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House vs. Senate -
Legislative Process -
Congress -
Congressional Elections -
Congress in Action -
100
How many voting members are in the House of Representatives compared to the Senate?
435 vs. 100
100
Which committee in the House determines conditions for debate and conditions for amending a bill?
Rules Committee
100
Someone who believes that each question they face must be decided on its merits.
What is a trustee?
100
What is it called when congressional districts are drawn to the advantage of the political party that controls the State's legislature. What impact has this had on the House?
Gerrymandering- Most house seats are considered "safe" for certain parties and the turn over is low
100
What is the most powerful position in the House of Representatives? Why?
Speaker of the House is the elected presiding officer of the House and the acknowledged leader of its majority party.
200
Which house in Congress has moderate turnover and why?
Senate has moderate turn over because its constituency encompasses a much broader population than a congressional representative and therefore must appeal to a broader spectrum of voters.
200
What is the group called that includes representatives from the House and Senate who work to resolve differences on the House/Senate versions of a bill?
Conference committee
200
Someone who sees themselves as the agents of the people who elected them.
What is a delegate?
200
What is the difference between the constituencies of a member of the House and a Senator?
A representative's constituency is much smaller. A senator's constituency is much larger and encompasses the entire state and therefore a probably much more disparate voter population.
200
What is the seniority rule?
Unwritten custom that dictates that the most important posts in Congress will be held by those party members with the longest records of service.
300
What are the formal qualifications for becoming a member of the House of Representatives?
25 years of age; citizen of the US for at least 7 years; must be an inhabitant of the state from which he/she is elected
300
What does the President of the Senate do in the legislative process?
He votes in case of a tie.
300
Why is the senate considered a continuous body?
Senators' terms are staggered; only 1/3 of them--33 or 34 terms--expire every two years. All of its seats are never up for election at the same time.
300
Following each census, the Constitution directs congress to do what?
Reapportion the seats in the House of representatives to adjust for population changes in each state.
300
What are the permenant panels each house of Congress establishes to review all similar bills?
Standing Committees
400
What are the formal qualifications for becoming a US senator?
30 years of age; citizen of the US for at least 9 years; must be an inhabitant of the state from which he/she is elected
400
What are the four specific things a President can do when he receives a bill from Congress?
1- Sign the bill --- becomes law 2 - Veto bill --- bill is sent back to Congress and requires 2/3 vote to override 3 - Allow bill to become law by not acting on it (signing it) w/in 10 days 4 - Pocket veto - If Congress adjorns w/in 10 days of sending a bill to the President and he/she has not signed it then the bill does NOT become a law
400
What is difference between the House and Senate's power with respect to impeachment?
The House has the sole power to impeach--to accuse, or bring charges. The Senate has the sole power to try--to judge or sit as a court--in impeachment cases.
400
Why did the founders create different term lengths for the representatives and for senators?
More frequent elections would force representatives to be more responsive to the people; Senators were supposed to be more deliberative (more enlightened & responsible) and insulated from the immediate impact of events and passions of the moment.
400
What is a filibuster and how is it ended?
A filibuster is an attempt by senators to "talk a bill to death." It is a stalling tactic by which a minority of senators seek to delay or prevent Senate action on a measure; the goal is to either get the Senate to drop the bill or change it in a manner acceptable to the minority. Cloture is how to end a filibuster. It is a 3/5s Senate vote to "limit debate" and essentially force a vote.
500
Why do we say "435 voting members" of the house? Why make this distinction?
Voters in the District of Columbia, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and American Somoa each elect a delegate to represent them in the House; Puerto Rico chooses a resident commissioner. These officials do not vote on bills.
500
How does a bill specifically become a law?
1- Idea to Congressman/Senator 2 - Introduced in House/Senate 3 - Referred to committee/subcommittee 4 - Reviewed in committee (hearings, testimonies, marked-up) 5 - Bill reported to House/Senate 6 - Bill goes to other House 7 - Same process 8 - Conference committee 9 - To President (Veto or not)
500
What are the specific differences between expressed, implied and inherent powers of Congress?
Expressed powers are explicitly given to Congress. Implied powers can be reasonably deduced from the expressed powers. Inherent powers are powers that Congress gets by virtue of being a national government in the international community.
500
According to the Constitution, how were senators originally selected? What changed this and how?
Senators were originally selected by state legislatures; the 17th amendment changed this to a popular vote instead.
500
Where do bills having to do with appropriations begin? Why?
House of Reps; b/c the HOR was originally elected to be more responsive to the general will of the people; the Senate was originally selected by state legislatures and therefore insulated from the "will" of the people; People needed more power over how their money would be spent by the govt.