legislative branch Flashcards
Function of the Legislative Branch
to make and enforce laws
Headquarters
Capital Building
Constituents
citizens who vote for elected officials
Political Party
group of voters with similar political beliefs
Interest Group
an organization of people who share a common interest, and promote that interest by influencing the government (National Women’s Party)
Lobbyists
professional advocates that work to promote their interest group
House of Representatives: Membership
– Based off population
– Part of congress
– Leader: Speaker of the House
– All bills that deal with raising money
House of Representatives: Terms
2 year terms
House of Representatives: Qualifications
– 25 years old
– Must live in the state they represent
Congressional Districts
Districts that elect a single member in House of Representatives
Census
an official count or survey of population every 10 years
Redistricting
divide or organize (an area) into new political or school districts
Gerrymanders
manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party or class
The Senate: Membership
– 2 representatives per state
– Part of congress
– Leader: Vice President
– Approves presidential appointments, like ambassadors, judges, and cabinet members
The Senate: Terms
6 year terms
The Senate: Qualifications
– 30 years old
– Must live in the state they represent
What Congressional District are we in?
7th Rocky Hill
Who is our Congressman?
Tom Malinowski
Who are our Senators?
Bob Menendez and Cory Booker
HOR: Current Speaker of the House
Nancy Pelosi
HOR: Current Majority and Minority Parties
Majority: Democrat
Minority: Republican
HOR: Current Majority and Minority Leaders
Democrat: Steny Hoyer
Republican: Kevin McCarthy
HOR: Whips
Democrat: James Clyburn
Republican: Steve Scalise
Senate: Current Vice President
Michael Pence
Senate: Current President Pro Tempore
Chuck Grassley
Senate: Current Majority and Minority Parties
Majority: Republican
Minority: Democrat
Senate: Current Majority and Minority Leaders
Democrat: Charles Schumer
Republican: Mitch McConnell
Senate: Whips
Republican: John Thune
Democrat: Richard Durbin
Legislative Powers
o Collect taxes
o Declare war
o Create, maintain, and make rules for the armed forces
o Establish post offices and highways
Non-legislative Powers
o Try impeach cases
o Admit new states to the Union
o Propose amendments to the Constitution
o Elect a President (House) and Vice President (Senate)
Expressed Powers vs. Implied Powers
Expressed Powers are those specifically named in the Constitution. Implied are those granted but not specifically listed in the Constitution.
Be able to list or explain the possible steps that a bill must follow in order to become a law.
- Bills are introduced in the House of Representatives when they are placed in a wooden box called a hopper
- Bills are introduced in the Senate when a senator read it aloud on the Senate floor
- The bill is assigned a number and title
- Sent to a standing committee to study. If approved, the bill is sent to the full house
- The bill is read and debated on the house floor. If approved, sent to the Senate
- Same process happens in the Senate or vice versa. If approved goes to conference committee
- Conference committee resolves differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. The revised bill is sent back to both houses
- The House and Senate vote on the final passage. The approved bill is sent to the President
- The President can veto the bill, signs the bill, pocket veto or allows it to become a law without signing it
Standing Committees
each committee deals with a certain area such as education or banking. Holds hearings/meetings, proposes changes to the bill, decides to recommend it to the entire House or Senate vote on the bill.
Conference Committee
to resolve disagreements on particular bill between the House and Senate
Filibuster
an action such as a prolonged speech that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly while not technically contravening the required procedures
Cloture
(in a legislative assembly) a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote
Veto
a constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body
Pocket veto
an indirect veto of a legislative bill by the president or a governor by retaining the bill unsigned until it is too late for it to be dealt with during the legislative session
