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What is the most important legislative power in Congress?
Levying taxes and controlling spending.
What are constituents?
A voters for a representatives in a given district.
Who are Georgia's senators?
Jon Ossoff, Rafael Warnock
About how many people are in a district
750,000
What is Cloture
a vote to end debate and proceed to vote (ends a filibuster)
Name the age requirement for the House and Senate:
House = 25
Senate = 30
What are the names of the two chambers
House and Senate
How many members are in the Senate?
100
How many members are in the House
435
Compare unicameral and bicameral:
Unicameral is a Congress with one chamber, while bicameral is a Congress with two chambers (e.g. House & Senate).
January 3rd of all odd-numbered years. Regarding Congress, why is this date significant?
This is the date that Congress starts its new session.
All ____ Bills must begin in the House, opposed to the Senate.
Revenue
How many Senators does each state have?
2
How many are up for re-election every two years
all of them/435
What is the key difference between a standing committee and a select committee?
Standing committee is a permanent committee where most of the work takes place. Select committee is a temporary committee.
Why is the House known as the "people's house"?
House representatives are closer to their constituents (voters). They only represent 750,000 people. They are re-elected every 2 years.
Who is the real power in the Senate
Majority Leader
How much of the Senate is up for re-election every 2 years
1/3
How many representatives does each state have?
It depends on the population
What event happens every ten years and influences the numebr of representatives in the House?
Census
Name the citizenship requirement for the House and Senate (number of years in America):
House: 7 years
Senate: 9 years
Regarding membership in Congress, why is the House Reapportionment Act of 1929 important?
It capped the house of representatives at 435 total members.
Who is the Vice President?
Kamala Harris
Who is the speaker of the House
Nancy Pelosi
Who is Charles "Chuck" Schumer?
Majority leader in the Senate
10,000 bills are introduced in Congress and 1,000 become laws. What happens to most of those 9,000 failed bills?
They never leave committee; or they "die" in committee.
What is the title of the person in charge of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the House
How long are the terms for the Senate?
6 years
Compare a bill and a resolution:
-A bill is passed in both houses, signed by the president, and creates a law that impacts American Citizens
-A resolution can be passed in one house and either impacts administrative policy in that house or makes a statement about an important topic
A 2/3's vote of both Houses of Congress is needed to override what?
The president's veto.
Compare reserved powers and delegated powers?
Reserved powers are reserved for the states, while delegated powers are given to the federal government.
Why is the majority leader the real power of the Senate
He is the one who decides what bills will be discussed and assigns people to committees therefore having more control over the legislative process
What is the function of cloture?
2/3rds Vote that ended a filibuster (66 of 100 senators).
What is the House known as?
The people's house
What is discussed in Article 1, Section 8, Clause 1-18?
The 27 expressed powers of Congress.
Which article in the Constitution talks about Congress?
Article 1
During impeachment, what are the roles of the three branches of government?
-House starts the impeachment.
-Senate holds the trial.
-Chief Justice of Supreme Court presides over the trial.
What Senate power is related to Foreign Policy?
Approve diplomatic appointments. Ratify treaties with a 2/3rds vote.
Compare a joint resolution and a simple resolution:
-Joint Resolution: passes both houses and signed by president, has force of law
-Simple Resolution: passes one house
What is gerrymandering
Where districts are created to favor one party over another
Compare express powers (enumerated) and implied powers:
-Express Powers (enumerated) are listed in the constitution.
-Implied Powers are not listed, but they are necessary and proper for carrying out the express powers.
What do whips do?
They help leaders control the party, discipline members to vote as one party
What Senate power is related to the Judiciary Branch?
Confirming judges appointed to the Supreme Court by the president.
Compare a representative voting as a trustee or a delegate:
-Trustee: make decisions that are in the constituent's best interest
-Delegate: do what your constituents want
What person traditionally holds the title of Pres-Pro Tempore of the Senate
Longest serving Senator from the majority party
The 17th Amendment allowed senators to be elected by _____ , instead of by state legislatures.
The people
When does a conference committee take place?
After a bill passes in the House and Senate, both chambers send representatives to a conference committee, right before the bill is sent to the president.
What is filibuster and when is it used
It is when a senator talks continuously until the bill on the floor dies, it is used when a party/person doesn't want the bill to pass but does not have the votes to stop it.
What is the most powerful committee in the House? (and does not exist in the Senate)
Rules Committee
Why is apportionment important?
It changes the makeup of congress and increases states powers in presidential elections and influence in congress.