Chapter 10 (The National Legislature)

Question 1

Bicameral

Answer 1

a legislature made up of two houses

Question 2

Reasons why Constitution establishes bicameral legislature

Answer 2

for historical, practical, and theoretical reasons

Question 3

Term

Answer 3

a term of Congress last for two years

Question 4

Session

Answer 4

a session of Congress is that period during which, each year, Congress assembles and conducts business

Question 5

Convene

Answer 5

to begin a new session of Congress

Question 6

Adjourn

Answer 6

suspend, as in a session of Congress

Question 7

Recess

Answer 7

a time when both houses of Congress temporarily suspend business

Question 8

Prorogue

Answer 8

adjourn, as in a legislative session

Question 9

Special Session

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Apportion

Answer 10

distribute, as in seats in a legislative body

Question 11

Reapportion

Answer 11

to redistribute the seats in the House of Representatives every ten years, after each census

Question 12

Reapportionment Act of 1929

Answer 12

the “permanent” size of the House is 435 members

Question 13

Off-year elections

Answer 13

those Congressional elections that occur in nonpresidential years

Question 14

Single-member district

Answer 14

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

Question 15

At-large election

Answer 15

election of an officeholder by the voters of an entire governmental unit (e.g., a State or country) rather than by the voters of a district or subdivision

Question 16

Gerrymandering

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Qualifications to serve in House of Representatives

Answer 17

1. at least 25 years of age
2. have been a citizen of U.S. for at least 7 years
3. be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected

Question 18

Incumbent

Answer 18

the person who currently holds the office

Question 19

Size of the Senate

Answer 19

Fixed by the Constitutional requirement that every State shall have 2 Senators. Today 100 Senators represent 50 States.

Question 20

Continuous body

Answer 20

the Senate is a continuous body because all of its seats are never up for election at the same time

Question 21

Constituency

Answer 21

the people and interests that an elected official represents

Question 22

Qualifications to serve in Senate

Answer 22

1. at least 30 years of age
2. have been a citizen of U.S. for at least 9 years
3. be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected

Question 23

Delegate

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Trustee

Answer 24

lawmaker who votes based on his or her conscience and judgment, not the views of his or her constituents

Question 25

Partisan

Answer 25

lawmaker who owes his/her first allegiance to his/her political party and votes according to the party line

Question 26

Politico

Answer 26

lawmaker who attempts to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles

Question 27

Bill

Answer 27

a proposed law presented to a legislative body for consideration

Question 28

Floor consideration

Answer 28

the process by which proposed laws are considered and acted upon by the full membership of the House or Senate

Question 29

Oversight function

Answer 29

review by legislative committees of the policies and programs of the executive branch

Question 30

Franking privilege

Answer 30

benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free

Question 31

Congressional pay

Answer 31

the Constitution says that Congress fixes its own pay

Question 32

The Speech or Debate Clause

Answer 32

Article I, Section 6, Clause 1 of the Constitution gives members of Congress the ability to speak freely in their job without fear of being sued in the courts