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Government > Chap 11 Legislative Branch > Flashcards

Chap 11 Legislative Branch Flashcards

1
Q

purpose of the legislative branch

A

to make laws

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2
Q

parts of the legislative branch

A

bicameral

  1. senate
  2. house of representatives
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3
Q

how many members are in the house of reps?

A

435

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4
Q

how is the number of representatives decided in the house of reps?

A

based on population of state

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5
Q

reapportionment

A

congress reevaluates the number of representatives each state has (done every 10 years)
state then divides itself into districts

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6
Q

Wesberry vs. Sanders

A

states must divide their districts so that each district has equal population

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7
Q

gerrymanding

A

political party in charge of state legislature will draw the districts so they have the advantage in the next election

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8
Q

house of reps term

A

2 years

no limit

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9
Q

qualifications for house of reps

A
  1. 25 years old
  2. US citizens for 7 years
  3. resident of state you represent (but you don’t have to live in that district)
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10
Q

presiding officer of the house

A

Speaker of the House

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11
Q

how is the Speaker chosen?

A

voted on among the representatives

usually chosen from the majority party

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12
Q

current Speaker

A

John Boehner

3rd in line for the presidency

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13
Q

Tennesseans who have been Speaker

A 
John Bale (Whig)
James Polk (Dem)
Joe Byrns (Dem)
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14
Q

senate term length

A

6 years (1/3 are up for reelection ever 2 years)

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15
Q

how many senators are there?

A

100; 2 per state

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16
Q

17th amendment

A

senators are chosen by the people instead of the state legislature

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17
Q

senator qualifications

A
  1. 30 years of age
  2. US citizen for 9 years
  3. must be resident of that state
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18
Q

who is the presiding officer over the senate?

A

the vice president

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19
Q

who is presiding officer over the senate when the VP isn’t there?

A

President Pro Tempore:

usually senior member of majority party

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20
Q

who is the current pro tempore?

A

Patrick K. Leany (VT, Dem)

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21
Q

Pro Tempores from TN

A 
Joseph Anderson (R)
Hugh Lawson White (Whig)
Isham Harris (D)
Kenneth McKellar (D)
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22
Q

Duties of Congress

A
  1. legislative (make laws)
  2. committee member
  3. represent your constituents needs
  4. servants of their constituents
  5. politicians (must be elected through campaign as a party member)
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23
Q

Congress Voting Options

A
  1. trustee: use your own judgement
  2. delegate: vote how constituents want you to
  3. partisan: vote with political beliefs of your party
  4. politico: combine all three options
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24
Q

how much does a congressman make?

A

$174,000

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25
benefits of being a congressman
1. free medical care 2. free parking in Washington DC 3. free travel 4. money for office in home district 5. retirement plan (average $100,000 pension) 6. Franking Privilege: free mail to party members 7. can't be arrested while congress is in session
26
ways to avoid constituent pressure
1. vote both ways on a bill 2. be absent during the vote 3. the different ways of voting 4. patronage 5. Pork Barrel Legislation 6. Private Bill
27
what are the different ways of voting?
1. voice vote (aye or nay) 2. division vote (stand on separate sides) 3. passing in front of the teller (head count of walkers) 4. role call: record vote by name
28
responsibilities of congress
1. must pass statutes 2. oversight of administration 3. oversight of citizens 4. advice and consent 5. debate 6. Direct Committee Government 7. Legislative Veto
29
Authorization Act
gives gov't power to do something (ex: Declaration of War)
30
Revenue Acts
taxes, laws that raise money
31
Appropriation Acts
spends money
32
Private Acts
private bills
33
hearing
inquiry conducted by congress to build a record on a specific bill already introduced
34
investigation
authorization by congress for a committee to examine a broad area or problem rather than a specific bill
35
supervision
lobbyist (a person who represents an industry or a group who tries to persuade congressmen)
36
legislative veto
a statute permitting the president to propose changes in administrative organization, procedure, or regulation which becomes law if congress doesn't act within 60 days
37
Direct Committee Gov't
the practice of delegating certain congressional powers from the whole congress to one of its committees
38
Advice and Consent
the senate must approve all presidential appointments and treaties
39
expressed powers of congress
1. tax 2. borrow money 3. commerce 4. currency 5. bankruptcy 6. foreign relations power: approve treaties 7. war powers (raise an army, declare war, War Powers Resolution) 8. naturalization 9. postal power 10. copyrights and patents 11. weights and measures regulation 12. power over territories and DC 13. judicial power (must approve federal judges)
40
War Powers Resolution
president can send military in for 60 days but after that must get the approval of congress
41
implied powers of congress
1. make constitutional amendments 2. electoral duties 3. impeachment power 4. executive power: approve treaties and appointments 5. investigatory power 6. eminent domain
42
eminent domain
government takes private property for public use
43
who elects the president if the electoral college fails?
house of reps
44
who elects the VP if the electoral college fails?
senate
45
how is the leader of a committee chosen?
congressmen with longest term
46
types of committees
1. standing committee 2. select committee 3. join committee 4. conference committee
47
standing committee
always in existence
48
select committee
temporary and usually involves investigation
49
joint committee
composed of members of both houses; usually involved in investigations or oversight
50
conference committee
made up of members of both houses | purpose is to draft compromise bill that will be accepted by both houses of congress
51
bill
proposed law
52
joint resolution
not a law, but has force of laws and is usually temporary
53
concurrent resolution
deals with something in which the house and senate must act together
54
simple resolutions
one particular house of congress and usually deals with a rule or procedure
55
rider
a provision that won't pass on its own so it is attached to a major piece of legislation
56
first reading of a bill
1. introduced 2. numbered, titled, summarized 3. entered into the congressional journal 4. sent to a committee
57
options to the committee regarding a bill
1. report favorably 2. refuse to report the bill (aka pigeonhole) 3. report an amended form 4. report an unfavorable recommendation 5. report a committee bill
58
second reading of a bill
the entire house reads the bill and every senator has a chance to speak on it
59
third reading of a bill
vote on the bill
60
how a bill becomes a law
1. senate 2. house of reps 3. Conference Committee 4. President
61
presidents options regarding a bill
1. sign 2. veto 3. pocket veto: bill dies after 10 days if nothing is done
62
debate time limits
yes in house of reps | no in senate
63
fillibuster
an attempt to talk a bill to death in order to delay the vote
64
who has the record filibuster?
Strom Thurmond (24 hours 18 min)
65
Cloture Rule
prevents a filibuster | 60 senators must agree before it goes into effect

Government (3 decks)

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