Legislative Branch Quizlet

Standing committee

A permanent committee, such as those dealing with agriculture, commerce, and veterans' affairs.

Select committee

A temporary committee that deals with special issues; meets until it complete the assigned task.

Joint committee

A committee that includes members of both houses; meets to work on specific problems.

What is the most important job of Congress?

To make laws.

In an impeachment trial which house holds the trial to determine innocence or guilt?

Senate

franking privilege

The special right members of Congress have to send job-related mail without paying postage.

lobbyist

A person hired to influence government decisions.

casework

Work that a lawmaker does to help constituents with a problem

pork-barrel project

When a representative gets government money for projects in one district or state.

Qualifications to run for a seat in the Senate

30 years old

Live in the state you plan to represent

9 years U.S. citizenship

joint resolution

A resolution passed by both houses of Congress that has the force of law if signed by the president.

special-interest group

A group of people who work together for a common cause.

rider

Amendment to a bill that is unrelated to the subject matter of the bill.

filibuster

To talk a bill to death.

cloture

A vote by three-fifths of the Senate to limit debate on a bill.

voice vote

A voting method in which those in favor say 'Aye' and those against say 'No'

standing vote

A vote in which members stand to be counted for or against a bill.

roll-call vote

A vote in the Senate in which senators give their vote as their name is called.

pocket veto

The president's power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for ten days.

private bill

Deals with one person or place.

public bill

Applies to the whole nation.

If a bill is passed in one house what happens?

It is sent to the other house.

What happens if a bill is defeated in both houses?

The bill dies.

If the bill is passed in both houses and sent to the president, what can the president do?

Sign the bill into law

Veto the bill

Ignore the bill (pocket veto)

Can Congress pass a bill over a president's veto?

Yes, if it can get two-thirds vote in each house it can override the veto.

joint session

When the House of Representatives and the Senate meet together.

How is the voting in the Senate done?

Voice vote, standing vote, and roll-call vote

In impeachment proceedings, the House of Representatives may _______, but the Senate must _______.

impeach/convict

Can Congress favor one state over another state?

no

Who deals with lobbyists?

committee staff members

Who decides whether the House of Representatives or Senate will vote on a bill?

standing committee

Requirements to run for the Senate

Must be at least 30

Live in the state you plan to represent

Must have been a U.S. citizen for at least 9 years before being elected.

Requirements to run for the House of Representatives

Must be at least 25

Live in the state you plan to represent

Must have been a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years before being elected

pigeonhole a bill

A tactic designed to stall or kill a legislative proposal by placing it at the bottom of a committee's agenda

estimate

A number that is not exact; a careful guess.

Which house can add riders to a bill?

Members of the Senate

Members of Congress have _______in certain situations so they can speak freely without fear of arrest.

immunity

Major job of members of Congress

To pass laws

Voting in the House of Representatives is done by _______.

voice vote, standing vote, and electronic vote

Senate

Upper house of the U.S. Congress

House of Representatives

Lower house of the U.S. Congress

constituent

A voter that a member of Congress represents.

census

A count of the population taken every 10 years.

gerrymander

To draw congressional district lines to favor one party.

Who leads the House of Representatives?

Speaker of the House

Who leads the Senate?

Vice President of the U.S.

enumerated power/expressed power

A power of Congress that is listed in the Constitution.

implied power

A power of Congress that the expressed powers point to

elastic clause

Part of the Constitution that says Congress has implied powers.

nonlegislative power

A power that is not related to making laws.

impeach

To accuse elected officials of wrongdoing.

writ of habeas corpus

An order that makes sure prisoners are told why they are being held.

bill of attainder

A law that punishes a person with out a trial.

ex post facto law

A law that makes an act a crime after the act has been committed.

In an impeachment trial which house has to find the official guilty?

Senate

Where do members of Congress meet?

Washington, DC

Term length for House of Representative members

two-years

How many members are currently in the Senate?

100

If something were to happen to the President and Vice President who would be next in line to become president?

Speaker of the House

How many years does a senator serve?

6 years

joint session

When the House of Representatives and the Senate meet together.

In impeachment proceedings, the House of Representatives may _______, but the Senate must _______.

impeach/convict

Section of the Constitution that gives Congress its power?

Article I, Section 8

senority

Years of service, which is used as a consideration for assigning committee members

minority party

The party that holds the fewest number of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate

majority party

The party that holds the majority of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate

When does Congress usually start each year and end?

Starting on January 3 and lasting until November or December

How is the House of Representatives determined?

by population

Three types of committees in Congress

standing committees, select committees, and joint committees

What do congressional committees do?

Committees debate, revise and edit bills before their respective floors vote on them

How is the chairperson of each committee selected?

Seniority. Usually the longest serving committee member form the majority party

Clause 18

To make all laws necessary and proper to the execution of any of the other expressed powers

impeached presidents

Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, Donald Trump

Who has the power to approve or reject presidential nominess?

Senate

What vote is necessary to convince an official to be removed from his/her office?

Majority vote in the House is necessary to impeach, a 2/3 vote in the Senate to convict.

How did the bicameral structure of Congress arise?

The bicameral structure of Congress arose from a disagreement about representation that equaled in a compromise.

special session

An extraordinary session of a legislative body, called to deal with an emergency situation

How can Congress override a presidents veto?

A president's veto can be overridden with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

Seniority

years of service, which is used as a consideration for assigning committee members

Draft

To make an outline or a rough version.

Joint Resolution

passed by both houses of congress, and become law if signed by the president

Veto

executive action to kill a bill

Whips

Assistant leaders to the floor leader, they make sure legislators are present for key votes.

The right to regulate public schools is reserved for

States