Congress Structure
House vs. Senate
Powers
Fun Scenarios
100

Congress has this many voting members.

What is 535?

100

The House has ___ voting members.

What is 435?

100

These are powers explicitly listed in the Constitution.

What are enumerated powers?

100

The House passes a bill making rubber ducks the official national bird, but the Senate rejects it. This constitutional requirement prevents the bill from becoming law.

What is both chambers passing the same bill?

200

Congress consists of two chambers, making it this type of legislature.

What is bicameral?

200

Senators serve for ___ year terms.

What is 6?

200

This clause allows Congress to pass laws needed for carrying out its enumerated powers.

What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?

200

Congress approves a trillion-dollar loan to build the world's largest indoor water park. This congressional power makes the borrowing possible.

What is the power to borrow money?

300

Each state receives this many senators, regardless of population.

What are two?

300

Members of this chamber serve two-year terms, keeping them closely accountable to voters.

What is the House of Representatives?

300

This enumerated power allows Congress to regulate trade between states.

What is the Commerce Clause?

300

Congress replaces every dollar bill with a picture of a capybara; it is able to do so because of this enumerated power.

What is the power to coin money?

400

The House represents the people, while the Senate provides equal represents __________.

What are the states?

400

This chamber's smaller membership generally allows for less formal debate procedures.

What is the Senate?

400

Congress creates a national bank, even though the Constitution never explicitly mentions one. This is an example of this type of power.

What is an implied power?

400

Congress pays for an army of robot penguins to defend the country; this congressional power authorizes money to do so.

What is the power to fund the military?

500

About _____ of the Senate is reelected every other year?

What is 1/3?

500

The House uses stricter rules to limit debate and manage its large membership. What is one key consequence of these rules?

This one is challenging!

What is more tightly controlled debate?

500

Congress have the enumerated power to declare ___.

What is war?

500

Congress sends 100,000 soldiers the imaginary nation of Snacktopia after a dispute over stolen nachos; this enumerated power enables Congress to do so.

What is the power to declare war?