Senate
House
Bill to Law
Vocabulary
Potpourri
100

How do we determine how many Senators there are per state?

Equality -- 2 per state

100

How many total members of the House are there?

435
100

True or False: The President can make and sign a law that he wants for the country.

False -- laws must come from Congress!

100

What is a "bill"?

An idea proposed in Congress before it becomes law

100

Who makes laws that impact all Americans?

The US Congress in Washington, D.C.

200

How long is the term length for a member of the Senate?

6 years

200

What is the term length for a member of the House?

2 years

200

What percentage of bills DIE in committee, according to class notes?

93% (7% survive the committee process)

200

What does it mean to "veto"?

Disapprove of a law (President vetos the law)

200

Who is currently the Speaker of the House?

Nancy Pelosi

300

Who is the leader of the Senate? (Hint: breaks a 50-50 tie)

Vice President

300
Who do members of the House represent as they make laws in Washington, D.C.?

Their district

300

DAILY DOUBLE: Explain how the Congress can override a presidential veto.

Each chamber (Senate and House) casts 2/3 vote in favor of overriding the veto

300

What branch of government makes the laws?

Legislative Branch
300

Who are the two current Senators for Minnesota?

Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith

400

DAILY DOUBLE: Who is the current representative in District 5 in the Minnesota Senate?

Justin Eichorn

400

Who is the leader of the House of Representatives?

Speaker of the House

400

What branches of government are involved in passing a law?

Legislative and Executive

400

What does "bicameral" mean?

two chambers of Congress- House and Senate

400

What is the current number of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents in the Senate?

48-50-2 (but we consider it to be a Democrat majority)

500

What are the three qualifications required to be a member of the Senate? (Hint: age, citizenship, and residency)

30 years old, 9 years as a citizen, live in the state

500

What are the three qualifications to be a member of the House? (Hint: age, citizenship, and residency)

25 years old, a citizen for 7 years, and live in the district

500
Name the five steps of the lawmaking process as outlined in class notes.

1. idea 2. introduce the bill 3. committee debates and votes. 4. House and Senate pass the same bill 5. President signs or vetoes

500

Correctly define the terms: legislative, legislation, legislate, and legislator

Legislative: lawmaking

Legislation: a document with a bill

Legislate: to make laws

Legislator: person who makes laws

500

Who currently has the majority in the MN Senate and the MN House?

MN Senate: Republicans

MN House: Democrats