Unit 2.1 Review - Congress: The Senate and the House of Representatives

Bicameral Legislature

Two house legislature that resulted from the Constitutional Convention and the Great Compromise.

Census

Assures states a proportional allotment of House members.

* Helps the members in the House represent the entire public.

Seventeenth Amendment

Broadened democracy by giving the people of the state the right to elect their senators.

Senate Qualifications

* At least 30 years old
* Citizen for past 9 years
* Resident of state they represent when elected

Unique Powers of the Senate

* Provides “advice and consent” on treaties and presidential appointments
* Handles trial of impeached officials

Members, Terms, and Constituencies of the Senate

* 100 members
* 6-year terms
* Unlimited terms

Structures and Processes of the Senate

* Less centralized
* Committees do not have as much authority
* Looser debate (filibuster allowed but limited by cloture rule)
* Focus on foreign policy
* Leaders less powerful except for the powerful majority leader

House Qualifications

* At least 25 years old
* Citizen for past 7 years
* Resident of state they represent when elected

Unique Powers of the House of Representatives

* Originates revenue bills
* Initiates impeachment
* Breaks tie for president in Electoral College

Members, Terms, and Constituencies of the House

* 435 members
* 2-year terms
* Unlimited terms

Structures and Processes of the House of Representatives

* Centralized and hierarchical
* Rules Committee (majority party) controls agenda
* Limited debate time
* Powerful Speaker of the House
* Focus on revenue and spending

Caucuses

Groups of like-minded people that unite around a particular belief or concern.

* These groups gather to elect their respective leader, to set legislative agendas, and to name their committee members.
* Not officially part of the lawmaking process.

Enumerated Powers

Sometimes referred to as “expressed powers”, these powers allow for the creation of public policy.


1. Power to pass a federal budget (Power of the Purse)
2. Power to raise revenue
* Accomplished through income taxes, tariffs, etc.
3. Power to coin money
4. Power to declare war
5. Power to raise and maintain the armed forces

Power of the Purse

Provides that no money can be drawn from the treasury without the approval of Congress.

* Congress appropriates, or spends, those tax revenues through the public lawmaking process.

Foreign and Military Powers of Congress

* Exclusive power to declare war
* Funds the military, foreign endeavors, and foreign aid
* Has oversight of the Senate and Defense departments and relevant agencies
* Can institute a mandatory military draft to staff the Armed Forces
* Confirms presidential nominations for ambassadors and high-ranking personnel - the Senate
* Ratifies treaties with other nations by a two-thirds vote - the Senate

Foreign and Military Powers of the President

* Serves as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces
* Appoints ambassadors and receives foreign ministers
* Negotiates treaties with other nations
* Issues executive orders that can impact foreign policy
* Makes executive agreements with other heads of state
* Commissions the military officers of the United States

War Powers Act (1973)

Reigns in executive power by requiring the president to inform Congress within 48 hours of committing U.S. forces to combat.

* Strikes a balance between the framers’ intended constitutional framework and the need for a strong executive to manage quick military action in the days of modern warfare.

Advice and Consent

Exclusive to the Senate

* Allows senators to recommend or reject presidential appointees such as Cabinet secretaries and federal judges.