Legislative Branch

Question 0

Session

Answer 0

The regular period of time during which Congress conducts business.

Question 1

Term

Answer 1

The length of time that officials serve after an election.

Question 2

Adjourns

Answer 2

Suspends until the next session, each regular session as it sees fit.

Question 3

Special Session

Answer 3

A meeting to deal with some emergency situation.

Question 4

Reapportion

Answer 4

Redistribute- the seats in the House after each decennial census.

Question 5

Gerrymandering

Answer 5

The act of drawing congressional districts to the advantage of the political party that controls the State legislature.

Question 6

Franking Privilege

Answer 6

Allows members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free by substituting their facsimile signature (frank) for the postage.

Question 7

Eminent Domain

Answer 7

The inherit power to take private property for public use.

Question 8

Copyright

Answer 8

The exclusive right of an author to reproduce, publish, and sell his or her creative work.

Question 9

Patent

Answer 9

Grants a person the sole right to manufacture, use, or sell “any new and useful machinery, manufacture, or composition of matter.”

Question 10

Bankruptcy

Answer 10

The legal proceeding in which the bankrupt person’s assets are distributed among those to whom a debt is owed.

Question 11

Party Caucus

Answer 11

A closed meeting of the members of each party in each house which deals with matters of party organization.

Question 12

Floor Leaders

Answer 12

Party officers picked for their posts by their party colleagues.

Question 13

Whips

Answer 13

Assist the floor leaders and serve as a liaison between the party’s leadership and its rank-and-file members.

Question 14

Standing Committees

Answer 14

Permanent panels in Congress to which bills of similar nature are sent.

Question 15

Oversight Process

Answer 15

Where Congress, through its committees, check to see that the agencies of the executive branch are working effectively.

Question 16

Seniority Rule

Answer 16

Holds that the most important posts will be held by those party members with the longest records of service in Congress.

Question 17

Joint Committee

Answer 17

Composed of members of both houses.

Question 18

Bill

Answer 18

A proposed law or draft; public bill applies to the entire nation; private bill applies only to certain people or places.

Question 19

Joint Resolution

Answer 19

A proposal for action that has the force of law when passed; usually deals with special circumstances or temporary matters.

Question 20

Concurrent Resolution

Answer 20

A statement of solution on an issue used by the House and Senate acting jointly; does not have the force of law; doesn’t require the President’s signature.

Question 21

Resolution

Answer 21

A measure relating to the business of either house or expressing an opinion on a matter; does not have the force of law; doesn’t require the President’s signature.

Question 22

What date begins a new term of office in Congress?

Answer 22

noon of the 3rd day of January” of every odd-numbered year

Question 23

Compare and Contrast the House and Senate

HOUSE

Answer 23

• 435 members
• 2 year terms
• great change
• based on population
• less prestige

Question 24

Compare and Contrast the House and Senate

SENATE

Answer 24

• 100 members
• 6 year terms
• Continous body
• 2 representative per state
• more prestige

Question 25

Qualifications of the House and Senate

HOUSE

Answer 25

• at least 25 years of age
• citizen of the U.S. for at least 7 years
• resident of the state you will represent

Question 26

Qualification of the House and Senate

SENATE

Answer 26

• at least 30 years of age
• citizen of the U.S. for at least 9 years
• resident of the state you will represent

Question 27

When are elections held?

Answer 27

The Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each even numbered year.

Question 28

How many members of the house are in each district?

Answer 28

Each district has only one representative.

Question 29

Speech and Debate Clause

Answer 29

Protests representatives and senators from suit for libel or slander.

Question 30

The Trustee, Delegates, Partisan and Politico perspective of representation.

Answer 30

TRUSTEE- Believe that each question they face must be decided on its merit.
DELEGATES- See themselves as agents of the people who elected.
PARTISANS- Lawmakers who owe their first allegiance to their political party and partisans.
POLITICOS- Attempt to combine the basic elements of the trustee, delegates, and partisan roles.

Question 31

Be familiar with the expressed powers of congress in the Constitution.

Answer 31

PEACETIME POWERS
-Clause 1: to establish and collect taxes, duties and exercises.
-Clause 2: to borrow money.
-Clause 3: to regulate foreign and interstate commerce.
WAR POWERS
-Clause 12: to raise and support armies.
-Clause 13: to provide and maintain

Question 32

Duties of Congressmen and Senators

Answer 32

PUBLIC SERVANTS

• members of the House and the Senate also act as servants of their constituents.
• requests from voters vary widely, and members of Congress take heed to many of them.

Question 33

What are the elements of the investigatory powers of congress?

Answer 33

1-to gather information useful to Congress
2- to oversee the operations of various executive branch agencies
3- to focus attention on a particular subject
4- to expose the questionable activities of public officials to private persons
5- to promote the particular interests of some members of congress

Question 34

What happens at the beginning session of Congress?

Answer 34

Congress convenes every two years on January 3rd (odd years)
- Stg. At Arms
- Doorkeeper
- Postmasters
- Committee Memberships
- Speaker of the House
When congress is organized, the President presents the State of the Union addresses to a joint session of Congress.

Question 35

Duties of the Speaker of the House and the President of Senate

Answer 35

SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
- leader of the majority party
- presides over the House and keeps order
- names members of all select and conferences committees
- signs all resolutions and bills passed.
PRESIDENT OF SENATE
- assigned by the Constitution to the Vice-President
- same duties as the speaker of the house, but it cannot cast votes on legislation
- has deciding vote if tie
- President Pro Tempore presides in Vice-President absence

Question 36

Chances of Bill becoming a law

Answer 36

It can die at any part of the process so it is hard to become a law. So, unlikely

Question 37

How a Bill Becomes A Law

Answer 37

CHECK NOTES