The Legislative Branch

Question 1

The Legislative Branch role

Answer 1

Oversee budget and financial matters (Power of the Purse)
Introduce Legislation
Confirm or reject judicial and executive nominations
Declare war

Question 2

How were the roles decided

Answer 2

Convention was called to discuss and revives the Articles of Confederation
Compromises were made
Created the bicameral Congress we know today-House of representatives and Senate

Question 3

Virginia plan- House of representatives

Answer 3

Role of national government
Can legislate to states and veto state law

Question 4

New Jersey - Senate

Answer 4

Role of national government
provide defense but does not override state authority

Question 5

The Great Compromise aka Connecticut Compromise

Answer 5

Promised bicameral Congress with members distributed differently in each house
The Senate - two members from each state
House of Representatives - membership would be proportional to the population of each state
Powers and limitations are outlined in Article 1

Question 6

Senate

Answer 6

100 members
2 members per state
length of Term of office: 6 years
Minimum Age Requirement : 30

Question 7

House of Representatives

Answer 7

435 members
Number per state: 1 or more
Length of Term of Office : 2 years
Minimum Age Requirement : 25

Question 8

Equal proportions method

Answer 8

uses a mathematical formula to give seats based on U.S Census Bureau population data

Question 9

Redistricting

Answer 9

occurs every 10 years
Districts are redrawn as needed to maintain a total of 435 districts

Question 10

Gerrymandering

Answer 10

the manipulation of legislative districts boundaries to favor a particular candidate

Question 11

Congressional leaders

Answer 11

Each house of Congress has a majority party leader and minority party leader

Question 12

Most powerful person in Congress

Answer 12

Speaker of the House who is elected by majority in House of Representatives
The speaker serves until their party looses or until the speaker is voted out of the position or chooses to step down.

Question 13

Minority Leader

Answer 13

holds the closest rank to the speaker
makes strategy decisions and attempts to keep order within the minority

Question 14

Majority Leader

Answer 14

Can assume leadership if the speaker were to step down

Question 15

Power of the speaker

Answer 15

Chooses which bills to address, who will speak, and when to vote

Question 16

Vice President

Answer 16

Official leader of the Senate, can only vote in case of a tie

Question 17

President Pro Tempore

Answer 17

day to day leader of the senate

Question 18

Party Whips

Answer 18

Makes sure the members of their party are doing what they need to do
Enforces Party Discipline