AP GOV CONGRESS REVIEW

oh ya ya ya, legislative branch so cute. I would recommend you shuffle them, if not they are in the same order as in the reading guide. Term=question Definition=answer

What is The House of Representatives meant to represent when creating policy?

The interests of the people as a whole

What is Senate meant to represent when creating policy?

The interests of the states

True or False: The current congress (118th) is the most diverse congress in history

True

What change to the US Constitution did the 17th Amendment create?

Direct election of senators (as opposed to state legislatures electing senators)

True or False: There is a system of checks and balances that exists within the legislative branch

True

House of Representatives - Number of Members

435

Senate - Number of Members

100

House of Representatives - Age Requirement

25+

Senate - Age Requirement

30+

House of Representatives - Term Length

2 years

Senate - Term Length

6 years

House of Representatives - Constituency

Legislative District

Senate - Constituency

Entire state

House of Representatives - Citizen Requirement (years in US)

7+ years

Senate - Citizen Requirement (years in US)

9+ years

House of Representatives - Residency Requirement

Reside in state representing

Senate - Residency Requirement

Reside in state representing

House of Representatives - Re-Election Schedule

Entire chamber at once every 2 years

Senate - Re-Election Schedule

1/3 of chamber every 2 years

Do the chambers of Congress have Term limits?

No because congress would have to create a law creating term limits, limiting themselves.

True or False: Each House Representative has a constituency of roughly 700,000 people

True

Define the US Census

The official enumeration of the population, with details as to age, sex, occupation, etc. that occurs every ten years.

Define Reapportionment

Distribution of 435 US Congressional seats among the 50 states, according to population.

How does the Census influence Reapportionment?

The Census allows the government to know where more representatives need to be given and where representatives need to be taken away.

Which chamber of Congress is supposed to slow down the lawmaking process?

The Senate is supposed to slow down the lawmaking process because the Senate can make particularly unpopular decisions.

Why is the Senate called the “Upper House”?

They have more constitutional responsibilities + More requirements

Why is 1/3 of the Senate re-elected every 2 years - instead of the entire senate being re-elected at once?

Senate needs more uniformity and continuity + Ensures that leadership carries over from congress to congress

Where can bills originate? (which chamber?)

Either Chamber (Revenue(tax) bills must originate in the House ways and means comittee)

What is the simplified process of a bill becoming a law

To become a law, identical bills must pass both chambers by a simple majority vote and then be signed by the POTUS.

If Caucuses cannot create policy, what can they do?

Elect leaders, set legislative agendas, name committee members, plan strategy, discuss bills, draft new bills.

True or False: Congressional caucuses can introduce bills to the Congressional floor(s)

False

What are powers that are given to the federal government (via the Constitution) called?

Enumerated Powers

True or False: The US Government can spend money without the approval of Congress

False

What must happen before the federal government begins using federal monies?

POTUS proposes budget, congressional committees debate on how much should be spent on various areas, both chambers pass the exact same bill, POTUS signs bill into law.

What amendment gave Congress the authority to create a federal income tax?

The 16th Amendment

What amendment prevents any Congressional pay raises from taking effect until the following congress?

The 27th Amendment

What powers does Congress have over foreign and military affairs? (multiple answers)

Congress can raise armies and navies, legislate or enact conscription procedures, mandate military draft, has the sole authority to declare war, determines money is spent on military.

Who has the power to declare war?

Congress

Who had the power to deploy troops?

POTUS

Who has the power to Budget Money for the Troops

Congress

Describe the War Powers Act (IMPORTANT)

The War Powers Act: in 1964 it expanded the power of the president to be able to deploy troops. 9 years later the War Powers Act took away some of the POTUS’s power to deploy troops. (POTUS has 48 hours to engage in combat without telling Congress)

What is the Necessary and proper clause also called?

The Elastic Clause

In what court case was the Necessary and proper clause first debated in?

McCulloch V Maryland

What are the two clauses that have expanded Congressional power the most?

Necessary and proper clause, Commerce clause

Has the Power to elect the POTUS if Electoral College does not reach a majority of 270 (House of Representatives or Senate)

House of Representatives

Has the power to impeach federal officials (House of Representatives or Senate)

House of Representatives

Has the Advice and consent power (House of Representatives or Senate)

Senate

Has the Power to approve/deny treaties via 1/3 majority (House of Representatives or Senate)

Senate

Had the Power to declare federal officials guilty and remove them from office (House of Representatives or Senate)

Senate

Determines if a bill is submitted to the POTUS to potentially become a law (House of Representatives or Senate)

Both

What are the three categories that Congress is organized into?

Leadership roles, Committees, and procedures

Where is the “real work” of Congress taken care of? (especially in the House)

Standing Committees

What are the only Congressional leadership positions mentioned in the US Constitution?

Speaker of the House, Vice President (President of the Senate), President Pro-Tempore

How/where do the chambers determine who fills the leadership positions?

Members of the HOR and Senate gather in party caucuses to vote on leadership for each party within each chamber.

What are the responsibilities of the Speaker of the House?

Recognizes members for speaking, organizes members for conference committees, has great influence in most matters of lawmaking.

What chamber(s) is the Speaker of the House from?

The House of Representatives

What are the responsibilities of the Majority and Minority Leaders (Floor Leaders)?

Leads debate among their party and guides the discussion from their side of the aisle, First speaker recognized in a debate, spokesperson for the party in press conferences interviews etc., in the senate sets the legislative calendar (which bills reach the floor, etc.)

What chamber(s) are the Majority and Minority Leaders from?

