Unit 2

Question 1

How does the United States Congress reflect republicanism

Answer 1

The US Congress reflects Republicanism by giving people the opportunity to have the ultimate power and elect representatives

Question 2

Define Bicameral

Answer 2

Two chambers

Question 3

What can congress do with the federal budget?

Answer 3

They can pass the fed’l budget and distribute the money however they see fit

Question 4

How can congress do upon the topic of war?

Answer 4

They vote to declare war if needed

Question 5

Which part of Art.1 Sec 8 is most useful to congress when it wishes to use its implied power

Answer 5

Make any laws necessary to carry out these powers

Question 6

What are structural similarities between the two chambers of congress

Answer 6

Each chamber has a majority leader and a majority whip, as well as a minority leader and minority whip.

Question 7

What are the two chambers of congress

Answer 7

The House of representatives and the senate

Question 8

What are the chamber’s debate rules like?

Answer 8

House: Lots of rigid rules –> new, and more people
Senate: more lenient rules –> less people, more experienced

Question 9

What is the role of the speaker of the house

Answer 9

Have control over the majority’s agenda

Question 10

Majority/minority whip

Answer 10

To swing votes to the other side

Question 11

President of the Senate (VP)

Answer 11

Tiebreaker

Question 12

Majority/minority leaders

Answer 12

Lead their party

Question 13

Filibuster and clouture

Answer 13

Filibuster: A senator’s power to talk and talk and talk to waste time
Cloture: To end a debate for a vote

Question 14

Role of rules committee, committee of the whole and discharge positions of the house

Answer 14

Rules: Set the rules of debate on a certain bill
Whole: Only 100 are needed for a quorum
Discharge: bringing a bill out of committee without a report

Question 15

Treaty ratification and confirmation role of the US senate (Senate only)

Answer 15

• Senate can ratify treaties
• Senate confirms nominations made by POTUS

Question 16

Show the steps for a bill to become a law

Answer 16

Bill is proposed in one chamber –> is debated in that chamber –> moves to the other chamber if passed –> moves to president if passed –> president signs –> law

Question 17

For a bill to pass, what happens if a bill passes through the other chamber but with changes?

Answer 17

The bill goes to the originating chamber to be passed before going to the president the originating chamber can either go with it or argue it

Question 18

Discretionary vs mandatory spending

Answer 18

Discretionary: Money the government decides to spend on
Mandatory: money that goes to things already in place

Question 19

Pork-barrel legislation and logrolling

Answer 19

Pork-barrel: Special legislation designated to convince congresspeople to cote on the federal budget
Logrolling: Lawmakers create deals to vote for each other’s pork barrels to ensure they’re passes