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U.S. Gov > Unit 4: Legislative Branch > Flashcards

Unit 4: Legislative Branch Flashcards

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1
Q

What is the most basic function of Congress?

A

They brainstorm ways to solve problems in the government and country

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2
Q

True/False
Every level of federalism has a Legislative Branch!

A

TRUE

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3
Q

When do the terms of Congress start?

A

12 noon on Jan 3rd, odd # years, 2 years

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4
Q

What is a quorum in each house of Congress?

A

A majority, more than 1/2, a session
House: 218
Senate: 51

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5
Q

When are the elections for Congress?

A

In November the months before

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6
Q

Can you cancel or stop sessions of Congress?

A

NOPE

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7
Q

How many total members in each house?

A

100 Senate
435 House

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8
Q

How are congressional district boundaries drawn?

A

Gerrymandering!!

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9
Q

How many districts in Colorado? Are they even (geographically)?

A
  1. and no!
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10
Q

What can gerrymandering be used for?

A

Help or hurt a particular group of voters, particularly minorities. Commonly put all the major cities in one district… the Black vote.

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11
Q

Who are Colorado’s Senators?

A

John Hickenlooper (D, junior senator)
Micheal Bennet (D)

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12
Q

How many terms can you serve as a Senator?

A

As many as you want!

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13
Q

Which house has more power?

A

THE SENATE

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14
Q

Which house is more neutral/less partisan?

A

the senate, as they represent a whole state, not just one district

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15
Q

What does a trustee do?

A

“trust me! I’ll do what I say!”

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16
Q

What does an Agent of Electorate do?

A

whatever gets them reelected!! changing beliefs, etc

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17
Q

What does a Partisan do?

A

only do things based on the beliefs of their political party, not their actual values

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18
Q

What is a Politico?

A

all of the above, lie, cheat, steal, do anything to get reelected

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19
Q

What compensations do Congressmen get?

A

Staff, paychecks, franking priveleges, benefits, pension, arrest immunity

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20
Q

How does Congress get its powers?

A

THE CONSTITUTION: expressed, implied, and inherent, but ONLY FROM CONSTITUTION

21
Q

what does a strict constructionist believe?

A

Government is best that governs the LEAST. By the letter of the Constitution

22
Q

who started the strict constructionists?

A

Thomas Jefferson

23
Q

what does a liberal constructionist believe?

A

Congress has lots more implied powers, lots of government involvement. Uses necessary and proper clause LOTS!

24
Q

who started the liberal constructionists?

A

Alexander Hamilton

25
Q

what percent of taxes are created by Congressional legislation?

A

90%

26
Q

T/F: Congress has limits on taxing (not helping or hurting a particular group/business) and this is coming under scrutiny due to bills like sugar tax, exercise tax…

A

True (duh)

27
Q

T/F: the rich aren’t paying enough taxes

A

FALSE ! !
the rich pay most of our national share of taxes

28
Q

if the rich pay their taxes, why do we have problems with taxes?

A

many top COMPANIES pay 0$ in taxes (AMAZON!)

29
Q

why is national debt climbing higher?

A

our government is increasingly investing in PEOPLE, who don’t get us returns, giving away money

30
Q

what is our national debt? what’s it doing?

A

public debt has been climbing thanks to the gov investing in people who don’t return money

31
Q

who has the power to borrow money on the credit of the USA?

A

Congress

32
Q

what is the Commerce Clause?

A

gives Congress the power to regulate commerce between states

33
Q

What is collusion and price fixing?

A

when all makers of a certain product, such as diapers, all raise their prices, getting more expensive but eliminating competition. ILLEGAL

34
Q

who creates bankruptcy laws?

A

Congress, uniform bankruptcy laws for all 50 states

35
Q

what is congress’ impact on weights and measures

A

HUGE IMPACT!!! they make sure all measuring tools, gas dispensers, weights, etc. are calibrated perfectly. ANYTHING THAT WEIGHS/MEASURES AND MAKES MONEY MUST BE CERTIFIED

36
Q

who controls patents and copyrights?

A

Congress

37
Q

Can Congress claim eminent domain?

A

YES! for building St. Louis arch, etc

38
Q

what gives Congress implied powers?

A

Necessary and Proper Clause

39
Q

is it slow or fast for congress to create legislation?is this intentional?

A

SLOW, lots of procedures. Tries to get away from AD-HOC

40
Q

what are the differences between the first House and Senate conventions?

A

House is SLOW, lots of filling of positions and voting
Senate moves FAST, designed to be stable year after year

41
Q

what is the State of the Union address?

A

when the President of the USA addrsses Congress and gives them “goals of the term” basically

42
Q

what is the seniority rule? is it in the House?

A

Senior Senators get the most important jobs. Not in House as much

43
Q

what types of committees are there?

A

Standing Committees: always needed
Select Committees: temporary
Joint Committees: both House and Senate

44
Q

what is the House Rules Committee?

A

it takes all the legislation ideas and input and sorts the best 1% of ideas, only pursuing legislation that is a good use of time

45
Q

what percent of Bills and Resolutions actually become law?

A

5%

46
Q

what are the two types of congressional bills?

A

public: federal speed limit, tax cut
private: car manufacturing. MOST BILLS

47
Q

what are Congressional Resolutions?

A

WHO CARES? they’re not law, not signifigant, basically a tweet

48
Q

how is it different for a bill coming from the House than the Senate?

A

the Senate is SIMPLER. there’s also no limits on time, while each Representative in House only has 5 minutes

49
Q

how can a veto be overridden?

A

by 2/3 of each house

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