Constitutional Foundations
In which article of the U.S. Constitution is Congress established?
Article 1
How long is a representative’s term in office?
Two Years
How many senators does each state have?
Two
Who is the presiding officer and most powerful member of the House?
The Speaker of the House
What type of committee is permanent and handles most legislative work?
Standing Committee
What type of legislature does Congress have, meaning it has two chambers?
Bicameral legislature
What is the minimum age to serve in the House?
25 Years Old
How long is a senator’s term in office?
Six years
Who presides over the Senate and can only cast tie-breaking votes?
The Vice President of the United States
What special type of committee includes members from both chambers?
Joint Committee
Which two chambers make up Congress?
The House of Representatives and the Senate
What determines how many representatives each state gets?
State population
What is the minimum age required to serve in the Senate?
30 years old
What is the title of the Senate member who presides when the Vice President is absent?
President pro tempore
What temporary committee works to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill?
Conference Committee
The Great Compromise combined which two proposed plans for representation?
The Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan
Which chamber has the exclusive power to begin impeachment proceedings?
The House of Representatives
Which amendment changed the way senators are chosen to direct election by the people?
The 17th Amendment
What is the main role of the House and Senate “whips”?
To count votes and enforce party discipline
What is the “Power of the Purse,” and which chamber holds it?
The power to originate revenue bills, held by the House of Representatives
Who was responsible for proposing the Great (Connecticut) Compromise?
Roger Sherman
What is the nickname often given to the House due to its closeness to the people?
“The People’s Chamber”
What exclusive power allows the Senate to approve treaties with a two-thirds vote?
Treaty Ratification Power
Which Senate leader sets the legislative agenda and controls floor debate time?
Senate Majority Leader
What committee process involves debating and amending bills before sending them to the floor?
The Markup Process