Legislative Branch Flashcards
I have the most powerful position in the lower house. I signed bills to committees and appoint, select, and conference committee members.
Speaker of the house
I serve as President of the Senate. Although I cannot participate in debates, I can vote in case of a tie
Vice president
I preside over the Senate in the absence of the vice president. The caucus of the majority party chose me.
President pro tempore
The seniority system allowed me to become chairman of this house committee, which has the power over federal spending
chairman of house appropriations
I am chairman of this house committee which has power over taxation
Chairman of house ways and means committee
my seniority in the upper house has given me the chairmanship of this committee, which specializes in transportation, communication, and interstate commerce
Chairman of Senate commerce committee
as majority party leader in the lower house, I exert pressure on the party members to vote with the party. I am responsible for getting my parties program enacted into law.
House majority whip
I have the role of leadership in the upper house responsible for passage of the majority parties program. I inform and pressure party members to vote for programs. I determine the order in which the bills are debated.
Senate Majority Whip
I am the leader of the smaller party in the upper house, responsible for resisting programs submitted by the majority
Senate minority leader
I am the leader of the minority party in the lower house, responsible for informing party members and organizing resistance to programs submitted by the majority
house minority leader
I aid the majority leader and keeping party members informed and supportive of programs in the upper house
Senate majority whip
I am the minority party leader in the upper house who informs members when bills are scheduled for a vote. My usual goal is to oppose majority bills.
Senate minority whip
I have control of the dominant party in the lower house, and I enact of our parties programs
House Majority Leader
I am the party leader in the lower house who informs members and assist minority leader in resistance some of the majority parties programs
House minority whip
The seniority system allows me to become a chairman of the powerful committee in the upper house which handles matters relating to other nations
Chairman of senate foreign affairs
I am chairman of the less powerful committee in the lower house, which handles matters with other countries
Chairman of international affairs committee
I am chairman of this powerful committee in the lower house, which deals with impeachment charges
Chairman of house judiciary committee
I am chairman of the upper house committee which supervises exponentials of the department of government with the largest budget
chairman of Senate Armed services committee
tactic that is used by the members of the Senate to prevent action
Filibuster
appropriations/funding of local projects by legislative bodies
Pork barrel legislation
The right and power to decide if a change in policy will be considered
Gate keeping authority
The allocation of funds to a specific purpose
Earmark
Association of members of Congress, based on party, interest, or social characteristics
Congressional caucus
this congressional committee deals regularly with bills and issues of a specific domain
Standing committee
bills that are included in a single major bill, and are usually appropriation bills
Omnibus bill
The resources of public officials and the power to control appointments
Patronage
A petition to release a bill from a committee and send it to the floor for debate
Discharge petition
The politicians of I’ve been holding office for a long time have this quality
Incumbency
The priority status given to an individual on the basis of length of service
Seniority
The communication system in each chamber of Congress
Whip system
this committee finalizes the compromise bill between the house and the Senate
Conference committee
The 22 committees of the house, and the 16 committees of the Senate are divided in a total of 100 specialized committees
Subcommittees
The people of a district from where a legislator is elected
Constituency
The congressional control over executive agencies
Oversight
difference between national spending and national revenue
Deficit
intense differences between partisan forces that block action
Gridlock
A house committee of 100 members without rules
Committee of the whole
The apportionment of a district in a way that favors the opposing party
Gerrymandering
bill that deal with matters of general concern
Public bill
A practice of legislators who make agreements to vote in favor or against a bill
Log rolling
A rule allowing 2/3 of the Senate to set a limit on the debate over a bill
Cloture
A session during which a bill is changed
Markup session
The general cut in government spending
Sequester
takes over if the president or vice president are unable to perform their duties
Speaker of the house
leaders of the house have ___ power than leaders in the Senate
More
The _____ of Congress do most of the legislative work
Committees
in the House of Representatives, who is the presiding officer and is the most powerful leader?
Speaker of the house
members represent districts, so they serve on committees that are important to their:
Constituents
A _____ of the majority party chooses a speaker of the house at the start of each session of Congress
Caucus
The majority leader has help from these two positions:
Majority whip and deputy whip
what is a proposed law called until both houses of Congress pass it and the president signed it?
A bill
this committee is like a traffic officer in the House of Representatives
Rules committee
major bills reach the floor of the house by a rule or special order from this committee
The rules committee
The minimum number of members needed for official legislative action
A quorum
they have longer terms of office and represent their entire state
Senators
each term Congress begins on January 3 and years ending in _____ numbers, and last for two years
odd
how many sessions is a congressional term?
two
how many members of the house must run for reelection?
All of them (435)
The constitution gives senators ____ year terms, and says that only 1/3 of senators run for reelection every _____ years
6; 2
if a senator dies or resigns, what gives the governor of the power to name a replacement until the next selection
State legislature
List five expressed powers of Congress:
- Finance the national government
- Declare war.
- Regulate commerce.
- Issue patents and copyrights.
- Enact and pass laws.
gives Congress the authority to make laws and do things with are necessary for Congress to carry out the express powers assigned by the constitution:
Necessary and proper clause/elastic clause
these exist, and belong to the national government, because they are inherent to a sovereign nation
Inherent powers
- initiate charges of impeachment.
- All bills raising money must originate here
Special powers of the House of Representatives
- act as a jury for impeachment proceedings
- Approve all foreign treaties.
- approved presidential appointment
Special powers of the Senate
what are four things Congress cannot do
- tax exports.
- Favor the trade of one state over another.
- Spend money from the treasury without a law.
- Grant titles of nobility.
What are the four ways of President can act on a bill?
- sign it into law.
- Veto it.
- Pocketveto the bill (hold the bill for less than 10 days in Congress adjourns)
- Hold the bill for 10 days and allow it to become law without signing it.
