Congress Basics
Powers of Congress
The Redistricting Mess + Random
Legislating
Randomly Random
100

There are exactly this many Senators from each state.

2

100

The basic power of Congress is to legislate. What does this mean?

to make or write laws

100
The population count taken every ten years.
Census
100

The leader of the House who has the most power in determining legislation in their chamber.

Speaker of the House

100

A bicameral legislative body has how many chambers?

2

200

The number of House members is based on each states' __________.

Population

200
This chamber is responsible for confirming presidential appointments.
Senate
200

The process whereby the national government divides up how many seats a state will receive in the House of Representatives.

Apportionment (Reapportionment is also acceptable)

200

This committee is tasked with resolving issues between House and Senate bills.

conference committee

200

The Framers intended this chamber to reflect the will of the people.

House

300

This chamber has the power to start revenue bills.

House

300

The list of powers given to Congress is found in which article and section of the Constitution. 

Article 1, Section 8

300

To whom does the Constitution give the power to approve of all newly drawn legislative districts.

State legislatures

300

This is the term for the appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative's district.

earmark or pork (barrel)

bringing home the bacon!

300

The Framers intended the Senate to reflect the interests of the states. This is one way in which they did so.

State legislatures originally appointing senators, equal number of senators per state

400

This is the vote criteria to override a president's veto.

2/3rds (supermajority)

400

This clause allows in the Constitution allows Congress to do more things than what is actually enumerated in the Constitution.

Two possible answers: - Necessary & Proper Clause - Elastic Clause

400

Why are congressional districts gerrymandered?

To achieve a desired political outcome (limiting certain preferences, protecting certain preferences, promoting certain preferences, etc.)

400

A member of Congress who votes according to the desires of their constituents back home is said to be following this model of representation.

Delegate

400

This procedure Senators must use to end a filibuster or filibuster threat, and how many votes for it.

Cloture, 60

500

An attempt by a Senator to slow down the legislative process by talking for a great length of time to delay a floor vote. 

Filibuster

500
Describe the two steps of the impeachment process.
1. House uses a simple majority to vote for impeachment. AND 2. Senate must have a 2/3 majority to convict an official.
500

This committee decides how a bill be debated in the House.

What is the Rules Committee?

500

A member of Congress who votes according to what she thinks is best for her constituents back home is said to be following this model of representation.

Trustee

500

House vote to override the committee’s decision to kill a bill by passing this which to bring a the bill out of the committee for a floor vote.

Discharge petition

600

This is one of multiple reasons that standing committees in Congress are important.

Division of labor, specialization, expertise, efficiency

600
The Congress adjourns in the ten days following submission of a passed bill to the President. What results is known as this.

Pocket veo

600

This branch of government has greater control over budgetary matters.

Congress

600

These are the "stops", in order, a bill makes in the House after introduction before the President's desk.

Committee, Subcommittee, Committee, Rules Committee, Full House, Conference Committee (optional)

600

House terms are ____ years and Senate terms are _____ years

2, 6