Legislative Branch Flashcards
Houses of Congress
Senate
House of reps
Legislative Branch
Makes laws
Congressional Session
2 years
Members of the house
435
Membership based on…
Population
Members limits
2 year term
No term limit
Reapportionment
Readjusting of congressmen
Wesberry vs Sanders
Districts have to have equal population
Gerrymanding
Party that’s to control state legislature will draw districts so that their political party has advantage
Qualifications for the house
25
7 year citizen
Resident of state you represent
Speaker of the house
Residing officer
Senate
Each state = 2 senators
Senator terms
6 year terms
1/3 is reelected every 2 years
17th amendment
Senators are chosen by the people
Qualifications of Senator
30
9 year citizen
Resident of state represented
Presiding officer of senate
Vice President
When vp absent at senate presiding officer is…
President pro Tempore
Congressional Duties
Legislator Committee members Represent their constituents Servants of constituents Politicians
Voting options
Trustee
Delegate
Partisan
Politico
Trustee
Own judgement
Delegate
The way constituents want
Partisan
With political party
Politico
Use all 3
Compensation of congressmen
$174,000 income Free medical care Free parking in D.C. Free travel Money for office in district Retirement plan Free mail Can't get arrested
How to avoid constituent pressure
Vote both ways
Be absent
Ways of voting
Voice vote
Division note
Passing in front of the teller
Roll call vote
Patronage
Efforts to help constituents by personally providing jobs, public works, or benefits, as a favor
Pork barrel legislation
Bills composed of items of patronage, named and located in specific district
Private bill
Proposal to grant relief, special privilege, or exception to the person named in the Bill
Responsibilities of congress
Statutes Oversight of administration Oversight of citizens Advice and consent Debate Direct committee Government Legislative Veto Broad or strict interpretation of constitution
Statutes
Authorization
Revenue
Appropriate
Private
Oversight of administration
Hearings
Investigations
Supervisions
Oversight of citizens
Hearings
Investigation
Expressed Powers
Tax Borrow money Commerce Bankruptcy Foreign relations power War powers Naturalization Postal power Copyrights and patents Weights and measures Territorial and Washington D.C. Powers Judicial power
Implied powers (non-legislative powers)
Amendments Electoral duties Impeachment Executive powers Investigatory powers Eminent domain
Committee System
Seniority Rule Standing committees Select committee Joint committee Conference committee
Standing committee
Permanent
Select committee
Temporary
Joint Committee
Members of both houses vote
Bill
Proposed law
Joint resolution
Not law but has power of law
Concurrent Resolution
House and senate work together
Resolution
Rule and procedure
Rider
Won’t pass on its own
How does Bill turn into law
3 readings
First reading
Bill introduced
Numbered, titled, and brief summary
Entered into congressional journal
Sent to committee
Committee Reports…
Doesn't Favorably In amended form Unfavorably As a committee bill
Second Reading
Floor consideration
Third Reading
Final vote
President can…
Sign
Veto
Pocket veto
If congress adjourns 10 days after sending bill to president and president does nothing it dies
Filibuster
Attempt to talk a bill to death
How to prevent it?
Cloture rule (60 senators must agree)
