Congress: Structure, Lawmaking Process, Role of Committees, Oversight, Representation

How many members is in the House of Representatives?

435 members

Each representative of the House of Representative serves a term of how many years?

2 years

The leader of the House of Representatives and most powerful figures in Congress is called?

Speaker of the House

The Speaker of the House of responsible for what?

Overseeing the legislative process, managing House debates, and ensuring that the majority party’s agenda is advanced.

House of Representative Initiate revenue bills

All bills related to taxes and government spending must originate in the House.

House of Representative Impeachment

The House has the sole power to impeach federal officials, including the president, which is the formal process of bringing charges against
them.

The Senate is made out of how many members?

100 members

Senators serve how many year terms?

6 years

What are the qualifications to become a House of Representative member?

Must be at least 25 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, and live in the state they represent.

What are the qualifications to be elected in the Senate?

Must be at least 30 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and live in the state they represent.

The Senate has the power to do what?

Confirm presidential appointments, ratify treaties, and conduct impeachment trials

What vote by the Senate is required for treaties negotiated by the president to be approved and the removal of officials from office?

two-thirds vote

Where can a bill be introduced?

House of Representatives or Senate

What can committees do?

Approve the bill as it is; Amend the bill; or Reject the bill, preventing it from moving forward

If a bill is approved by the relative committee, what happens next?

The bill moves to the floor of the House or Senate for further debate

Conference Committee

If both the House and the Senate pass different versions of the same bill, this committee made up of members from both chambers meets to resolve the differences. Once they reach an agreement on a final version, both the House and Senate must approve the compromise bill

Once a bill has passed both chambers of Congress, it is sent to the president, who can:

Sign the bill into law; Veto the bill; or Do nothing and if 10 days pass whilst this happens, the bill becomes a law

If the President vetoes a bill, what vote does Congress need to override the veto?

two-thirds vote in both chambers

Standing Committees

Permanent committees that handle ongoing legislative responsibilities, such as finance, foreign relations, and agriculture

Select Committees

Temporary committees formed to address specific issues, such as investigating a national crisis.

Joint Committees

Committees with members from both the House and Senate that address broad issues affecting both chambers.

Conference Committee

Temporary joint committees created to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

What is the purpose of the committees?

To review, amend, and vote on bills before they reach the full House or Senate

In addition to making laws, what is Congress responsible for?

Overseeing the executive branch and ensuring that government agencies enforce the law properly.

What does the House Appropriations Committee & Congress oversee?

The federal budget, how much money federal agencies receive and how it should be spent.

How does Congress represent the people?

Members of Congress are elected to represent the people of their districts (in the House) or
states (in the Senate). They are responsible for balancing the needs of their constituents with
the interests of the nation as a whole.

Who are the two major political parties?

Democrats and Republicans

Majority Leader

The most powerful position in the Senate, controlling the legislative calendar and influencing debate.

How many years old must you be to become a House of Representative Member?

25 years old

How many years old must you be to become a Senator?

30 years old