Both chambers

What are the responsibilities of the Majority and Minority whip (Deputy Floor Leader)?

In charge of party discipline. Keeps the tally of votes, among his or her party members, which aids in determining the optimum time for a vote. Strong-arms party members to vote with the party (political favors or party endorsements during an election can have an influence on representatives contemplating an independent vote). Make sure party members remain in good standing and act in ethical and professional capacity. When scandals occur, the whip may ask a member to step down from a chair positions/leave Congress.

What chamber(s) are the Majority and Minority Whip from?

Both chambers

What are the responsibilities of the President of the Senate?

Meant to rule on procedure and to organize the senate. Used to act similarly to the speaker by organizing committees and running floor debate. The VPOTUS is rarely in the senate chamber. Usually delegates the responsibility of moderating debate to other members.

What chamber(s) is the President of the Senate from?

The Senate

What are the responsibilities of the President Pro-Tempore?

“Temporarily President”. Traditionally this is the most senior member in the majority party. However the Pro-Tem can assign his/her role to junior members

What chamber(s) is the President Pro-Tempore?

The Senate

What amendment determines the line of presidential succession in the case that the POTUS is temporarily unable to complete their duties, resigns, or dies??

The 25th Amendment

What is the most powerful position within the House of Representatives?

The Speaker of the House

What is the most powerful position within the Senate?

The Majority Leader

Which chamber has less formal rules for debate?

The Senate

Why is it necessary to create committees in the House of Representatives and the Senate?

Smaller groups can tackle tough issues and draft more precise laws than the entire house or Senate. Allows lawmakers to put their expertise to use. Makes moving legislation more manageable.

True or False: A select committee can also be a joint committee

True

True or False: Committees are mentioned in the US Constitution

False

How is leadership determined within committees?

Chaired by a senior experienced member in the majority party, (Or by someone assigned for political ideological or diversity related reasons). The Vice Chair is the senior member of the Minority party. Also called ranking “member”.

The _______________ always holds the majority of the seats on each committee and therefore controls the ______________.

Majority Party, Flow of Legislation

True or False: A bill must pass (by simple majority) a committee before it can be introduced to the full chamber of Congress

True

The standing Committee that has the responsibility of drafting/introducing all revenue(tax) bills is the ____________________ Committee

Houseways and Means

The standing committees (in both chambers) that control federal spending are the ___________________________ Committees.

Appropriations

How do Congressmembers get appointed to committees?

The parties recommend certain members to committee assignments, ultimately each full chamber votes to approve committee membership. The DEMS and GOPS each have a committee for the purpose of assigning members to committees.

What is the definition of standing committee?

Permanent committees focused on a particular subject. Discuss and either polish or reject a variety of bills.

What is the definition of Joint committee?

Members of both chambers on one committee that address a long term issue or program.

What is the definition of Select committee?

Temporary committees formed “for a limited” time period to perform a particular study or investigation. (Scandals, Major events) Conducts research to determine if further action is necessary on an issue.

What is the definition of Conference committee?

Created temporarily to iron out differences on bills that passed in each house, but in slightly different forms. Members from both chambers gather to combine the bills multiple versions in to one final version. The final draft must pass both chambers and go onto receive the POTUS’s signature.

Describe Congressional oversight/oversight hearings

In addition to creating bills and confirming POTUS’s appointments committees also oversee how the executive agencies administer the laws Congress creates. Congress authorizes entire departments and agencies to carry out law

Why are members within the House of Representatives limited to 1 hour of speaking time when on the House floor?

The house has 435 members and therefore needs stricter rules and procedures to create order.

Legislators in the House of Representatives can offer only ______ amendments to be added to a bill, which means it is directly ____________________________.

Germane, related to the legislation under consideration

Who controls the debate within the chamber in the House of Representatives

The Speaker of the House

Describe the House Rules committee

Define guidelines for debate. Assigns bills to standing committees. Schedules bills for debate, nothing reaches the floor unless the rules committee allows it. Decides when votes will take place. Creates efficiency in debate by limiting debate time and the amount of amendments that can be added to a bill.

What is the Committee of the Whole and why is it valuable?

Includes all house members but does not require all. Created to allow longer debate. Committees have less debate rules than the house floor. members can vote in groups rather than in roll call. Non-voting delegates from other territories can vote here.

How many members of the committee of the whole must be present for the Committee to conduct business (quorum)?

100

Define discharge petition.

Can force a bill out of a reluctant committee. requires a simple majority of the house.

True or False: There is no limit on how long a Senator can speak on a bill

True

How does a senator gain the floor (to speak)?

The V POTUS  (or presiding officer) does not have control over who speaks, as she / he must recognize anyone who stands to speak.

True or False: Senators can introduce nongermane amendments to bills being discussed on the Senate floor.

True

True or False: The Majority Leader in the Senate chooses who gets to speak on the Senate floor and who does not get to speak

False

True or False: Senators can offer non-germane (not relating to) amendments to bills on the floor for consideration

True

Define Filibuster

Senators can stall or kill a bill by speaking for an extremely long time.

True or False: In the Senate, there must be a unanimous approval of all Senators to stop debate before voting on a bill

True

How can Senators end a filibuster/stop debate of a bill?

A 3/5 majority vote of the Senate to stop or close debate on a bill and call for a vote (60 votes). Only thing to end a filibuster so one Senator cannot control the Senate. After closure each Senator can speak up to 1 hour on the bill or topic after the vote.

Does the US House of Representatives or the US Senate have more powers regarding foreign policy

The US Senate

True or False: Mrs. LaCour can introduce a bill to the US House or Senate

False