Meet Congress
What are the two houses of Congress
Senate and House of Representatives
What is the minimum number of members required to conduct official business in either house of Congress?
quorum (a majority of the members)
What is the name of a proposed law presented to Congress
bill
What clause gives Congress authority to make laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers?
the Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)
Who is the presiding officer and chief leader of the House of Representatives?
Speaker of the House
How many years does a member of the House serve, and how many years does a senator serve?
2 years for the House
6 years for the Senate?
What percentage of votes is required for a simple majority?
more than 50% of the votes cast
What groups of members study, debate, revise, and recommend bills?
congressional committees
What powers are specifically written in the Constitution?
expressed (enumerated) powers
What is the most reliable general predictor of how members of Congress vote on issues?
political party affiliation
What amendment changed the election of U.S. senators from state legislatures to the voters?
17th Amendment
What amendment established January 3 as the beginning of a new Congress?
20th Amendment
What term describes a committee setting a bill aside and taking no further action on it?
pigeonholing a bill
What powers are reasonably derived from Congress's expressed powers?
implied powers
What is Congress's responsibility to investigate and monitor how the executive branch carries out laws
congressional oversight
What process uses census population data to redistribute the 435 House seats among the states?
reapportionment
20th Amendment
franking privilege
What fraction of the vote in both houses of Congress is needed to override a presidential veto?
two-thirds in each house
Which house has the exclusive power to impeach federal officials and originate revenue bills?
the House of Representatives
What two views of representation describe lawmakers using their own judgment versus following constituents' preferences?
trustee view and delegate view
What are the three constitutional qualifications for serving in the House and Senate?
House: at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for 7 years, and an inhabitant of the state represented.
Senate: at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for 9 years, and an inhabitant of the state represented.
What amendment prevents changes to congressional salaries from taking effect until after the next House election?
27th Amendment
What happens if the President does not sign or veto a bill within 10 days, excluding Sundays?
the bill becomes law if Congress has not adjourned in a way that prevents its return; otherwise it may die by pocket veto
Which house has the power to conduct impeachment trials and approve treaties by a two-thirds vote?
the Senate
What constitutional process allows the House to charge a federal official and the Senate to conduct a trial that may result in removal?
impeachment