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Constitution Cards > Legislative Branch > Flashcards

Legislative Branch Flashcards

1
Q

What does it mean to convene?

A

To assemble

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2
Q

What is the job of the legislative branch of government?

A

To make laws

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3
Q

Our government is self-governing. We call this a form of _________

A

Democracy

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4
Q

What fraction of our senators is elected every two years?

A

1/3

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5
Q

How many senators does Idaho have?

A

Two

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6
Q

The Speaker of the House is typically a member of the ______________

A

Majority party

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7
Q

What is a filibuster?

A

Senator talks endlessly to stall for time

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8
Q

The Speaker of the House is elected by whom?

A

Direct vote of the House

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9
Q

How does the President Pro Tempore get his job?

A

Direct vote of Senate

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10
Q

What rule stops a filibuster?

A

Cloture

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11
Q

The constitution says that each state will have ___ senators

A

2 (Article 1, Section 3, Clause 1)

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12
Q

What are the 2 major political parties in the U.S.?

A

Democratic and Rebublican

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13
Q

What number is a quorum in the senate?

A

51

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14
Q

Who is the current Speaker of the House?

A

Paul Ryan

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15
Q

What do the initials PL stand for?

A

Public Law

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16
Q

Who does the House of Representatives represent?

A

The people

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17
Q

What is a quorum?

definition

A

The number of those legally necessary to do business… One more than half

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18
Q

What is a quorum in the House?

A

218

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19
Q

How do we decide how many representatives to the House each state has?

A

By state popultion

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20
Q

Is there a limit on debate in the House?

A

Yes - One hour

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21
Q

What is a two-house legislature called?

A

Bicameral

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22
Q

When does Congress convene?

A

January 3

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23
Q

A senator must be at least __ years old

A

30

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24
Q

A senator must have been a citizen for _ years

A

9

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25
How many Representatives are currently in the House?
435
26
Our government is unique because it is both _______ and ________
Flexible; Stable
27
How many senators are there?
100
28
Who is in charge of the House of Representatives?
Speaker of the House
29
How long does a Senator serve per term?
6 years
30
To keep one branch from gaining too much power, we have a system of ______ and ________
Checks; Balances
31
Which house of Congress represents the people?
House of Representatives
32
According to our Founding Fathers, if your government isn't serving your needs, you have the duty to _________
Change it
33
What does the Senate represent?
The states
34
When the VP is not available, who is in charge of the Senate?
President Pro Tempore
35
Who succeeds the President Pro Tempore as President?
Secretary of State
36
Who succeeds the Speaker of the House as President?
President Pro Tempore
37
Who may suggest a bill?
Any concerned citizen
38
All bills involving money must begin in which house?
House of Representatives
39
When a bill starts in the House of Representatives, how is it marked?
HR
40
When a bill is filed away for future work by committee, we say that the bill has been _______
Pigeonholed
41
Which house of congress represents the states?
Senate
42
Can the Speaker vote on issues in the House?
Yes
43
What is the minimum number of Representatives a state must have?
One
44
Can the VP vote on Senate issues?
No - Unless in a tie
45
How old must a Representative be?
25
46
Where do most bills die?
Committee
47
Can the President Pro Tempore vote on Senate issues?
Yes
48
A member of the House of Representatives must have been a U.S. citizen for _ years
7
49
In what order does the President's succession go?
1. President 2. Vice President 3. Speaker of the House 4. President Pro Tempore 5. Secretary of State
50
Who is the current President Pro Tempore of the Senate?
Orrin Hatch
51
For a bill to become a law, it must pass through both houses?
True
52
What state has a unicameral government?
Nebraska
53
What are the names of the two houses of Congress in our federal government?
House of Representatives and Senate
54
Does the constitution say that we must have two political parties?
No
55
Who succeeds the Vice President as President?
Speaker of the House
56
Who is in charge of the Senate
Vice President
57
What are the three branches of government?
1. Legislative 2. Executive 3. Judicial
58
What do you call a count of the population?
Census
59
Is there a limit to debate in the Senate?
No
60
What does the Rules Committee do?
Sends bills to their proper committee
61
If a state has 29 electoral votes, how many Representatives does the state have?
27
62
Can there be a filibuster in the House?
No
63
What does the executive branch do?
Enforce laws
64
A bill marked SB came from which house?
Senate
65
Who is the current President of the senate?
Mike Pence
66
What is a one-house legislature called?
Unicameral
67
When a bill is calendared, what is done?
It is numbered and put in order
68
With only a few exceptions, a bill may be started in either house of Congress. True or False
True
69
What are the four things that the Rules Committee does?
1. Send the bill to its proper committee 2. Reword it 3. Make rules for the bill 4. Calendar it (label and number it)
70
A committee consisting of members from both houses of congress is called what?
Joint Committee (Sometimes referred to as "Conference Committee")
71
Which article deals with the legislative branch?
Article 1
72
One house may not adjourn for more than _____ without permission from the other house
3 Days
73
What is a caucus?
A short meeting
74
Can a Congressman be jailed for a minor crime the same as you or me?
No (Each house of Congress establishes penalties for congressional violations - Ethics Committee)
75
Someone who works in the "hallways" of Congress, attempting to influence the votes of Congressman is called what?
A Lobbyist
76
What keeps a Congressman from going to jail for minor infractions of the law?
Congressional Immunity (Article 1, Section 6 - "While Congress is in session")
77
Can a Senator be impeached?
No (Senators are not "Civil Officers" like the President, VP, Justices, and Cabinet members)
78
Who are the current Senators in California?
1. Diane Feinstein | 2. Kamala Harris

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