows Congress to pass laws needed to carry out its expressed powers.
What is the Elastic Clause?
Congress meets for a regular session each year, beginning ont his date.
What is January 3rd?
This is the two-year period during which Congress meets.
This is the length of a representative's term in the Hosue of Representatives.
What is two years?
This power allows Congress to regulate trade between states and with foreign nations.
What is the commerce power?
This interpretation favors a narrow reading of the Constitution and argues that Congress should exercise only powers cleary granted or strictly necessary to carry them out.
What is strict construction?
This officer presides over the House of Representatives.
The Constitution allows the President to call Congress into a special session under this circumstance.
What is a national emergency or other extraordinary occasion?
What is reapportionment?
The Framers gave Congress the power to issue currency primarily to accomplish this goal.
What is to establish a uniform national currency and prevent confusion caused by different state currencies?
Congress uses this power to gather information, hold hearings, and investigate issues such as government misconduct or problems with federal programs.
What is the investigatory power?
These committees permanently handle specific policy areas, such as agriculture, foreign affairs, and the judiciary.
What are standing committees?
Members of Congress perform these two major responsibilities when they create laws and help constituents resolve problems with the federal government.
What are legislating and constituent services?
The Constitution requires a House member to be at least 25 years old and a citizen for seven years. A senator must meet higher requiremebts: what are they?
What are at least 30 years old and a U.S. citizen for nine years?
Congress and the President share responsibility for national defense in this way: Congress declares war and funds the military, while the President serves in this role.
What is Commander in Chief of the armed forces?
The House of Representatives has this power to formally accuse a feeral official of serious misconduct.
What is impeachment?
This House committee determines how long a bill will be debated, whether amendments may be offered, and the conditions under which the bill will be considered.
What is the House Rules Committee?
Members of Congress receive a salary and have this constitutional privilege protecting them from arrest in most civil cases while attending congressional sessions, as well as protection for their legislative speech and debate.
What is the Speech or Debate Clause and the privilege from arrest?
Unlike House members, senators serve six-year terms, with approximately one-third of the Senate up for election every two years. What is the main purpose of this system?
What is to provide continuity and stability in the Senate?
Congress exercises these foreign relation powers when it regulates naturalization, establishes rules for territories, defines federal jurisdiction over international trade, and approves funding for diplomatic and military activities.
What are Congress's foreign relations and other delegated powers?
This president resigned before the House could vote on impeachment.
Who is Richard Nixon?
A House and Senate bill address the same issue but contain different provisions. These committees resolve the differences, while these committees bring members of both chambers together for other shared purposes.
What are conference committees and joint committees?