What's In A Congress
DAILY DOUBLE
This is the name for the two-house structure of the US Congress.
Bicameral
How many years does a member of the House of Representatives serve in a single term?
Two Years
How many representatives are there for each state?
2
Which official serves as the chief spokesperson for the party that holds the fewest seats in their respective chamber?
The Minority Leader
These are the only people allowed to officially introduce a bill in either the House or the Senate.
Members of Congress
Which house of Congress must all "revenue-raising" (tax) bills originate in?
The House of Representatives
What is the official title of the presiding officer and highest-ranking member of the House of Representatives?
The Speaker of the House
A Senator serves a term of this many years.
6 years
What is the long-standing unwritten rule that gives the member of the majority party with the longest uninterrupted service on a particular committee the leadership of that committee?
The Seniority System
What fraction of a vote is required in both houses of Congress to override a Presidential veto?
Two-Thirds (2/3)
What do we call the specific powers granted to Congress that are actually listed (numbered) in the Constitution?
Expressed Powers
What do we call the practice of drawing district boundaries to give an unfair advantage to one political party?
Gerrymandering
This is the Senate procedure used to stop a debate and force a vote, requiring 60 votes to invoke.
Cloture
Which official serves as the chief spokesperson for the party that holds the most seats in their respective chamber?
The Majority Leader
Where do most bills "die" or get set aside before they ever reach the floor for a full vote?
The Committees
This part of the Constitution gives Congress all of it's legislative powers.
Article I
The number of representatives each state has is based on its population as determined by this regular count,
The Census
DAILY DOUBLE
Which specific Senate power allows them to approve or reject Presidential appointments, such as Supreme Court Justices?
Advice and Consent
What is the title of the party leader whose primary job is to track vote counts and ensure party members vote according to the leadership's wishes? (Hint: It isn't Indiana Jones)
The Party Whip
What is the informal term for when a committee chair ignores a bill and prevents it from being discussed or voted on?
Pigeonholing
Which clause of the Constitution gives Congress the power to pass all laws "necessary and proper" for carrying out its enumerated list of powers?
The Elastic Clause
This is the current, fixed number of voting members in the House of Representatives,
435
Who serves as the President of the Senate and casts the deciding vote in the event of a tie?
The Vice President of the United States
What do we call the formal meeting of all members of a political party in one house of Congress to elect leaders and develop a legislative strategy?
The Caucus
What do we call the joint committee formed to resolve differences when the House and Senate pass different versions of the same bill?
The Conference Committee