Congress Powers
This is the Article 1 Clause that gives Congress their implied powers
What is the "Necessary and Proper Clause?"
Which chamber of Congress has the exclusive power to ratify treaties?
The Senate
Which chamber has the exclusive power to initiate revenue bills (kick off spending bills)?
The House
Define gerrymandering.
The drawing of legislative maps to benefit one political party.
What is the veto? Give one reason the president may use the veto.
The veto is the president refusing to sign a bill into law.
The president may use it to check the power of Congress, delay a bill from becoming law, or reject a bill the president does not support.
What is the difference between enumerated and implied powers?
Enumerated powers are the powers specifically stated in the Constitution while implied powers are those not listed in the Constitution that Congress exercises to complete their enumerated powers.
Who is the most powerful person in the House and who is the most powerful person in the Senate?
House: Speaker of the House
Senate: Senate Majority Leader
True or False: Different versions of bills can be sent through the House and Senate before going to the president for signing.
FALSE: The House and Senate must pass identical versions of the same bill before they can go to the president for their signature.
This is the Supreme Court case where the the Supreme Court ruled that the Supreme Court could strike down legislative maps that violated the principal of "one man, one vote" such as the legislative map in Tennessee.
Baker v. Carr
What is the name of foundational document arguing that there should be a single executive (one president)?
Federalist 70
Name two examples of enumerated powers of Congress
Taxation, naturalization/citizenship, raising an army, coining money, commerce.
How many members does the House have versus the Senate?
House: 435 members
Senate: 100 members
What is the minimum age to get elected to the House versus the Senate?
House: 25
Senate: 30
This is the Supreme Court case where the Supreme Court ruled that district maps cannot be drawn solely based on race.
Shaw v. Reno
Why does Federalist 70 argue that there should be a single executive rather than multiple executives?
So that the president can make quick decisions to protect the people in times of crisis or war.
Opening a bank (to collect taxes). Building tanks (to raise an army). Banning segregated businesses (to regulate interstate commerce).
What is the difference in term length between the House and the Senate?
House: 2 year terms.
Senate: 6 year terms.
How can Congress check the power of a bureaucratic agency that has made a rule that they disagree with.
Cut their budget if they refuse to change the rule.
Define divided government.
When both Democrats and Republicans control at least one of the following: (1) The House, (2) The Senate, (3) The presidency).
Define the bully pulpit.
Bully pulpit: the president's use of the media to raise support for his policy proposals so the public puts pressure on Congress to pass the president's policy proposals.
Name two ways Congress can check the power of the bureaucracy
-Cut funding from bureaucracy
-Eliminate agencies
-Sue bureaucratic agencies
-Restructure the agency
-Exercise oversight
-Oversight hearings.
What is the difference between a permanent committee and a select committee?
Permanent committees continue indefinitely and create policy. (House committee on Foreign Relations).
Select committees are impermanent investigative committees. (Select Committee on the January 6th Attacks).
The Supreme Court has made a ruling that Congress disagrees with. What is the only way that Congress can challenge the Court?
Create a constitutional amendment that reverses the Supreme Court's decision.
The president is a Republican and the Senate is controlled by Democrats (divided government). Name two ways the Senate can check the power of the president
-Refuse to ratify president's treaties
-Refuse to confirm president's political appointees (bureaucratic agency heads or judges).
-Vote to convict the president of impeachment charges
Give an example of the president using the bully pulpit.
The president goes on live television calling for tax cuts on billionaires so people call their member of Congress to pressure them to pass such a law.