HAG TEST

Standing Committee

A permanent committee in Congress that meets regularly to discuss and review legislation related to a specific policy area. (e.g., Agriculture, Education).

Functions of Committees

Investigate proposed bills, hold hearings, amend legislation, oversee federal agencies, and decide whether bills move forward.

Select Committee

A temporary committee created for a specific purpose, often to conduct investigations or address a particular issue not handled by standing committees.

Joint Committee

A committee made up of members from both the House and the Senate, usually to conduct studies or perform housekeeping tasks.

Conference Committee

A temporary, joint body created to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

President of the Senate

The Vice President of the United States who presides over the Senate.(Currently JD Vance)

President Pro Tempore

The senator who presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President. (Currently Chuck Grassley)

Speaker of the House

The leader of the House of Representatives. (Currently Mike Johnson)

Majority Leader of the House

Second in command in the House, manages the legislative agenda. (Currently Steve Scalise)

Majority Whip of the House

Assists leadership in managing votes and party discipline.(Currently Tom Emmer)

Minority Leader of the House

The head of the minority party in the House. (Currently Hakeem Jeffries)

Minority Whip of the House

Helps the Minority Leader manage the party.(Currently Katherine Clark)

Majority Leader of the Senate

The leader of the majority party in the Senate.(Currently John Thune)

Majority Whip of the Senate

Assists the Majority Leader in the Senate.(Currently John Barrasso)

Minority Leader of the Senate

The leader of the minority party in the Senate.(Currently Chuck Schumer)

Minority Whip of the Senate

Assists the Minority Leader in the Senate.(Currently Dick Durbin)

Role of the President of the Senate

Presides over the Senate and casts tie-breaking votes.

Role of President Pro Tempore

Presides in absence of the Vice President, usually the senior-most senator of the majority party.

Party Caucus

A meeting of party members to select leaders and plan strategy.

Floor Leader

Lead spokesperson and strategist for each party in either chamber.

Whip

Counts votes, keeps party members in line, communicates between leadership and members.

Committee Chairman

Heads a standing committee, controls the agenda and hearings.

Ranking Member

The senior-most member of the minority party on a committee.

Bill

A proposed law presented to Congress for consideration.

Subcommittee

A smaller part of a standing committee that focuses on specific issues.

Committee of the Whole

A device in the House to expedite consideration of legislation by resolving into a large committee (includes all members)

Quorum

Minimum number of members needed to conduct business (usually a majority).

Engrossed

A bill that has been passed in one house and is officially printed.

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block legislative action by extended debate.

Cloture

A procedure to end a filibuster, requiring 60 votes in the Senate.

Veto

The president's rejection of a bill passed by Congress.

Pocket Veto

If the president takes no action on a bill for 10 days while Congress is not in session, the bill does not become law.

Bicameral Congress - Historical Reason

Modeled after the British Parliament.

Bicameral Congress - Practical Reason

Compromise between large (House) and small (Senate) states.

Bicameral Congress - Theoretical Reason

Checks and balances within the legislature.

Bicameral Congress - Federalism Reason

Reflects federal structure combining states and population.

Term for House Members

Two years.

Term for Senators

Six years.

Session of Congress

Annual meeting period of Congress.

Adjourns (Congress)

Ends its session.

Prorogue

The president's power to end a session of Congress.

Special Session

A meeting called by the president to deal with an emergency.

Apportioned (Seats)

Distribution of seats in the House based on population.

Reapportion

Redistribute House seats every 10 years after the census.

Off-year Elections

Congressional elections that occur in non-presidential years.

Reapportionment Act of 1929

Fixed the number of House seats at 435 and set rules for reapportionment.

Gerrymandered

Drawing district boundaries to favor a party or group.

Formal Qualifications for House

25 years old, 7 years a U.S. citizen, resident of the state they represent.

Informal Qualifications

Party identification, name recognition, experience, fundraising ability.

Constituencies

The people and interests a member of Congress represents.

Continuous Body (Senate)

Only 1/3 of seats are up for election every two years.

Formal Qualifications for Senate

30 years old, 9 years a U.S. citizen, resident of the state they represent.

Trustees (Voting)

Vote based on personal judgment.

Partisans (Voting)

Vote according to their party's position.

Delegates (Voting)

Vote according to what their constituents want.

Politicos (Voting)

Combine trustee, partisan, and delegate roles when voting.

Expressed Powers

Powers specifically stated in the Constitution:coin money, declare war, regulate commerce, collect taxes, raise armies.

Implied Powers

Not stated but suggested by expressed powers.: create IRS, draft army, establish a national bank.

Inherent Powers

Belong to all sovereign nations. immigration regulation, acquiring territory, protecting against rebellion.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Gives Congress the power to make laws needed to carry out its expressed powers.

Who impeaches?

The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach (which means to bring formal charges against a federal official — like an indictment in criminal law).

17th Amendment

Allowed direct election of U.S. Senators by the people.

How a Bill Becomes a Law - Introduction 1

A bill is introduced by a member of Congress in either the House or Senate.

How a Bill Becomes a Law - Committee Action 2

Sent to a standing committee. Can be sent to a subcommittee.

How a Bill Becomes a Law - Floor Debate 3

The bill goes to the floor of its house for debate and a vote.

How a Bill Becomes a Law - Vote 4

If passed by a majority vote, the bill moves to the other chamber.

How a Bill Becomes a Law - Conference Committee 5

Members of both chambers iron out differences in the bill versions.

How a Bill Becomes a Law - Presidential Action 6

The president can sign it, veto it, or do nothing for 10 days.

17th Amendment - Importance

Gave more democratic power directly to citizens, cuts out corruption.

Impeachment Process

House has sole power to impeach; Senate holds the trial and needs a 2/3 vote to convict.

Penalty for Impeachment

Removal from office if convicted.

How a Bill Becomes a Law (consise)

Committee → Floor → Other Chamber → Conference (if needed) → President

If it’s directly written word-for-word in the Constitution

Its expressed.

If Congress “logically” needs the power to make an expressed power happen,

It is implied.