House of Representatives
What is the size and term length of the House?
435 & 2 years
What is the size and term length of the Senate?
100 & 6 years
Explain the impeachment process. Please make sure you label / explain when appropriate.
House accuses, Senate conducts trial/makes final decision.
What are the 3 qualifications to become president?
35 years old, natural born citizen, 14 years of living in US
In Shaw v. Reno, what type of gerrymandering is illegal?
Racial gerrymandering
The House represents...
Each person within their district.
The Senate represents...
each person within their state.
Explain the difference (and provide one example) of mandatory and discretionary spending.
Mandatory: required by law (Social Security)
Discretionary: offers flexibility for Congress (DoD budget)
What is the difference between a treaty and executive agreement?
Treaty needs congressional approval
What is the main argument of Federalist 70?
We need a single energetic executive.
The top leader in the House of Representatives is called the...
Speaker of the House
Which amendment allowed Senators to be chosen by the direct vote instead of the state legislatures?
17th Amendment
Give 3 examples of a congressional enumerated power.
Answers may vary... Some examples include: tax, declare war, raise army/navy, create post offices, coin money, budget powers, etc.
What is the importance of judicial appointments?
The president gets lasting impact in the courts even after their term ends.
Which case established the "one person, one vote" principal and allowed the courts to get involved with redistricting matters?
Baker v. Carr
Why does the House get the opportunity to vote in the president when there is a tie and start tax bills?
They are designed to best represent the people.
In order to ratify treaties, how many Senators need to approve (need a fraction)?
2/3
List and explain the 4 types of congressional committees.
Standing: permanent
Special/Select: temporary
Joint: includes members from both chambers
Conference: works to make sure bills are identical
What is the difference between a veto and pocket veto?
Veto is outright deny and pocket veto is inaction within last 10 days of congressional session
In Shaw v. Reno what clause did they use to help establish the precedent that racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional?
14th Amendment ; Equal Protection Clause
What is the purpose of the House Rules Committee?
To act as a traffic cop / make sure schedules are followed and procedures are followed
What is the Senate’s "advice and consent" power?
Allowing the Senate to approve or reject presidential appointments
Congress has the main job to create legislation. Explain the order/steps on how a TAX bill becomes a law. Include both if the president signs/vetoes the bill.
A member of the House introduces legislation
Sent to a committee for study, debate, and changes (most bills die here)
Floor debate/vote in the House
Sent to Senate to complete same process.
If versions differ, sent to conference committee to create a compromised bill
Both chambers vote on the final version
If passed in both, goes to president (sign into law or veto); If failed in one or both chambers, bill dies
If veto, sent back to Congress to override veto with ⅔ vote in both chamber
Explain the two ways the president can effectively communicate to the people/nation/Congress (one if informal, one is formal).
Formal: SOTU - updates nation/congress on goals and plans
What are the 3 main reasons why Federalist 70 argued one leader?
1: Rome had a council and they fell
2: One person is united in decision making
3: Easy to blame one person