Legislative Branch Review

Question 1

Article

Answer 1

part of a document

Question 2

Bicameral

Answer 2

a gov’t that has a two-house legislative system

Question 3

Veto

Answer 3

reject

Question 4

Impeach

Answer 4

• to remove from office
• formally accuse the president of a wrong doing

Question 5

Census

Answer 5

population count every 10 years

Question 6

Constituents

Answer 6

people representing

Question 7

Caucus

Answer 7

private meeting

Question 8

Bill

Answer 8

a proposed law

Question 9

Filibuster

Answer 9

talking a bill ‘to death’

Question 10

Cloture

Answer 10

procedure for ending a debate in the senate and taking a vote on it

Question 11

Pocket Veto

Answer 11

congress is not in session and the bill dies

Question 12

Majority Party

Answer 12

political party that has the most members in each house

Question 13

The first article of the constitution created what?

Answer 13

the first branch

Question 14

Explain how the three branches of the U.S. gov’t create a separation and balance of powers.

Answer 14

Each branch has their own duties and specific power to balance it out. One branch doesn’t have all the power.

Question 15

Which branch creates laws?

Answer 15

legislative branch

Question 16

Which branch carries out laws?

Answer 16

executive branch

Question 17

Which branch decides whether or not laws are constitutional?

Answer 17

judicial branch

Question 18

How is our legislature bicameral in nature?

Answer 18

we have two parts of congress; the House of Reps and the Senate

Question 19

What are the two houses and how many people are in each?

Answer 19

House of Reps - 435
Senate - 100

Question 20

List and describe the powers delegated to Congress.

Answer 20

1) Financing Gov’t - can raise and collect taxes, borrow money, and print money
2) Regulating and Encouraging American Trade and Industry - can regulate trade by passing laws that protect the rights of American investors
3) Defending the Country - can declare war and maintain armed forces
4) Creating Lower Courts - can set up a system of courts to enforce laws passed by congress
5) Providing for Growth - can pass laws to regulate immigration and naturalization. can introduce new states.

Question 21

How can Congress overcome the President’s veto on a law.

Answer 21

With 2/3 vote of both houses

Question 22

Explain the impeachment process.

Answer 22

1) HoR initiates the process and chooses the president if no candidate receives enough electoral votes
2) Senate finishes the trial and chooses the VP if no candidate receives enough electoral votes

Question 23

How can amendments be approved?

Answer 23

by 2/3 vote of both houses of Congress

Question 24

Why is it important that the Supreme Court has the ability known as Judicial Review.

Answer 24

to declare a legislative or executive act in violation of the constitution

Question 25

What do House Reps focus on?

Answer 25

The concerns of their district

Question 26

What do Senators focus on?

Answer 26

national issues

Question 27

Who is the most powerful member of Congress?

Answer 27

Speaker of the House

Question 28

Does the Speaker of the House or the president pro tempore of the Senate have more power?

Answer 28

Speaker of the House

Question 29

List and describe the four types of committees.

Answer 29

1) Standing Committees - permanent; work from session to session; focus on education and trade policies; have subcommittees
2) Select Committees - do a special job for a limited time ( usually an investigation)
3) Joint Committees - House and Senate members meet and usually focus on economics and tax policies
4) Conference Committees - temporary; helps the house and senate agree on minor details of laws

Question 30

What are the requirements to become a House Rep

Answer 30

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

Question 31

What are the requirements to become a Senator?

Answer 31

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

Question 32

How long are terms for both senators and house reps?

Answer 32

HoR - 2 years
Senate - 6 years

Question 33

Review term limits for Congress

Answer 33

Supreme court said it is unconstitutional to rule term limits

Question 34

Bills can only be introduced by…

Answer 34

House of Reps

Question 35

What is an ‘Act’?

Answer 35

a law

Question 36

What happens after a bill has been approved by both houses of Congress and goes to the president?

Answer 36

• sign the bill/declare it a law
• veto it
• keep the bill for 10 days without signing or vetoing it

Question 37

What power does Congress have over the President in regard to the passing of bills?

Answer 37

• If congress in session, then the bill becomes a law without the president’s signature
• Congress can override the president’s veto with 2/3 vote from both houses