2.1 The Structure of Congress Flashcards
What does ‘bicameral’ mean?
Two chambers, an upper and a lower
What are the two chambers within Congress?
The House of Representatives
The Senate
Who was the legislarive branch created by?
The Founding Fathers
Which house are the states allocated proportionally to?
The House of Representatives
How many members are in the House of Representatives?
435
How many members does Senate have?
50, 2 for each state
What are midterm elections?
Elections that take place for Congress in the middle of a Presidential term
What is a divided government?
When the Presidency is controlled by one party and Congress another
How does the House of Representatives fulfill its representation function?
The amount of members in the House reflects the size of the population of the state.
What are the requirements to be a member of the House?
Must be 25 year olds, and been a US Citizen for 7 years
What are the requirements to be a member of the Senate?
Must be 30 years old, and a US Citizen for atleast 9 years
What are concurrent powers?
Powers shared by both the House and the Senate
What are the 3 powers of the House?
- begin the process of money bills
- bringing charges of impeachment
- choosing the President is the Electoral College is blocked
What are 6 concurrent powers?
- creating legislation
- oversight of executive
- overriding Presidential veto
- initiating constitutional amendments
- declaring war
- confirming a VP
Explain the creating legislation function of Congress?
Article I of the Constitution gives the power to Congress to create legislation. Both houses are equal in their role of creating laws, neither house can override the other and both houses must agree to the exact same bill
Expolain thr
Explain the oversight function of the executive by Congress?
It is an implied power by the Constitution via Article I. Congress must review the activities of the executive branch.
Explain the overriding of the Presidents veto function by Congress?
Congress has the ability to override a Presidential veto. This must happen with a 2/3 in each house.
Explain the confirming a VP role of Congress?
The 25th Amendment gave the power to choose a VP.
Explain the beginning of the money bill power specificially to the House?
The Constitution grants one special law making power to the House. At the beginning of the nations history the House was the only elected chamber meaning it was the only one to democratically amend money
Explain the beginning of the bringing charges of an impeachment power specificially to the House?
Under Article II, grants the ability to remove a President for ‘Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemenous’
Explain the beginning of choosing a President if the Electoral College is deadlocked specificially to the House?
If no candidate wins an absolute majority of the Electoral College, the House is charged with electing a president
Explain the beginning of ratifying treaties specificially to the Senate?
The role sole of the Senate. If it has a 2/3 majority, it can ratify treaties made by the President. However, Presidents can find away round this by signing executive agreements with Foreign Powers
Explain the confirming appointments specificially to the Senate?
Gives Senate the power to confirm (with a simple majority) many apointments made by the President. Whenever a place becomes vacant in the Supreme Court, the Senate must approve.
