House of representatives
house of representatives
Senate
Senate
basic civics
100

how is membership decided?

Members are elected from local districts in
each state.Gerrymandering-when states divided in
odd-shaped districts strictly political gain i.e. more Republicans in district 

100

What are the requirements?

25 years old, citizen for 7 years prior to the election, live in the state you represent

100

How is membership decided?

Members are chosen from an entire state.

100

What are the requirements?

30 years old, citizen for 9 years prior to the election, live in the state you represent

100

Party whips

stirs up party support for a piece of legislation

200

What is the membership?

435

200

Privileges & Penalties

Franking-free postage Immunity-freedom from legal prosecution Censure-formal disapproval for minor offenses Expulsion:2/3 vote of HR or Sen. for serious offenses

200

What is the membership?

100

200

Privileges & Penalties

Same as House

200

Floor leaders

watches parties activities on the floor

300

leaders

speakers of the house 

300

How is impeachment handled?

May impeach (to accuse government officials of misconduct while in office)

300

leaders

Constitutional leader: Vice President votes in tie only Actual leader: President Pro Tempore

300

How is impeachment handled?

Senate is the jury – 2/3’s vote

300

Filibuster

stalls legislation

400

Term of Office No Connotational limit on # of terms

2 years 

400

How are bills dealing with money handled?

All tax bills and other measures to raise $ must start in the HOR Authorization bills: create projects & establishes how money can be spent on them Appropriations bills: actually provides the $ for each program/activity

400

Term of Office No Connotational limit on # of terms

6 years (1/3 up for election every 2 years)

400

How are debates handled?

Filibuster: talk a bill to death – can end a filibuster if 3/5’s of the members vote for cloture; no one may speak more than 1 hour

400

Conference Committee

if the two houses approve different versions of the bill. This is where the kinks are worked out.

500

What is membership based on? (Great Compromise)

Population of the state (taken from the census: population count taken every 10-years)

500

Who approves Presidential treaties?

Does not approve presidential treaties

500

What is membership based on? (Great Compromise)

2 per state –equal representation

500

How are bills dealing with money handled?

Has to approve $ bills

500

Pocket veto

- only when Congress not in session & President sits on bill for 10 days w/o signing--Kills bill