Government Final Flashcards
What is the Legislative Branch of the Federal government called?
Congress
What was originally the only branch under the Articles of Confederation?
The Legislative Branch, also called the “First Branch”
What Article of the Constitution created the Legislative Branch
Article 1
What are the 2 Jobs of Congress
- Represent the people and do the day to day work in the government
- They translate the will of the people into law
Why is Congress Bicameral? (3 reasons)
- Historical reason
- British parliament – had two houses
- Practical reason
- Settled conflict between the small and large states
- Theoretical reason
- Check and balance each other
What is a Term of Congress
Length of time an elected official serves
How long is a Term of Congress
2 years
What is a Session?
1-year time period during which Congress conducts its business
2 sessions per term
What is a Recess?
To suspend business temporarily during a session
What does it mean to Adjourn?
To suspend business until the next session
What is “Sine die”?
- Neither house can adjourn without the consent of the other
- Both houses must both adjourn at the same time
What is Prorogue?
The president has the power to end a session when the 2 houses can’t agree
What is a Special Session?
- When the president calls Congress together for an emergency meeting
- Rarely called because Congress meets almost year-round
Is the House or Representatives “Higher” or “Lower House”
Lower House
It has less power
How many members does the House of Representatives have?
435
Describe the Representation in the House of Representatives
- Based on Population of the state
- Fixed number distributed among states
How many non-voting members of Congress are there? What do they represent?
6
Represent US territories
How many states have 1 representative only?
7
How long are terms in the House of Representativs?
2 years
Kept short so they will stay in contact with the people
Do House of Representatives represent their district only or the entire state
Their district only, except for the little states
Is there a limit on how many terms people in the House of Representatives can serve?
No
What are the 3 Powers of the House of Representatives?
- To impeach the president
- Decide presidential election if no clear winner
- Power of the purse
- All taxes, all spending
What is Reapportionment?
The seats of the House of Representatives are redistributed every 10 years
