Bicameral legislature

A bicameral legislature is a government with two houses, or chambers, where laws must be approved by both to be enacted. This

Great compromise

The Great Compromise, also known as the Connecticut Compromise, was a deal at the 1787 Constitutional Convention that created a bicameral legislature with two houses: the Senate, which has equal representation for every state, and the House of Representatives, which has proportional representation based on population

Character and responsibiltes of the Senate

The character of the Senate is the upper chamber of the US Congress, with 100 members (two per state) serving six-year terms, designed to be a more deliberative body than the House of Representatives.

Character and responsisbiles of the house

The "character and responsibility of the house" can refer to two main concepts: the architectural style and features of a physical building, and the role of a household in fostering moral values and shared duties among its occupants. 

17th amendment

The Seventeenth Amendment (Amendment XVII) to the United States Constitution established the direct election of United States senators in each state. The amendment supersedes Article I, Section 3, Clauses 1 and 2 of the Constitution, under which senators were appointed by state legislatures.

The reapportionment act of 1929

The Reapportionment Act of 1929, also known as the Permanent Apportionment Act, set the number of U.S. House of Representatives seats at a permanent 435 and created a procedure for reapportioning seats among the states after each decennial census.

caucuses

either a meeting of a political party's members to make decisions, or an informal group of lawmakers who come together to work on shared interests.

Caucuses purpose coalitions

Caucuses are groups of lawmakers who meet to coordinate and advance legislative goals, and their purpose is to build voting coalitions, share information, and work together on specific issues like the interests of a particular industry or demographic group

eunmerated powers

Enumerated powers are the specific powers explicitly listed in the U.S. Constitution that are granted to the federal government, mainly to Congress.

power of the purse

the power of a legislature, particularly the U.S. Congress, to control government spending by approving budgets and appropriating funds.

regulating commerce

Regulating commerce is the process of setting rules for economic activity, with the US federal government having broad authority to do so under the Commerce Clause.

affortable care act 2010

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) was enacted in March 2010 to increase health insurance coverage and reform the insurance market. I

foreign and military affairs examples

Examples of foreign and military affairs power include the president's role as commander-in-chief and power to negotiate treaties, while Congress can declare war, fund the military, and regulate foreign commerce.

Declaration of war (why Congress?)

Congress has the power to declare war under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution because the framers wanted to prevent a single executive from having the sole authority to take the nation into conflict.

War powers act of 1973

a federal law intended to limit the U.S. president's ability to commit troops to armed conflict without congressional approval

Implied powers

Implied powers are governmental authorities not explicitly listed in the Constitution but are understood to be necessary to carry out the enumerated powers, primarily derived from the Necessary and Proper Clause

Necessary and proper clause

The Necessary and Proper Clause, found in Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 of the U.S. Constitution, grants Congress the power to create laws that are "necessary and proper" to carry out its other enumerated powers.

Revenue bills

Revenue bills are proposed laws that generate government income, primarily through taxes, and they must originate in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Electoral college (house vote)

The Electoral College consists of 538 electors. A majority of 270 electoral votes is required to elect the President.

Impeachment

Impeachment is the process of bringing formal charges against a public official for misconduct in office, which can lead to a trial and removal from office.

Advice and consent

the constitutional power of the U.S. Senate to approve or reject treaties and presidential appointments.

senate confirmation hearing

A Senate confirmation hearing is a public hearing held by the U.S. Senate to question and investigate nominees for high-level federal positions, including cabinet secretaries, federal judges, and ambassadors, to determine if they should be confirmed for the role.

Treaty ratification

Treaty ratification is the formal process by which a state gives its consent to be bound by an international agreement after it has been signed.

Trial (impeachment)

The Senate trial determines whether to convict and remove the official from office, which requires a two-thirds vote. The Senate is the sole court for impeachment trials, with the Chief Justice of the United States presiding over presidential trials.