Legislative Branch, House of Representatives, and Senate

Bicameral legislature

A legislative body that consists of two chambers

Delegate representation

representative who votes according to what their constituency wants

Trustee representation

representative who votes based on what they think is best for their constituency

Descriptive representation

representation where representatives have the same background of their constituents 

Substantive representation

representation where representatives are held accountable for proper representation of their constituency. Even when background is different

House Qualifications of members:

Age, citizenship, residency

min age: 25, US citizen for 7+ years

House Length of term

2 years

House Number of representatives

435

District

local

Apportionment

process occurring after decennial consensus, that allocae

congressional seats among the Soslates 

House Trustee or Delegate?

delegate

Raising revenue ($$$)

all bills, raising revenue or originate in the house

House Impeachment role

act as grand jury (voting by majority) about if the official accused should be impeached

Senate Qualifications of members:

Age, citizenship, residency

min. age 30+,  citizen for 9+, years live in state

Senate Length of term

six years

Number of Senators per state and total

2 per state, 100 total

Inequity in representation

larger states tend to be more diverse & urban, smaller states more homogenous & rural. Senate gives more representation to ruler, white area areas/states

Senate Trustee or Delegate?

trustee

Filibuster

tactic used in senate to prevent action on ongoing legislation they opposed by taking floor for a long time senate it has to vote 3/5 to end

Cloture

rule in legislative body to end debate on any given bill, 3/5 of senators must vote to enact this

Senate presidential appointments

approves presidential appointments

Treaties

2/3 vote to create treaty 

Senate impeachment role

act as a jury on whether to convict and remove official

Committee (in Congress)

Smaller group that focuses on oversight, research, or administrative tasks rather than creating legislation

Conference committee

temporary panel of members from both the House and Senate that is formed to resolve differences between two versions of a bill passed by each chamber

Congressional oversight power

effort by Congress through hearings and investigations to exercise control over activities of executive agencies

Power to declare war

both have to pass declaration by simple majority

Veto override power

after President veto debate in their chambers 2/3 in favor to override required in both chambers