Chapter 6 study guide Flashcards
Responsibilities of congress
To the constituents: to represent them, to the political parties: to maintain the goals of the party, and to interest groups: to be supportive because they will help with the elections and promote areas that the member is interested in.
Congress’s role
To make the laws.
Requirements for a member of the house
Must be at least 25 years old, and have lived in the U.S. for at least 7 years and must live in the sate they represent.
Requirements for the senate
Must be at least 30 years old, must be a citizen of the U.S. for at least 9 years and must live in the state they represent.
Length of terms for the house and senate
2 years for the house and 6 years for the senate.
Reapportionment Act of 1929
Reapportionment is the act of redistributing every ten years the number of seats in the legislature. After each 10 year census they determine the number of seats a state gets.
Salary and benefits
Members of congress= $168,000, Majority and minority leaders= $186,000, Speaker of the house= $215,700. A member of congress gets an allowance for running 2 offices(one in DC and one in their home state), money to travel home and free postal service.
Powers of congress
Promoting the general welfare, providing for defense, and establishing justice.
Which powers promote the general welfare?
The power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and between the states.
Which powers provide for the defense?
The power to establish an army and a Navy and the sole power to declare war.
Which powers establish justice?
The power to create federal courts below the Supreme Court, To approve the appointment of judges, and to impeach a president or federal judge.
“Power of the purse”
Congress has the final approval of the governments budget.
Unlisted powers
A clause in the constitution allows congress to make all laws that are “necessary and proper” for carrying out the listed powers. This is known as the Elastic Clause.
Non-legislative powers
The constitution grants congress the power to conduct investigations, gather information to make better laws, and find out how the executive branch is enforcing the laws.
What is Article 1 section 9 of the constitution and what does it do?
It limits congressional power which ends up protecting the rights of citizens.
Who chooses the leadership positions?
The house chooses the speaker of the house; the senate elects the president Pro-Tempore and the houses elect the majority and minority floor leaders and their assistants called whips.
Describe what a standing committee?
A standing committee is a permanent committee each one deals with a certain area such as education and banking. Committees control the fate of bills, they study the bill, they hold hearings, and they decide whether to recommend the full or entire senate.
Describe select and joint committees.
Select committees deal with the problems not covered by standing committees. Joint committees are committees formed to conduct investigations.
Describe conference committees.
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What role does the president play in the process of how a bill becomes a law?
He Canxz z veto a bill, he can sign a bill into law or he can pocket the veto.
