House vs. Senate
This branch of the federal government is responsible for making laws and consists of two chambers.
What is Congress?
These are congressional powers specifically listed in Article I of the Constitution, such as taxing and declaring war.
What are enumerated powers?
These smaller groups of lawmakers review bills, hold hearings, and decide whether legislation should move forward.
What are congressional committees?
A representative uses personal judgment and knowledge to make decisions, even when constituents disagree. This is which model?
What is the trustee model?
This term describes a person who currently holds an elected office.
What is an incumbent?
This chamber has 435 voting members, with representation based on state population.
What is the House of Representatives?
These powers are reasonably inferred from the Constitution's listed powers through the Necessary and Proper Clause.
What are implied powers?
Before a bill can move on to the executive branch, both chambers of Congress must pass this.
What is the exact same version of the bill?
A senator votes against a tax increase because most of the people they represent oppose it. This is which model?
What is the delegate model?
These are the people represented by an elected official.
Who are constituents?
Members of this chamber must be at least 30 years old and U.S. citizens for at least nine years.
What is the Senate?
When Congress monitors federal agencies to make sure laws are being properly enforced, it is exercising this function.
What is congressional oversight?
If the president vetoes a bill, Congress can still make it law by achieving this vote in both chambers.
What is a two-thirds majority vote in both chambers?
A representative follows constituents' wishes on a local issue but uses personal judgment on a complex national security issue. This is which model?
What is the politico model?
This occurs when the president's party does not control at least one chamber of Congress because the opposing party does.
What is divided government?
This constitutional compromise gave the House representation based on population and the Senate equal representation for every state.
What is the Great Compromise/Connecticut Compromise?
This congressional power allows lawmakers to influence government priorities by deciding how federal money is collected and spent.
What is the power of the purse?
This Senate tactic uses extended debate to delay or potentially block action on a bill.
What is a filibuster?
This practice involves drawing congressional district boundaries to give a political party or group an electoral advantage.
What is gerrymandering?
When strong disagreements between political parties prevent Congress from passing legislation, this occurs.
What is gridlock?
The Senate has this special power involving presidential appointments and this special power involving treaties.
What is confirming appointments and ratifying treaties?
Anti-federalists did not support this clause as they felt it gave congress almost unlimited power.
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
For most legislation, this Senate procedure generally requires 60 votes to limit debate and move toward a final vote.
What is cloture?
This Supreme Court case from 1962 allowed federal courts to hear challenges to legislative apportionment under the Equal Protection Clause.
What is Baker v. Carr?
This 1993 Supreme Court case ruled that race-based redistricting can raise constitutional concerns under the Equal Protection Clause.
What is Shaw v. Reno?