Ch.10 Congress

Question 1

Term

Answer 1

two-year period of time during which Congress meets.

Question 2

Session

Answer 2

period of time during which, each year, Congress assembles and conducts business.

Question 3

Convene

Answer 3

To begin a new session of Congress.

Question 4

Adjourn

Answer 4

suspend, as a session of Congress

Question 5

Recess

Answer 5

A time when both houses of Congress temporarily suspend business.

Question 6

Prorogue

Answer 6

Adjourn, as in a legislative session.

Question 7

Sine Die

Answer 7

Neither house can adjourn without the consent of the other house.

Question 8

Special Session

Answer 8

An extraordinary session of a legislative body, called to deal with an emergency situation.

Question 9

Apportion

Answer 9

Distribute, as in seats in a legislative body.

Question 10

Reapportion

Answer 10

Redistribute, as in seats in a legislative body.

Question 11

Off-year election

Answer 11

Congressional election that occurs between presidential election years.

Question 12

Single-member district

Answer 12

Electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each electoral office.

Question 13

District

Answer 13

A voting block that represents about 700,000 people.

Question 14

Gerrymander

Answer 14

The drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group.

Question 15

Incumbent

Answer 15

The current officeholder.

Question 16

Continuous body

Answer 16

Governing unit whose seats are never all up for election at the same time.

Question 17

Constituency

Answer 17

The people and interests that an elected official requests.

Question 18

Delegate

Answer 18

Representatives: members of Congress who cast votes based on the wishes of their constituents.

Question 19

Trustee

Answer 19

Lawmaker who votes based on his or her conscience and judgment. not the views of his or her constituents.

Question 20

Partisan

Answer 20

Lawmaker who owes his/her first allegiance to his/her political party and votes according.

Question 21

Politico

Answer 21

Lawmaker who attempts to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles: see trustee, delegate, partisan.

Question 22

Oversight function

Answer 22

Review by legislative committees of policies and programs of the executive branch.

Question 23

Speech and Debate Clause

Answer 23

It protects representatives and senators from suits for libel or slander arising from their speech in Congress.

Question 24

What are the three reasons why the House of Representatives is Bicameral?

Answer 24

1. Historical reason: British Parliament - had 2 houses
2. Practical reason: Settled conflict between small & large states
3. Theoretical reason: Check & balance each other

Question 25

What are the three unique powers of the House/Senate?

Answer 25

1. Trial for impeachment
2. Ratify treaties
3. Confirmation (approves) - Cabinet, Judges, etc.

Question 26

What are the two ways in which gerrymandering is done?

Answer 26

1. Spread the opposition’s voters out in as many districts as possible.
2. Concentrate the opposition’s voters in as few districts as possible.

Question 27

What are the qualifications of a House member/ and a Senator?

Answer 27

House member:

1. must be 25 years old
2. U.S. citizen for 7 years
3. must live in state

Senator:

1. must be 30 years old
2. U.S. citizen for 9 years
3. must live in a state

Question 28

What are the 5 major roles of a congressmen?

Answer 28

1. Legislators: make laws
2. Representative: voice of people: delegate, trustee, partisan, politico
3. Committee members: take up bills
4. Servants to constituents: help people
5. Politicians: a person who governs

Question 29

What are the 3 limits on congressional pay?

Answer 29

1. President’s veto
2. Voter backlash
3. 27th amendment (does not take effect until the next term)

Question 30

Bicameral

Answer 30

an adjective describing a legislative body of two chambers.