Legislative

bicameral system

A political system in which the legislature comprises two houses

Historical Reason for Americans choosing the Bicameral System

They were used to it. Parliament did it. They saw no flaws.

Practical Reasons for Americans choosing the Bicameral System

It would settle the conflict between Virginia and New Jersey and their plans for philly in 1787

Term of Congress

Two Years

What is a session of Congress?

period of time during which, each year, Congress assembles and conducts business

How many sessions are there in a term of Congress?

Two- one per year

adjourn

(v.) to stop proceedings temporarily; move to another place

special session

session to deal with emergencies. only the president is allowed to make this.

Size of House of Representatives

435 members

Terms of House of Representatives

2 years with no limit to how often you can run

Date of Election

Tuesday following the first Monday of November of each even-yeared year

Age of House of Representatives

25 years

Length of Citizenship required for House of Representatives

7 years

Residence of House of Representatives

The state they wish to represent

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

Reappointment

the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census

off-year election

congressional election that occurs between presidential election years (midterm elecrions)

Size of Senate

100 members

Terms of Senate

6 years

Date of Senate Elections

Novemmber?

Age of Congress Members

30 years

length of citizenship for senate

9 years

Residence of Senate

inhabitant of the state they wish to represent

The Senate is a ______. That is, all of its seats are never up for election at the same time.

Continuous Body

Constituencies

the people and interests the senators represent

Legislator

someone who makes or enacts laws

Comittee member

Evaluate bills. Decide which measures will go on floor consideration

continious body

governing unit whose seats are never all up for election at the same time (the Senate)

Trustee

A legislator who thinks each question should be faces with merit. Calls out issues no matter the political party

Delegate

A legislator who votes for the best interest for "the folks back home."

Partistan

A legislator who votes in favor of their political party

Politico

A legislator who is a combination of all the others. Votes for the interest of every citizen in the nation+looks at merits

salary of congress

$169,000 yearly

Benefits of Congress Members

- tax deduction

- travel allowance

- low insurance

- generous retirement plan

"Cloak of Immunity"

Immunity to Court (Sue) for actions in debate

Constituency

the residents in the area from which an official is elected

Oversight Function

Review of federal agencies, programs, or policy implementation

Strict Leader (Anti-Federalists)

Thomas Jefferson

Liberal Leader (Federalists)

Alexander Hamilton

Anti-Federalist views on

Federalist views on

Implied Power

Not directly written, but one can infer

Inherent Powers

Possessed by all sovereign states

Expressed Powers

Directly stated

Commerce

The power to trade. Everything has to go through congress

Taxation

To Tax People

Borrowing

To borrow money for the benefit of the Nation

Bankruptcy

If it is called, you pay % of what you owe

Currency

Coul money and regulation of the value thereof

Tax

a required payment to a local, state, or national government

Indirect Tax

a tax levied on goods or services rather than on persons or organizations

Deficit Financing

government policy of spending more money than it is able to bring in through revenues

Publish Debt

Total amount owed by the Federal Government to owners of Government Securities

Legal Tender

Any kind of money that a creditor must by law accept in payment for debts

1790

Alexander Hamilton proposes a National Bank

What parts of the National Government share powers in the foreign affair field?

The President (primarily) and Senate. The States have no say in international affairs

1818

Maryland passed a tax of some sort idk

Who has the power to declare war?

Congress

War Powers Resolutions of 1973

Limits president's power to make undeclared war. Congress has the rights to call back troops from military areas.

Four crimes clearly stated in the Constitution

1. Piracy

Naturalization

Process of making immigrants into citizens

Copyright

For writers. The rights to their words.

Patent

For inventors. The rights to gatekeep their inventions. Lasts 10 years.

Eminent Domain

Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)

A clause in Article I, section 8. Allows Congress to change and grow overtime. Flexibility allows the government to act on the nation's best interests.

Why does Congress have the power to appropriate funds for various reasons

They are the "representative of the people" + The elastic clause

Two Ways Congress Can Propose and Amendment To The Constitution

Have a 2/3 vote or call a national convention of delegates

Electoral Duty of the House

Choosing the president if neither candidates receive a majority of the electoral votes

Electoral Duty of the Vice President

Choosing the Vice President if neither candidate gets majority votes

House role in impeachment

File the articles of impeachment- to accuse

Senate role in impeachment

To try and judge the case

Two executive powers of Senate

Appointments to the Senate + treaties from the president

What is the usual forum for congressional investigations?

via committee

What are some reasons for congressional investigations?

To consider pending legislation; to investigate issues that may require legislation in the future; and, to investigate and oversee federal programs

It is the Senate, not the House, which has sole power to elect the President

Vice President, and all civil officers of the United States.

Congress may someone by...

issuing a formal condemnation of the -individual's actions.

1. Implied Powers

2. National Power

3. State Power

1. Dislike

2. Dislike; they were scared of giving the government too much power

3. Like

1. Implied Powers

2. National Power

3. State Power

1. Like

2. Like

3.

2. Felony

3. Treason

4. Offences against international law