House v. Senate
(Structures of Congress 2.1)
This chamber has 435 voting members, with representation based on state population
What is The House of Representatives
This is Congress's constitutional authority to raise money through taxes and decide how federal money is spent
What is the power of the purse?
This person is the leader of the House of Representatives.
Who is the Speaker of the House?
When members of Congress support each other's bills in exchange for reciprocal support, this is called what?
What is logrolling?
A senator wants to prevent a vote by continuing debate. What Senate procedure is the senator using?
What is a filibuster?
This chamber has 100 members, with two senators representing each state.
What is the Senate?
These are powers specifically listed in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution
What are enumerated powers?
This person is the presiding officer of the Senate and can cast a vote to break a tie.
Who is the Vice President?
Members of Congress often vote according to the preferences of the people they represent. These people are called their ______.
What are constituents?
Senators vote to end debate on a bill. What procedure are they using?
What is cloture?
Members of this chamber serve two-year terms, while members of the other chamber serve six-year terms
What is the House of Representatives
This constitutional clause gives Congress the ability to make laws necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers.
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
This House committee plays a major role in determining when bills are debated and what amendments can be offered.
What is the Rules Committee?
Spending directed toward specific projects in a representative's or senator's state or district is commonly called this
What is pork-barrel spending
A senator votes for a bill because the bill includes funding for a project benefiting the senator's state. What concept does this best illustrate?
What is pork-barrel spending?
This chamber has the special power to originate revenue bills and impeach federal officials
What is the House of Representatives
Congress uses this power to investigate government agencies, programs, and officials to make sure laws are being properly implemented.
What is congressional oversight?
This temporary committee contains members of both chambers and is created to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.
What is a conference committee?
A senator asks that a bill or nomination be delayed before it reaches the floor. What Senate practice is this?
What is a hold?
The House and Senate pass different versions of the same bill. Members from both chambers meet to create one compromise version. What happens next?
The conference committee creates a compromise bill, which must then be approved by both chambers.
This chamber gives advice and consent on presidential appointments and treaties
What is the Senate?
Congress passes a law creating a national program, but leaves an executive agency authority to determine the specific rules for implementing it. This demonstrates Congress delegating what type of authority?
What is discretionary authority?
A House bill is stuck in committee. Supporters collect 218 signatures to force the bill out of committee for consideration. What procedure are they using?
What is a discharge petition?
A representative votes against a bill even though their party leadership supports it because most people in their district oppose the bill. What factor is most directly influencing the representative's behavior?
What are constituent preferences?
A representative supports a bill because it benefits their district, while their party leadership opposes it. Which two factors are potentially competing to influence the representative's vote?
Constituent interests and party interests.