Key Differences/Elections
The process that occurs every ten years to determine the number of representatives for each state.
What is apportionment?
This foundational document argues that the Necessary and Proper clause is too powerful and will diminsh the rights of the states.
What is Brutus No. 1?
This group makes it easier and faster to debate a piece of legislation in the House because only 100 members are needed for a quorum.
This type of legislature describes the American system in which there is both a House of Representatives and a Senate.
What is bicameral?
The most important power of Congress, or their main purpose.
What is to make laws?
This gives those who have already served in office an edge over others who have not, particularly in terms of elections.
What is incumbency advantage?
This foundational document argues that a bicameral legislature as well as federalism prevents too much power from accumulating in a single branch.
What is Federalist No. 51?
This person is the most powerful person in Congress.
What is the Speaker of the House?
This article of the Constitution lays out the foundation of the Legislative Branch.
What is Article I?
This type of spending makes up less of the federal budget, but allows Congress and the President to choose how it is allocated.
What is discretionary spending?
This chamber of Congress is meant to be more connected to the people with a direct election of members.
What is the House of Representatives?
This case required Tennessee to review the boundaries drawn for their congressional districts, which had not been redrawn since 1901.
What is Baker v. Carr?
This power can only be used in the senate to represent unlimited debate.
What is a filibuster?
This type of spending involved in the budget process appropriates bills that fund certain projects within districts or states.
What is pork barrel spending?
An example of this type of power is in 2023 when the Senate held a hearing about the federal government's response to Hurricane Ian in southwestern Florida.
What is oversight?
This chamber of Congress is meant to be insulated from the public.
What is the Senate?
This case struck down a majority-minority distrcit within North Carolina.
This can be filed in the house to expedite the process if there is an unfriendly committee or if a majority of representatives agree.
What is a discharge petition?
This period of time occurs at the end of a president's term when a divided government in Congress could block presidential initiatives.
What is a lame duck period?
This chamber is the only chamber that can raise revenue bills.
What is the House of Representatives?
This chamber of Congress is more governed by rules, formally structured, and there is more power given to leadership positions.
What is the House of Representatives?
This specific protection of the Constitution is cited in both Shaw v. Reno and Baker v. Carrr.
What is the 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause?
This type of committee meets temporarily to resolve diffrences between a House version of a bill and a Senate version of a bill.
What is a conference committee?
An example of this type of congressional election is if a senator votes against a bill that would legalize euthanasia because he or she believes that it is not in the best interest of his constituents and is generally wrong to do.
What is the trustee role?
This provision of the Constitution allows Congress to regulate any and all business that is conducted in the United States.
What is the Commerce Clause?