What power does Congress have when it comes to taxes?
"to lay and collect taxes"
100
What power does congress have when it comes to war, that no other branch or person has?
To declare war!
100
which two presidents were impeached?
Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton
100
What is Congress's main function?
write & pass laws
200
What are the two parts of congress?
Senate and House of Representative
200
What is one of the three areas that the largest amount of government (tax) money gets spent on?
National defense
social security
Health and Medical
200
What power does the President have when it comes to war?
To send troops into a country to fight (whether war has been declared or not).
200
Although they have never been used, Congress has some powers in presidential elections. What are these powers?
In the case of a tie, the House of Reps chooses President and Senate chooses VP.
200
Who are California's two Senators?
Barbara Boxer & Diane Feinstein
300
How many US Senators are there?
100
300
What is public debt?
all of the money that the US government has borrowed and not yet repaid (including interest)
300
How can congress limit the president's power when it comes to war/troops?
congress can limit the number of troops that the president can send to a country IF congress has not declared war.
300
What is a "presidential appointment" and what power does Congress have over these appointments?
A person the President chooses for a certain job.
Congress has to confirm the appointment.
300
what is an "expressed power" and what is an "implied power"
expressed is stated specifically in the constitution and implied is not
400
How many Representatives are there in the House of Representatives?
(FYI: the number I used in my example earlier this week was WRONG)
435
400
Please explain the concept of deficit financing.
the government spends more than it takes in and borrows the rest to make up the difference
400
What does "naturalization" mean and what power does Congress have connected to this concept?
it means to become a citizen of a country (that you were not born in) and congress creates the rules/process for naturalization.
400
Describe the impeachment process including the role (and percent required) of the House and Senate.
House needs simple majority (51%) agreement to impeach and Senate needs 2/3 majority (67%) to convict. Both must happen for a president to be forced out of office.
400
what powers do congress and the president have over treaties (they each have different powers)?
president makes treaty and congress has to confirm it
500
How is the number of senators and representatives divided up by state and why did our nation's founders create it this way?
Senate: 2 from each state
House: number from each state determined by state population
Both systems seemed fair and important so they compromised and created both
500
Please explain or give examples of a direct tax and an indirect tax (clarify the difference between the two).
direct tax is paid from person to government (income tax)
indirect tax is passed from one person to another (tobacco tax)
500
What is eminent domain?
the idea that the government can take land for public use
500
What are three reasons that Congress can conduct investigations?
gather information for legislation
oversee operations of executive branch
focus public attention on a topic
expose questionable activities of public officials
promote the interests of members of congress
500
who is more powerful, the president or congress? defend your answer with facts!