Congress (US 2)

Question 1

Number of representatives

Answer 1

435

Question 2

Number of senators

Answer 2

100

Question 3

Length of representative term

Answer 3

2 years (midterms occur every 2 years to re-elect them)

Question 4

senator term length

Answer 4

6 years (1/3 are re-elected every 2 years during midterms)

Question 5

Key legislative powers of congress (4):

Answer 5

-passing laws
-approving the budget
-declaring war
-regulating interstate/ foreign commerce

Question 6

Which chamber has the power to initiate revenue bills

Answer 6

The lower chamber (house of reps)

Question 7

Senate role in treaty ratification

Answer 7

They can ratify a treaty with 2/3 supermajority

Question 8

Senate role in appointments

Answer 8

They confirm presidential appointments with a simple majority

Question 9

Impeachment process in each house

Answer 9

The house impeaches someone (brings fourth charges) and then the senate (if they approve the impeachment) hold a trail and vote for removal of the impeached

Question 10

What is congressional oversight

Answer 10

The process by which Congress monitors the actions of the executive branch

Question 11

What is a filibuster and which chamber uses it

Answer 11

The delaying of legislation by prolonging debate, used in the senate only

Question 12

What is a cloture motion

Answer 12

A motion to end a filibuster, needs support from 60 senators

Question 13

What is a standing committee

Answer 13

A permanent committee in congress that handles specific areas of policy

Question 14

What is a conference committee

Answer 14

An ad hoc committee of both representatives and senators which aims to resolve conflict between each houses version of the same bill (after the bill has passed its third reading in each house)

Question 15

What is pork-barrelling legislation

Answer 15

When a representative utilises government funds aimed at a local project specifically designed to please voters and win votes by bringing money to a district

Question 16

What is gerrymandering

Answer 16

The drawing of district boundaries in a way which will put one party at a disadvantage (as the boundaries are set by the governing party, it will be the party trying to win government off of them that will suffer)

Question 17

What is an incumbency advantage

Answer 17

The idea that a congressperson who is already in office has a better chance of being elected than a candidate who is not in congress. This is due to status, funding and networking

Question 18

What are the exclusive powers of the senate (4)

Answer 18

-Try an impeachment (supermajority required to remove someone from office)
-elect the vice president if no candidate has over 50% electoral college votes
-ratify treaties
-confirm executive appointments

Question 19

Examples of senate treaty ratification (2);

Answer 19

-Obama received ratification for his 2010 START treaty (deal to scale back nuclear arsenals with Russia)

-the last senate rejection was in 2012 on a treaty concerning disabled rights

Treaty raftification powers have been eroded by presidential use of executive agreements

Question 20

Exclusive powers of the house (3):

Answer 20

-initiate impeachment
-elect the president if nobody gets a majority in the electoral college
-being consideration of money bills