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Government > Chapter 10 Quiz > Flashcards

Chapter 10 Quiz Flashcards

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1
Q

The Legislative Branch
of the Federal government

A

Congress

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2
Q

Which article established Congress

A

Article 1 of the Constitution

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3
Q

Congress is also called

A

“First Branch”

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4
Q

Jobs of Congress (2)

A
  1. Represent the people and do the day to day work
  2. They translate the will of the people into law!
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5
Q

Congress is bicameral (2 houses) – Why?

A
  1. Historical reason: (British parliament – had 2 houses)
  2. Practical reason: (settled conflict between small & large states)
  3. Theoretical reason: (Check and balance each other)
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6
Q

Term of Congress

A

Length of time an elected official serves
1789 - 1st term
2023 - 117th term

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7
Q

Session

A

1 year time period during which Congress conducts its business (2 sessions per term)

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8
Q

Recess

A

To suspend business temporarily during a session

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9
Q

Adjourn

A

To suspend business until the next session

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10
Q

Sine die

A

Neither house can adjourn without the consent of the other

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11
Q

Prorogue

A

The president has the power to end a session when the 2 houses can’t agree to adjourn

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12
Q

Special Session

A

when the president calls Congress together for an emergency meeting!

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13
Q

Special sessions are rarely called anymore - Why?

A

Congress meets almost year round!

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14
Q

House of Representatives

A

(lower house)

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15
Q

How much members does the House have?

A

435 members

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16
Q

What is representation based on in the House?

A

Representation is based on the population of the state apportioned: (distributed)

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17
Q

How many states have 1 House representative

A

7 states

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18
Q

How long do House members serve a term

A

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

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19
Q

What area do House members represent

A

Represent their district only, not the entire state!

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20
Q

Reapportionment

A

The seats are redistributed every 10 years (Census)
1929 – Fixed number 435 (Permanent)

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21
Q

When are congressional elections?

A

Tuesday following the 1st Monday in November on even-numbered years

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22
Q

When are midterm elections?

A

(Non presidential years) - 2018 (ex.)

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23
Q

The party in power usually loses seats! Why?

A

The party in power is blamed for all the problems in the country!

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24
Q

Voting Block:

A

represents about 740,000 people
13 in NC – representing 10 million people!

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25
Q

Single-member districts

A

Most districts are single-member districts
Geographic districts from which one representative is chosen from a field of candidates

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26
Q

How many states are at-large districts

A

7

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27
Q

At-large district

A

Representatives chosen from the state as a whole

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28
Q

How are district lines drawn up?

A

by state legislatures of the party in power!

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29
Q

Gerrymandering

A

The drawing up of distinct lines to the advantage of the party in power

30
Q

2 ways to gerrymander

A

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!

31
Q

qualifications for house members

A

Must be 25 years old
Must have been a citizen – 7 years
Must be a resident of the states

32
Q

3 powers of the House

A

To impeach the president
Decide presidential election if no clear winner (1800 and 1824)
Initiate revenue bills

33
Q

The Senate

A

Upper house

34
Q

How many members in the Senate and how many senators per state

A

100 members
2 per state

35
Q

Constituencies

A

the people they represent (entire state)

36
Q

The senate was originally chosen by?

A

State legislatures

37
Q

17th Amendment now chosen by?

A

the people

38
Q

How long is a Senator’s term?

A

Serve a 6 year term (No limit) (Focus on the “big picture” – of the state)

39
Q

Continuous body of senate:

A

all seats are never up for election at the same time
Stagger the terms!

40
Q

Qualifications of a Senator: (Formal)

A

30 yr old
Citizen of USA for 9 years
Live in the state

41
Q

3 powers of Senate

A
  1. Holds impeachment trial
  2. Ratify treaties
  3. Confirms executive office appointments (Judges, cabinet, etc.)
42
Q

5 Major Roles of a Member of Congress

A
  1. *Legislators – make laws
  2. Representatives – voice of people
  3. Committee members – screen bills
  4. Servants to Constituents – provide help to the people
  5. Politicians – work for the government
43
Q

Oversight function

A

process through which Congress checks to see if the executive branch is following its policies/laws

44
Q

Where is most of Congress’s work done

A

In committees

45
Q

3 Major types of Committees/Congress

A
  1. Standing committees (permanent): deal with subject matter (education, finance, environment, agriculture, etc.)
  2. Special committees (temporary): deal with investigations, and President appointments (watergate, supreme court nominees)
  3. Joint: Deal with matter both house/Housekeeping
46
Q

Standing committees

A

(permanent) deal with subject matter (education, finance, environment, agriculture, etc.)

47
Q

Special Committees

A

(temporary): deal with investigations, and President appointments (watergate, supreme court nominees)

48
Q

Joint Committees

A

Deal with matter both house/Housekeeping

49
Q

Bill

A

proposed law

50
Q

2 types of bills

A
  1. Public bill – law involving everyone
  2. Private bill – law involving specific group/area
51
Q

Where do ideas for bills come from? (4)

A
  1. *Executive Branch
  2. People
  3. Congressmen
  4. Special interest groups (Industry, organizations, etc)
52
Q

Who introduces bills?

A

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)

53
Q

How a bill becomes a law (statute) (6 STEPS)

A
  1. Bill introduced by a Congressman
  2. *Committee Action (standing committee)
    Most bills are Pigeon-hole’d here (gets dropped in Committee)
  3. Floor Action – Full House/Senate - debate/vote
  4. Conference action/committee (members from both houses – “iron out” – must be exact!
  5. Floor Action – same as step #3
  6. 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)
54
Q

President Action - (3 Choices)

A

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)

55
Q

Rider

A

addition to bill – has nothing to do with the bill – *(One that will not pass on its own merit, so they attach it)

56
Q

Models of Representation: *4 ways in which congressmen vote

A

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

57
Q

Models of Representation: *4 ways in which congressmen vote

A

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

58
Q

How many bills are introduced each year?

A

About 5,000 bills

59
Q

What percent of bills become laws?

A

4%

60
Q

Filibuster

A

attempt by the Senate to stop the passage of a bill: “talk it to death” – unlimited timer! (Longest one in history – over 24 hrs!)

61
Q

Cloture

A

only way to stop a filibuster – 60% vote to stop

62
Q

Leadership in the House

A

Speaker of the House: Chairman – 3rd most powerful position in government!

63
Q

Leadership in the Senate

A

Vice President – Chairman
President pro-tempore – Charmen when the Vice President is not there! Most of the time!

64
Q

What is a congressman’s pay? Since when?

A

$174,000 - Since 2008

65
Q

What do congressmen get on top of their salary?

A

Fringe benefits

66
Q

The 5 Fringe Benefits

A
  1. Housing tax allowance
  2. Travel allowance
  3. Cheap health insurance
  4. Pension plan
  5. Free office and expenses for staff
67
Q

Three Limits on Congressional pay raise

A
  1. President’s veto
  2. *voter backlash – most important
  3. 27th amendment (does not take effect until the next term)
68
Q

Average age of Congressmen, Senate, and House

A

Congress - 60
Senate - 64
House - 57
*Not a good cross representation of the American people!

69
Q

Speech and Debate Clause: (Meaning + Purpose)

A

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

70
Q

What are Majority/Minority Leaders/Whips?

A

Majority Leader: “coach of the party”
Minority Leader: “coach of the party”
Majority and Minority Whips: “assistant coaches”

Government (9 decks)

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