How a Bill Becomes a Law
Where do bills originate?
In either the House of Representatives or the Senate
What is the most important job of the legislative branch?
to create laws
Who has the power to approve treaties that are negotiated by the President?
Senate
What is impeachment?
Bringing charges against an official
How many Senators are in the Senate?
100
What is needed in both houses for a bill to go to the president's desk?
A simple majority vote, 51%, one more than half
List one power that is granted to Congress in Article I
-power to lay and collect taxes
-regulate trade with foreign nations
-establish rules for naturalization
-coin money and regulate its value
-responsible for the postal system
-declare war and raise armies
-make all laws necessary and proper
Who can propose amendments to the US Constitution?
both
What does it mean when a president vetoes a bill?
He rejects that bill
Senators have 6 year terms and Representatives have 2 year terms
There are two things that the president can do when he is given a bill. What are those two things?
Either sign the bill or veto the bill.
Who holds the power of the responsibility of the postal system, the individual states or Congress?
Congress
Who selects the President if there is a tie in the presidential election?
House of Rep.
What is a Standing Committee?
Committees in Congress in charge of writing, researching bills. They can kill bills as well.
What are the age requirements for both chambers of Congress?
Senate-30
H of R-25
If a president vetoes a bill, what is needed in both houses for it to become a law?
A 2/3 majority vote is needed to override a presidential veto
Name at least one power of Congress related to the military or the armed forces.
- Congress can declare war
- Congress to raise and support armies and navy
Who holds the power of the "purse" (money related Bills)?
House of Rep
What is a bicameral legislature?
A legislature with two chambers: The Senate and the House of Representatives
What is the process for impeachment in Congress?
Starts in the House of Representatives and is tried in the Senate.
Why is it a difficult and long process for bills to become laws?
Because it has to go through both houses of Congress where it could be killed in committee and then once it passes it could be vetoed by the president. If the president vetoes it, it must start all over and it is very hard to obtain a 2/3 vote in Congress.
List two delegated powers of Congress
-power to lay and collect taxes
-regulate trade with foreign nations
-establish rules for naturalization
-coin money and regulate its value
-responsible for the postal system
-declare war and raise armies
-make all laws necessary and proper
Who has the power to investigate issues and events, call witnesses, and conduct hearings?
Both
What is the Elastic Clause?
Congress can stretch its power to what is "necessary and proper" to conduct their expressed powers
The only implied power.
There are 435 members in the House of Representatives. Each member represents a portion of a state. What determines the amount of House Members for each state?
Representation is based on population