The Two Houses: Organization & Jobs
What are the two houses of Congress?
House of Representatives & Senate
What does it mean to be an expressed power?
It is a power that is written directly in the Constitution.
What does it mean to be an implied power.
100 BONUS Question: What is the Necessary & Proper Clause?
A power that is drawn out from the expressed powers of Congress.
100 BONUS Question: The power of Congress to make all laws that are deemed necessary and proper to carry out the powers of Congress.
What is the State of a Union Address?
100 BONUS Question: When does this speech occur?
Speech given by the President to Congress and other groups to update them on problems that are going on in the U.S. and his/her suggestions as to how to fix them
100 BONUS Question: Once every year
What is a bill?
a proposed law
What are two jobs of Congress other than creating laws?
To represent constituents, to be a politician, to be a member of a committee, and to serve their constituents
What are two ways that expressed powers are denied to Congress?
Constitution says no, not mentioned in the Constitution at all, Congress can't have the power because federalism exists
Define a strict constructionists and a liberal constructionist.
Strict Constructionist: Congress should read the Constitution strictly and use the expressed powers and the implied powers only necessary
Liberal Constructionist: Congress should have broad powers so that they can better help people
Who is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives?
100 BONUS Question: Who is currently in this position?
Speaker of the House
100 BONUS Question: Nancy Pelosi
What are two choices the Standing Committee has after they read and research a bill?
Pass a bill, pigeonhole it, give it a bad referral, edit it and submit that to Congress
Define gerrymandering.
100 BONUS Question: Name the animal that inspired part of the term gerrymandering.
The drawing of congressional districts in states to the advantage of a certain political party
100 BONUS Question: Salamander
Describe three expressed powers that are domestic.
Copyright & Patent Powers, Postal Powers, Territory Powers, Weight & Measurement Powers, Naturalization Powers, Judicial Powers
What are the three other powers Congress has in terms of elections and the Constitution?
Who are the presiding officers of the Senate?
100 BONUS Question: Who is currently in the #1 position?
200 BONUS Question: Who is currently in the #2 position?
Vice President and President Pro Tempore
100 BONUS Question: Mike Pence
200 BONUS Question: Chuck Grassley
What is the Committee of the Whole?
100 BONUS Question: What does this do to the legislative process?
Time when the entire Congress meets as a whole committee rather than the House of Reps.
100 BONUS Question: speeds up the legislative process since they only need 100 votes to pass instead of 218
What did the the court case Powell v. McCormack decide?
Members of the House of Representatives cannot turn down another member as long as they meet the three basic requirements.
Describe the Commerce Power.
100 BONUS Question: What two issues did we talk about that were resolved by Congress's Commerce Power?
The power to regulate interstate trade and foreign trade.
100 BONUS Question: Steamboat sailing rights (Gibbons v. Ogden) and Civil Rights Act 1964
Which house of Congress impeaches a government official? Which house of Congress holds the hearings?
200 BONUS Question: Name the three only presidents to have been impeached.
The House of Representatives impeaches the official. The Senate holds the trial.
200 BONUS Question: Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump
Describe the role of a majority leader, minority leader, and a whip.
Majority leader: spokesperson for the party with the most seats
Minority leader: spokesperson for the party with the least seats
Whip: middle man between the leaders and common members of Congress
How is the Senate floor different than the House floor in terms of scheduling votes and debating the bills?
100 BONUS Question: What is that term for a very long debate that is also a stalling tactic?
100 BONUS Question: How long was the longest one?
Senate has one calendar to schedule votes and can debate for as long as they want.
100 BONUS Question: Fillibuster
100 BONUS Question: 24 hours, 18 minutes
What are the three basic requirements to be a member of the House of Representatives? What are the three basic requirements to be a member of the Senate?
House of Representatives: 25 years old, live in the state you represent, be a citizen for 7 years at least
Senate: 30 years old, live in the state you represent, be a citizen for 9 years at least
Describe the war powers act.
100 BONUS Question: List 3 other powers Congress has in terms of war.
Congress said the President could not send troops into an undeclared war.
100 BONUS Question: declare war, raise and support armies, provide/maintain navy, make rules for governing military services, call on the National Guard, and allow naval ships to capture foreign ships
What committee helps Congress use its investigative powers?
100 BONUS Question: What is a reason that Congress would want to use their investigative powers?
Government Accountability Office
100 BONUS Question: Gather info. for legislation, oversee executive agencies, focus public attention, expose questionable activities of officials, promote interests of Congress
Define the following: Standing Committee, Select Committee, Joint Committee, and Conference Committee.
Standing Committee: permanent committees that meets regularly to work on specific issues
Select Committee: temporary committees for specific and limited periods
Joint Committee: committee composed of members of both houses
Conference Committee: iron out differences in bills
What are the four actions a President can take when a bill reaches his or her desk?
Sign it, veto it, ignore it for 10 days so it passes, pocket veto it if Congress leaves