Lesson 7 Quiz Flashcards
Where is the basis of Congress’s constitutional authority found ?
Found in Article 1 of the constitution
Congress is…
Bicameral
A house members must be….(3)
1) at least 25
2) be an american citizen for at least 7yrs
3) be a resident of the district he/she represents
A senator must….(3)
1) be at least 30
2) be an american citizen for at least 9yrs
- be a resident of the state he/she represents
What term does a house member serve? Senators?
House: 2 year terms
Senator: 6 year terms
Congress has the power to… (4)
Tax, coon money, declare war, regulate foreign and interstate commerce
Implied Congressional Power
- comes from the necessary and proper clause
- also known as the elastic clause
What is Silastic about the necessary and proper clause
The vague name
The House of Representatives has the power to… (3)
1) initiate all revenue bills
2) select the president if no electoral college majority exists
3) initiate impeachment proceedings
Revenue Bills
Laws about levying taxes and the subsequent spending of this tax
The Senate has the power to… (3)
1) advise and consent on presidential appointments
2) ratify treaties with foreign nations
3) Carry out impeachment proceedings
How can Congress overrule a presidential veto?
By a 2/3 vote of each chamber
What is the most powerful position in the House of Representatives? How is this person selected?
- the Speaker of the House
- selected by a vote of the majority party
Describe what kind of role the speaker of the house holds.
The Speaker runs the meeting and not much happens unless the speaker wants
The speaker of the house has the power to…(5)
1) assign representatives to committees
2) refer bills to committees
3) call for a vote on a bill
4) recognize speakers in floor debates on a bill
5) stand as third in line to the presidency
What is the most powerful position in the Senate?
It is the Senate majority leader, not the vice president
Vice President of the U.S.
- serves as President of the Senate
- only real power is to cast a tie-breaking vote on legilation
Where does the real work of Congress get done?
Committees
What is the ultimate goal of many people in Congress? Why?
To become a committee chair because this person controls the meetings of the committee
What are the 4 types of committees?
1) Standing
2) Select
3) Joint
4) Conference
Standing Committee
-deal with proposed legislation
-permanent
Ex: banking, foreign affairs, energy
Select Committee
-creates to conduct special investigations
-disbands following investigation
Ex: Watergate, Iran-Contra, Benghazi
Joint Committee
-consists of members from both chambers of Congress
-creates to conduct special studies
-are often standing committees
Ex: Joint Economic Committee, Library, Printing
Conference Committee
-created to reconcile the differences between house and senate versions of a bill
What are the most powerful Standing Committees in the House? (5)
- appropriations
- commerce
- rules
- budget
- ways and means
Appropriations
Distributing $ to various government agencies
Commerce +examples
Oversees all agencies with a role in the trading of goods/services (broad powers)
Ex: FDA(food), FAA
Rules
The most powerful because they make the rules for how a bill will be debated
Budget
Approves the budget
Ways and Means
Make tax policy
What are the most powerful Standing Committees in the Senate? (5)
- appropriations
- armed services
- commerce
- finance
- foreign relations
Armed Services
Oversees military (all branches)
Finance
Oversees the banking industry, stock market
Foreign Relations
-looks over treaties the president has negotiated; declarations that declare war come out of this
What do most Standing Committees feature ?
Subcommittees
Example of subcommittees
Senate Finance Committee hosts the following subcommittees:
1) Taxation and IRS oversight
2) Health Care
3) Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure
What is one of the most important rules pf the Standing Committee?
To exercise legislative oversight of the executive branch
