Structure & Functions & Role
A legislature divided into two houses
What is bicameral?
435 Members; 2 year terms; At least 25 y/o; Citizen for at least 7 years; Must live in state
What is the House of Representatives?
Powers that may be reasonably suggested to carry out the expressed powers.
What are Implied Powers?
The legislative process through which the majority party in each state house tries to redraw congressional districts so that the maximum number of representatives from its party can be elected to Congress.
What is Gerrymandering?
A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.
What is the Select Committee?
100 members; 6 year terms; At least 30 y/o; Citizen for 9 years; Must live in state
What is the Senate?
To bring formal charges against a public official
What is Impeachment?
The final paragraph of Article I, Section 8, of the constitution, which authorizes congress to pass all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out the enumerated powers.
What is the elastic clause?
A piece of legislature requiring notification of Congress within 48 hours of deploying troops, and approval of Congress to have military force remain longer than 90 days; designed to curtail President's power.
What is the War Powers Act?
A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.
What is the Joint Committee?
The investigation and analyzation by Congress of the executive branch and its federal programs as well as policy and legislative implementations
What is Congressional Oversight?
The assigning by Congress of congressional seats after each census. State legislatures reapportion state legislative districts
What is reapportionment?
The name for the constitutionally mandated presiding officer of the House of Representatives.
Who is the Speaker of the House?
The case that established "one man one vote". This decision created guidelines for drawing up congressional districts and guaranteed a more equitable system of representation to the citizens of each state.
What is Baker v. Carr?
An institution unique to the House of Representatives that determines the rules for debate of each bill, including whether the bill may be amended.
What is the House Rules Committee?
Prolonged speech or series of speeches made to delay action on legislation in the Senate. The purpose is to kill the measure by talking it to death.
What is the filibuster?
Bill introduced; May be assigned to subcommittee; Returned to Committee; Rules committee sets terms of debate for the bill; Bill is debated in house; Bill Passes or Fails; Repeats process in Senate
What is How a Bill Becomes a Law?
The redrawing of congressional districts to reflect increases or decreases in seats allotted to states, as well as population shifts within a state.
What is redistricting?
A representative who serves under the majority or minority leader, and who keeps in close contact with all party members, takes nose counts, provides summaries of bills, and acts as a communication link within the legislative party.
Who is the Whip?
A joint committee appointed to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of the same passed bill.
What is the Conference Committee?
Position created in the Constitution to serve as the presiding officer of the Senate in the absence of the vice president.
What is President Pro Tempore?
An action taken by Congress to reverse the presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds majority in each chamber.
What is override?
A mechanism requiring sixty senators votes to cut off a debate (especially a filibuster)
What is cloture?
The ability of members to mail letters to their constituents free of charge by substituting their facsimile signature for postage.
What is Franking Privilege?
A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area.
What is the Standing Committee?