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Civics > Legislative Branch (Unit 6, Lesson 1) > Flashcards

Legislative Branch (Unit 6, Lesson 1) Flashcards

1
Q

What is the legislative branch?

A

Congress is the lawmaking body of our national government.

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2
Q

The two parts of Congress

A

the House of Representatives and the Senate.

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3
Q

Article of the Constitution that created Congress

A

Article 1

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4
Q

Kind of legislature

A

bicameral

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5
Q

Have been directly elected since the beginning

A

House of Reps

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6
Q

How the Senate helps small states

A

Have an equal voice

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7
Q

Categories of delegated powers of Congress

A

Financing Government (raise and collect taxes, borrow money, print money)
Regulating & Encouraging Trade and Industry (with foreign countries and states, copyrights)
Defending the Country (declare war, maintain army)
Creating Lower Courts
Providing for Growth (immigration, admission of new states)

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8
Q

Impeachment

A

Congress can impeach, or bring to trial, federal officials charged with serious crimes.

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9
Q

Where impeachment charges are drawn up

A

House of Reps

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10
Q

Where impeachment trial takes place

A

Senate

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11
Q

Number of members of House of Reps

A

435

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12
Q

This can change the number of Reps per state

A

Census

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13
Q

Term length of House of Reps

A

2 years

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14
Q

When House of Reps are elected

A

November of even years

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15
Q

What House of Reps are serving

A

District in a state

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16
Q

Age qualification for House of Reps

A

25

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17
Q

Citizenship requirement for House of Reps

A

7 years

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18
Q

Residency requirement for House of Reps

A

Legal resident of state they represent

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19
Q

Name special powers of House of Reps

A

All bills to raise money start here
Can impeach officials
Chooses the president if no one gets enough electoral votes

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20
Q

Number of members of Senate per state

A

2

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21
Q

Total members of Senate

A

100

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22
Q

How often election for Senate

A

1/3 elected every 2 years

23
Q

Term length of Senate

24
Q

What Senate serves

A

Entire state

25
Q

Age requirement for Senate

26
Q

Citizenship requirement for Senate

27
Q

Residency requirement for Senate

A

Legal resident of state they represent

28
Q

Name special powers of Senate

A

Impeachment trials held here
Chooses the Vice President if not enough electoral votes
All treaties are approved with ⅔ vote
Certain high officials must be approved by Senate with majority vote

29
Q

Person who presides over House of Reps

A

Speaker of the House

30
Q

Person who presides over Senate

A

Vice President

31
Q

Person who presides over Senate in place of Vice President

A

President Pro Tempore

32
Q

Duties of the Speaker of the House

A

The Speaker of the House is in line to take on the presidency if needed. The Speaker also decides the speaking list, or who will debate on the floor of the House, and assigns bills to committees. The Speaker makes committee assignments, which every member must serve on.

33
Q

Duties of President of Senate

A

The President of the Senate directs debate but only votes if there is a tie. The President Pro Tempore can vote, however.

34
Q

Majority party

A

the political party that has more members elected in each house.

35
Q

Minority party

A

the political party that has fewer members elected in each house.

36
Q

Whip

A

A whip is a person who circulates the floor and keeps party members committed to voting along party lines. There are whips for the majority and minority party.

37
Q

Current Vice President

A

Joseph R Biden, Jr.

38
Q

Current President Pro Tempore

A

Patrick Leahy

39
Q

Current Senate Minority Leader

A

Mitch McConnell

40
Q

Current Senate Majority Leader

A

Harry Reid

41
Q

Current Majority Whip

A

Richard Durbin

42
Q

Current Minority Whip

A

John Comyn

43
Q

Based on what you see in the Senate, which party is the majority?

A

D - Democrat

44
Q

Current Speaker of the House

A

John Boehner

45
Q

Current Majority Leader of House

A

Eric Cantor

46
Q

Current Minority Leader of House

A

Nancy Pelosi

47
Q

Current Majority Whip of House

A

Kevin McCarthy

48
Q

Current Minority Whip of House

A

Steny Hoyer

49
Q

Based on what you see in the House, which party is the majority?

A

R- Republican

50
Q

What do committees do?

A

Committees are the power centers of Congress. When a bill is being considered in committee, lawmakers listen to supporters and opponents, work out compromises, and decide if a bill will have a chance to become law.

51
Q

What are the kinds of committees?

A

Standing committees. These include subcommittees that specialize.
Select or temporary committees
Joint committees made of House and Senate members
Conference committees to resolve differing versions of a House and Senate bill

52
Q

What will a committee do if it likes a bill?

A

Ask executive agencies for written comments
Hold hearings to gather information
Make changes to language or add to the bill
Send it back to the full Senate with a report

53
Q

Describe the process of making a law

A
  1. The Proposal
  2. The Introduction/Sent to Committee
  3. The Report
  4. Floor Debate
  5. The Vote
  6. The Delivery to Other House
  7. To The President

Civics (17 decks)

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