Legislative and Executive Branches Test Flashcards
Redistricting
The process of drawing electoral district boundaries.
Gerrymander
Manipulate the electoral district boundaries to favor one party.
What is bicameral?
Congress, which has two chambers.
What is the term length for a senator?
6 years
What is the term length for a representative?
2 years
Number of members in the House
435
Number of members in the Senate
100
Number of members from each state in the House
Depends on the population
Number of members from each state in the Senate
2 senators
Who is the presiding officer of the House?
Speaker of the House
Who is the presiding officer of the Senate?
The vice president
What is the age qualification to run for Senate?
At least 30 years old
What is the citizenship qualification to run for Senate?
9 years of being a US citizen
What is the residency qualification to run for Senate?
Live in the state they represent
People running for the House or Senate are elected by…
American voters
What is the age qualification to run for the House of Representatives?
At least 25 years old
What is the citizenship qualification to run for the House of Representatives?
7 years of being a US citizen
What is the residency qualification to run for the House of Representatives?
Live in the state and district they represent
What are the enumerated powers of Congress?
Create rules on how to become a citizen
Collect taxes, pay debts, and borrow money
Regulate commerce (trade) between the
states and with other countries
Coin money and punish counterfeiters
Punish pirates (!)
Establish post offices
Protect patents and copyrights
Create lower federal courts
Declare war, raise and support an Army and Navy
Make any other laws that are “necessary and proper” to carry our the powers in this list
Which chamber of Congress is in charge of approving presidential appointments to the Supreme Court, Cabinet, and Ambassadors?
The Senate
In which chamber of Congress do revenue (tax) bills originate?
The House
What is a bill?
The rough draft of a law.
What steps are involved in how a bill becomes a law?
The proposal (in the House)
The introduction (in the House)
The Committee Report
The Floor Debate (in the House)
The Vote (in the House)
The Hand-Off to Senate
The Compromise with both House and Senate
Another Vote (this time with House and Senate)
Sent To President
What actions can the President take after the House and Senate pass a bill?
Sign the bill
Ignore the bill (it becomes law after 10 days)
Vetoes the bill
How can Congress override a veto?
A two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House.
What is the age qualification to become president?
35 years old
What is the citizenship qualification to become president?
Natural-born citizen (born a US citizen)
What is the residency qualification to become president?
14 years a resident of the USA
What is the electoral college?
There are 538 electors in total, split from the 50 states and Washington D.C. If a president gets 270 or more votes from the Electoral College, they will be elected.
How many electoral votes does each state get?
The amount it gets in Congress: So basically, their number of representatives in the House for that state + 2.
What is the minimum number of electoral votes a presidential candidate needs to win?
270 votes
How long is each President’s term?
4 years
How many terms can the president serve?
2 years
What is the 22nd amendment?
No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.
What are the president’s powers?
Executive power
Preserve, protect, and defend the constitution
Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States
Grant pardons for offenses against the US
Make treaties as long as two-thirds of the present senators agree
Give info to Congress
Which of the president’s powers are shared with the Senate?
Make foreign treaties.
Who are the first three people of the presidential succession?
Vice President
Speaker of the House
President Pro Tempore of the Senate
