US congress Flashcards
What is the structure of congress ?
The structure of congress is bicameral
Why is Congress bicameral ?
- Made of two equal legislative bodies : senate and the House of Representatives
- both are elected and need a majority for legislation to be passed
What house is the senate
Upper house
What is the term length for senate ?
6 years
What is the term length for house of representatives ?
2 years
What are 3 the requirements to be a senator
- need to be 25 and above
- US citizen for 7 years
- resident of state they represent
What are the 3 requirements to be a house of representatives
- must be 30+
- US citizen for 9 years
- resident for any state they represent
What are the key figures within congress
What is the key figure of the senate ?
- President of the senate
- Majority leader
- Minority leader
What are the key figures within congress
In the sentate , What does the president of the senate do ?
- the vice president is given the role of president of the senate in the constitution
- ensures that members of the senate abide by rules
- power to break a tie vote in the senate
What is the 3 role of the majority leader in the senate
- Elected by party with a majority to be leader in the senate
- spokesperson for the party when they hit an issue
- schedules daily buisness in the senate
What is the role of the minority leader in the senate ?
- elected by the party with a minority to be their party leader in the senate
- spokesperson for their party position on issues
What is the different role within the house of representatives
- Speaker
- Minority leader
- Majority leader
What is the role of the speaker in the House of representatives
- second in the presidental line of succession behind the vice president
- spokesperson on party issues
What is the role of the majority leader in the house of representative ?
- elected by the party with a majority to be the second highest ranking member of their party in the house of representatives , behind the speaker
What is the role of the minority leader in the house of representatives
Elected by the party with a majority to be their party leader in the house of representatives
Who are the current minority and majority leaders in the senate ?
Majority leader : Chuck shumer
Minority leader : Mich MCconnell
Both are senior members
Who is the speaker and minority speaker currently in the House of Representatives
Speaker : Mike Johnson
Minority leader : Hakeem Jefferies
Why did Mike Johnson become speaker in the House of Representatives in October 2023
After Kevin McCarthy was ousted by the right wing trump supporting of the republicans party in congress
In the House of Representatives, Hakim Jefferies become minority leader after who ?
Replacing long running leader of democrats in the house Nancy Pelosi
What is the 3 exclusive power of the senate ?
- to ratify treaties
- to elect a vice president if no candidate has over 50% of the electoral college vote
- to try an impeachment case, 2/3 majority needed to convict this is why no president has ever been convicted
What is the executive powers of the House of Representatives
- To impeach the president or any federal official and bring formal charges against public official when not enough evidence of ‘treason, bribery’ e.g trump 2X , Clinton in 1998
What are the powers shared by both the senate and the house of representatives
- to declare war
- to override presidential veto’s with 2/3 majority in the senate and house of representatives
- to pass legislation, all bills have to pass through both senate and the house of representatives
Despite the congress being bicameral with the senate and House of Representatives being equal, in reality which one is more powerful
The senate is more powerful and prestigious
5 reasons Why is the senate seen as more prestigious and powerful house
- None of the 74 congress members in the 2022 midterm have previously been senators
- congress members seek to be elected in the senate and very few in the house of representatives
- senate represent the entire state
- more influential in outcome of votes as voice more important
- exclusive powers confirming presidental appointments
