Unit 3 Review: Legislative Branch (SSCG8)

House of Reps qualifications

25yrs old; US citizen for 7yrs; resident of the state

Senate qualifications

30yrs old; US citizen for 9yrs; resident of the state

Gerrymandering

drawing district borders to benefit a political party or special interest group

Census

reports population every ten years; determines reapportionment

Reapportionment

redistribution of electoral votes based on the census

17th Amendment

allows for direct election of Senators

Redistricting

establishing new congressional districts after reapportionment

Constituents

people who are represented by Congress

Congressional houses

House of Representatives & Senate; also called 'chambers' or 'houses'

Term of office

length of time served in office

House of Reps term

2yrs

Senate term

6yrs (reelect 1/3 every 2 yrs, even# years),

Impeachment

formal accusation of misconduct against a public official; starts in the House of Representatives

Impeachment trial

takes place in the Senate

Public bills

deal with general matters; apply to the entire nation

Revenue bills

laws for raising money in the federal government; must originate (start) in the House

Appropriation bills

proposed laws to authorize spending money

Veto

presidential action; rejects a proposed bill; Congress can override (more likely if they have majority opposing party)

Floor action

bill is debated; Senate - must have unanimous consent to debate (Committee of the Whole - 100 members pre-sent); in House - 218 (quorum)

Quorum

minimum # of Congressional members must be present; required for action in legislature (House - 218, Senate - 100)

Committee of the Whole

in Senate - must have unanimous consent 'Committee of the Whole' - 100 members present

Filibuster

Senate action to block a vote; a member may speak for 24hrs; can be stopped by cloture; used by Strom Thurmond to oppose Civil Rights

Cloture

vote to stop filibuster; must have 3/5 vote of Senate

Steps in the legislative process

how a bill becomes a law; introduced in either chamber; goes to committee; debated on floor; introduced & acted upon in other chamber; goes to president (signed, vetoed, no action - 'pocket veto')

President of Senate

leader of Senate; Vice President; current leader - Mike Pence

President Pro Tempore

leader of Senate in VP's place (most days); current leader - Orrin Hatch

Speaker of the House

leader of the House of Representatives; current leader - Paul Ryan

Majority Party

party with majority membership; Democratic or Republican based on current membership; currently Republican (in House & Senate); current leader in House - Kevin McCarthy

Minority Party:

party with majority membership; Democratic or Republican based on current membership; currently Democratic (in House & Senate); current leader in House - Nancy Pelosi

Majority Whip

assists the majority party leader; encourages consistent voting; one in both House & Senate; current leader in House - Steve Scalise

Majority Leader

heads the majority party; one in both House & Senate; current leader in Senate - Mitch McConnell

Minority Whip

assists the minority party leader; encourages consistent voting; one in both House & Senate

Minority Leader

heads the minority party; one in both House & Senate; current leader of Senate - Chuck Schumer

Standing committee

permanent committee; controlled by majority party in each house

Joint Committee

used to work on bill that addresses common issues (taxation & the economy)

Subcommittee

temporary committee; formed if standing committee needs more information on a bill

Hearing

a committee session where testimony (evidence) is presented

Conference committee

works to adapt House & Senate versions of bills; occurs when bills

Ways & Means committee

work on tax laws

Political Action Committees (PACs)

special-interest groups; raise money to help elect Congresspersons

Lobbyists:

representatives of interest groups; work to influence Congress; use information as their strongest weapon