AMSCO AP GOV 2.1- 2.3
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200 Terms
What is Congress defined by in the Constitution?
Article I
What are the two chambers of Congress?
The Senate and the House of Representatives
Where does Congress meet?
Washington, D.C.
What does Congress do?
Crafts legislation that becomes national policy and part of the U.S. Code
How many elected members are in Congress?
535 members
How many support staff work in Congress?
About 30,000
Who opened the 116th Congress in 2019?
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and VP Mike Pence
When did the First U.S. Congress meet?
1789 in New York City
Why did the framers design Congress to be the most democratic branch?
To reflect citizen and elite views after the Revolution
What is a bicameral legislature?
A two-house legislature
What compromise created the bicameral structure?
The Great Compromise
How are seats in the House distributed?
By population, based on the census every 10 years
How many senators does each state have?
Two
Who do House members represent?
Citizens in their districts
Who do Senators represent?
The entire state
Originally, how were Senators chosen?
By state legislatures
What amendment made Senators directly elected?
The 17th Amendment (1913)
Why must both chambers approve legislation?
To prevent rash laws and check majority rule
How many men were in the 116th Congress?
404
How many women were in the 116th Congress?
131
How many African American members?
56
How many Latino members?
50
How many Asian or Pacific Islanders?
20
How many Native Americans?
4
How many Caucasian members?
405
How many members were born outside the U.S.?
28
How many had military service?
96
How many had law degrees?
192
Minimum age for House members?
25
Minimum age for Senators?
30
Citizenship requirement for House?
7 years
Citizenship requirement for Senate?
9 years
Residency requirement for both?
Must live in the state they represent
Unique power of the House regarding revenue?
Originates revenue bills
What role does the House play in impeachment?
Initiates impeachment
What happens if the Electoral College ties?
The House breaks the tie for president
What is the Senate’s role in treaties?
Provides advice and consent
What is the Senate’s role in appointments?
Confirms presidential appointments
What role does the Senate play in impeachment?
Holds the trial of impeached officials
How many members in the House?
435
How long is a House term?
2 years
How many terms can a House member serve?
Unlimited
How many senators?
100
How long is a Senate term?
6 years
How many terms can senators serve?
Unlimited
Why is the Senate called a continuous body?
Only 1/3 is up for election every 2 years
Is the House centralized or decentralized?
Centralized and hierarchical
What committee controls the House agenda?
The Rules Committee
How is debate limited in the House?
Limited time per member
Who is the most powerful House leader?
The Speaker of the House
What is the Senate’s debate style?
Looser, filibuster allowed
What limits a filibuster?
Cloture vote (60 senators)
Which chamber focuses more on revenue and spending?
House
Which chamber focuses more on foreign policy?
Senate
How many people are in each congressional district?
About 700,000
What act sets rules for House reapportionment?
Reapportionment Act of 1929
What determines reapportionment?
The decennial census
What happens if a state grows slower than others?
It may lose seats
What are congressional caucuses?
Groups of like-minded members
What do party caucuses do?
Elect leaders, set agendas, assign committees
Can caucuses make laws?
No, but they can shape strategy
Where are Congress’s enumerated powers found?
Article I, Section 8
What is Congress’s power of the purse?
Power to tax and spend money
Who proposes the budget?
The president
Who debates and approves the budget?
Congress
What clause gives Congress broad economic power?
The Commerce Clause
What Supreme Court case limited the Commerce Clause?
U.S. v. Lopez (1995)
Who declares war?
Congress
Who funds the military?
Congress
Who is Commander in Chief?
The president
What law limited the president’s war powers?
War Powers Act (1973)
What does the War Powers Act require?
Notify Congress in 48 hrs, approval in 60 days
What clause creates implied powers?
Necessary and Proper Clause (Elastic Clause)
What case confirmed implied powers?
McCulloch v. Maryland (1819)
Example of an implied power in modern times?
Creating the Department of Education
Who is the House’s top leader?
The Speaker of the House
What do House floor leaders do?
Direct debate and guide legislation
What does the whip do?
Keeps vote counts and enforces party discipline
Who presides over the Senate?
The Vice President
What is the president pro tempore?
Senior majority senator, largely ceremonial
Who is the real power in the Senate?
The majority leader
What does the Senate majority leader do?
Sets calendar, guides debate, controls floor access
What are standing committees?
Permanent committees handling policy areas
What is a joint committee?
Committee with members from both chambers
What is a select committee?
Temporary, for investigations or specific issues
What is a conference committee?
Reconciles House and Senate bill versions
Which House committee oversees taxes?
Ways and Means Committee
Which Senate committee oversees foreign policy?
Foreign Relations Committee
Which House committee controls bills reaching the floor?
Rules Committee
Which committee oversees military?
Armed Services Committees
Which House committee handles impeachments?
Judiciary Committee
How long can a House member speak?
One hour max, usually less
What is the Committee of the Whole?
Relaxed House rules for easier debate
What is a discharge petition?
A way to force a bill out of committee
How many signatures are needed for a discharge petition?
218 (simple majority)
What is a filibuster?
Unlimited debate to block a bill
What ends a filibuster?
A cloture vote with 60 senators
What is required to ratify a treaty?
Two-thirds Senate vote
What is required to remove an impeached official?
Two-thirds Senate vote
Why did Washington compare the Senate to a saucer cooling coffee?
To show it was meant to cool down rash legislation