Chapter 10 Quiz Flashcards
The Legislative Branch
of the Federal government
Congress
Which article established Congress
Article 1 of the Constitution
Congress is also called
“First Branch”
Jobs of Congress (2)
- Represent the people and do the day to day work
- They translate the will of the people into law!
Congress is bicameral (2 houses) – Why?
- Historical reason: (British parliament – had 2 houses)
- Practical reason: (settled conflict between small & large states)
- Theoretical reason: (Check and balance each other)
Term of Congress
Length of time an elected official serves
1789 - 1st term
2023 - 117th term
Session
1 year time period during which Congress conducts its business (2 sessions per term)
Recess
To suspend business temporarily during a session
Adjourn
To suspend business until the next session
Sine die
Neither house can adjourn without the consent of the other
Prorogue
The president has the power to end a session when the 2 houses can’t agree to adjourn
Special Session
when the president calls Congress together for an emergency meeting!
Special sessions are rarely called anymore - Why?
Congress meets almost year round!
House of Representatives
(lower house)
How much members does the House have?
435 members
What is representation based on in the House?
Representation is based on the population of the state apportioned: (distributed)
How many states have 1 House representative
7 states
How long do House members serve a term
Members serve a 2 year term
*(Kept short so they will stay in contact with the people)
No limit on how many terms they can serve
What area do House members represent
Represent their district only, not the entire state!
Reapportionment
The seats are redistributed every 10 years (Census)
1929 – Fixed number 435 (Permanent)
When are congressional elections?
Tuesday following the 1st Monday in November on even-numbered years
When are midterm elections?
(Non presidential years) - 2018 (ex.)
The party in power usually loses seats! Why?
The party in power is blamed for all the problems in the country!
Voting Block:
represents about 740,000 people
13 in NC – representing 10 million people!
Single-member districts
Most districts are single-member districts
Geographic districts from which one representative is chosen from a field of candidates
How many states are at-large districts
7
At-large district
Representatives chosen from the state as a whole
How are district lines drawn up?
by state legislatures of the party in power!
Gerrymandering
The drawing up of distinct lines to the advantage of the party in power
2 ways to gerrymander
Packing: Concentrate the opposition’s voters in as few districts as possible
Cracking: Spread the opposition’s voters out in as many districts as possible
*The purpose is to lose as few districts as possible and stay in power!
qualifications for house members
Must be 25 years old
Must have been a citizen – 7 years
Must be a resident of the states
3 powers of the House
To impeach the president
Decide presidential election if no clear winner (1800 and 1824)
Initiate revenue bills
The Senate
Upper house
How many members in the Senate and how many senators per state
100 members
2 per state
Constituencies
the people they represent (entire state)
The senate was originally chosen by?
State legislatures
17th Amendment now chosen by?
the people
How long is a Senator’s term?
Serve a 6 year term (No limit) (Focus on the “big picture” – of the state)
Continuous body of senate:
all seats are never up for election at the same time
Stagger the terms!
Qualifications of a Senator: (Formal)
30 yr old
Citizen of USA for 9 years
Live in the state
3 powers of Senate
- Holds impeachment trial
- Ratify treaties
- Confirms executive office appointments (Judges, cabinet, etc.)
5 Major Roles of a Member of Congress
- *Legislators – make laws
- Representatives – voice of people
- Committee members – screen bills
- Servants to Constituents – provide help to the people
- Politicians – work for the government
Oversight function
process through which Congress checks to see if the executive branch is following its policies/laws
Where is most of Congress’s work done
In committees
3 Major types of Committees/Congress
- Standing committees (permanent): deal with subject matter (education, finance, environment, agriculture, etc.)
- Special committees (temporary): deal with investigations, and President appointments (watergate, supreme court nominees)
- Joint: Deal with matter both house/Housekeeping
Standing committees
(permanent) deal with subject matter (education, finance, environment, agriculture, etc.)
Special Committees
(temporary): deal with investigations, and President appointments (watergate, supreme court nominees)
Joint Committees
Deal with matter both house/Housekeeping
Bill
proposed law
2 types of bills
- Public bill – law involving everyone
- Private bill – law involving specific group/area
Where do ideas for bills come from? (4)
- *Executive Branch
- People
- Congressmen
- Special interest groups (Industry, organizations, etc)
Who introduces bills?
A Congressman (introduced in either the House or the Senate) – *MUST BE PASSED BY BOTH HOUSES!
*Most bills can start in either house (Tax bills must go through House first)
How a bill becomes a law (statute) (6 STEPS)
- Bill introduced by a Congressman
- *Committee Action (standing committee)
Most bills are Pigeon-hole’d here (gets dropped in Committee) - Floor Action – Full House/Senate - debate/vote
- Conference action/committee (members from both houses – “iron out” – must be exact!
- Floor Action – same as step #3
- President Action - (3 Choices)
Sign – becomes law!
Veto – refuse to sign
Pocket Veto – when a bill fails to become law because the president does not sign within the ten-day period, and cannot return the bill to Congress because they have adjourned! RARE
*Veto can be overridden by Congress with a two thirds majority vote in each house *(145 – House and 66 – Senate)
President Action - (3 Choices)
Sign – becomes law!
Veto – refuse to sign
Pocket Veto – when a bill fails to become law because the president does not sign within the ten-day period, and cannot return the bill to Congress because they have adjourned! RARE
*Veto can be overridden by Congress with a two thirds majority vote in each house *(145 – House and 66 – Senate)
Rider
addition to bill – has nothing to do with the bill – *(One that will not pass on its own merit, so they attach it)
Models of Representation: *4 ways in which congressmen vote
Delegate vote – vote in the interest of the people (agent)
Partisan vote – vote along party lines
Trustee vote – vote their conscience/merit
Politico vote – a blend of the other three
Models of Representation: *4 ways in which congressmen vote
Delegate vote – vote in the interest of the people (agent)
Partisan vote – vote along party lines
Trustee vote – vote their conscience/merit
Politico vote – a blend of the other three
How many bills are introduced each year?
About 5,000 bills
What percent of bills become laws?
4%
Filibuster
attempt by the Senate to stop the passage of a bill: “talk it to death” – unlimited timer! (Longest one in history – over 24 hrs!)
Cloture
only way to stop a filibuster – 60% vote to stop
Leadership in the House
Speaker of the House: Chairman – 3rd most powerful position in government!
Leadership in the Senate
Vice President – Chairman
President pro-tempore – Charmen when the Vice President is not there! Most of the time!
What is a congressman’s pay? Since when?
$174,000 - Since 2008
What do congressmen get on top of their salary?
Fringe benefits
The 5 Fringe Benefits
- Housing tax allowance
- Travel allowance
- Cheap health insurance
- Pension plan
- Free office and expenses for staff
Three Limits on Congressional pay raise
- President’s veto
- *voter backlash – most important
- 27th amendment (does not take effect until the next term)
Average age of Congressmen, Senate, and House
Congress - 60
Senate - 64
House - 57
*Not a good cross representation of the American people!
Speech and Debate Clause: (Meaning + Purpose)
Protects legislative speech:
1. It protects Congressmen from lawsuits for libel or slander arising from their speech in Congress
2. Encourages/Allows for free and open legislative debate in Congress
What are Majority/Minority Leaders/Whips?
Majority Leader: “coach of the party”
Minority Leader: “coach of the party”
Majority and Minority Whips: “assistant coaches”
