Congress 101
Legislatures with two separate chambers or houses are called this
What are bicameral legislatures?
In the House of Representatives, the number of reps each state receives is decided by this
What is population?
There are currently this many members of the Senate
What is 100?
This is the title given to leaders of Congressional committees
What is chairman?
After a bill is named and numbered, it is sent to the committee in either the House or Senate with this over the bill's topic
What is jurisdiction?
This is what we call the regular period of time during which Congress conducts business
What is a session?
The House of Representatives currently has this many members
This government position functions as the leader of the Senate and, although they do not act as a voting member, has the authority to break ties
What is the Vice President?
This is what we call the permanent committees that exist in the Legislative Branch
What are standing committees?
If a committee delays reporting a bill, the whole House/Senate may pull it out of committee for debate using one of these
What is a discharge petition?
This is one of the key functions of the Legislative Branch. As part of the checks and balances system, it involves the reviewing, monitoring, and supervising of federal agencies by Congress
What is oversight?
The leader of the House of Representatives is given this title
What is Speaker of the House?
In order to be elected as a Senator for the state of California, a candidate must reside here
What is California?
HUAC, the House Unamerican Activities Committee, is an example of one of these temporary committees in Congress
What is a select committee?
If the House and the Senate wish to pass different versions of a bill, they form one of these to iron out the differences
What is a conference committee?
Members of Congress function as delegates, trustees, partisans, or these, which aim to combine the basic elements of all roles, when representing their constituents
What are politicos?
In order to qualify for election to the House, one must be this old— which is why the House is often where politicians get their start in the government.
What is 25?
Because of the unrestricted nature of debate on the Senate floor, Senators are able to strategically "talk a bill to death," also known as this
What is a filibuster?
When gathering information about a bill, committee members may go on one of these to speak with the constituents who would be affected by the bill
What is a junket?
After the House and Senate each pass identical versions of a bill, it is sent to this person to either sign or veto
Who is the President?
Congress is composed of two separate houses largely because of the Great Compromise, which combined proposed plans by these two original states
What are Virginia and New Jersey?
The act of drawing congressional districts to the advantage of the political party that controls the State legislature is called this
What is gerrymandering?
If at least 60 senators vote for this, no more than 30 hours can be spent on debate, forcing a vote on a bill.
What is a cloture?
A bill can be set aside by committee members in order to delay its introduction to the House or Senate floor, also known as this
What is pigeonholing?
If the President vetoes a bill, Congress may override it with this number majority vote
What is two-thirds?