Legislative branch Flashcards
What article creates the Legislative Branch
article 1
congress it the what branch of the Gov.
Law making
Bicameral body
2 house legislature
Upper house
Lower house
Senate up
House low
joint session
when house and Senate meet
1 term in congress
2 years
how many members in the house
435
house years
2 year terms no limit
how often does Congress adjusts the # of rep. given to each state
10 years
Census
Population count
how many people in a district
roughly 700,000
constituents
people who live and are represented in a representative’s district
who are our rep.
Scott Fitzgerald
Tamy Baldwin
Ron johnson
gerrymander
oddly shaped district designed to increase voting strength of a particular group
cracking, packing
senate
members and years
100 members
2 from each state
6 year terms no limit
majority and minority party
majority - political party to which more than 1/2 members belong
minority - other party
speaker of the house
leader of the house
Mike johnson
- steers legislation
- leads floor debates
vice pres.
presides over the Senate
- breaks 50/50 ties
majority party’s in house and senate
republican
super majority
one side has more than halve in congress
committees work
much of the legislation is preformed by committee and subcommittee within congress
types of committees
standing- permanent
select - temporary/deals with special issues
joint - includes members of both houses
party leaders
make assignments based on members preferences, expertise, loyalty and seniority, or years of service
elastic clause
allows Congress to stretch its powers to meet new needs
non-legislative powers
duties congress holds besides lawmaking
- propose amendments to constitution
- approve/reject presidential appointments
- remove federal official for serious wrongdoing
impeach
accuse officials of misconduct
house does this Senate decides guilt
Ex post Facto Laws
laws that make an act a crime after that act has been committed
cannot suspend the writ of habeas corpus
a court order that requires the police to bring a prisoner to a court to explain why they are holding the person
banned from passing bills of attainder
laws that punish a person without trial by jury
qualifications for house
25 years old
live in the state they rep.
citizen for 7 years
qualifications for senate
30 years old
live in the state the rep.
citizen for 9 years
benefits
salary - 174,000
free parking, trips back to their home, office space
franking privilage - send job related mail for free
hire helpers
casework
the work that a lawmaker does to help constituents with a problem
pork-barrel project
government project grant that primarily benefits the home district or state
private bills
concern individual people or places
public bill
apply to the entire nation and involve general matters
joint resolutions
passed by both houses that become laws if signed by the pres.
special interest groups
organizations made up of people with common interests
