Ch 10 - Senate

What are 3 qualifications for a member of the Senate?

must be at least 30 years old, a US citizen for 7 years, and an inhabitant of the state you’re representing

How many members are in the Senate?

100 members

How many Senators does each state have?

2

What does it mean when Senators are elected for a state “at large”

It means senators represent an entire state rather than one specific geographical district within a state. Voters from all over a state can cast their ballots for a U.S. Senator.

How long is a Senator’s term?

6 years

What are “staggered terms” in regards to U.S. Senators?

This means approximately 1/3rd of the U.S. Senate seats are open for election every 2 years

Why are staggered terms so crucial in the Senate?

They establish a continuous body, meaning only a small amount of seats are up for election at any one time

Can Senators judge qualifications?

Yes

How can Senators punish other Senators?

with majority vote

How many votes are necessary within the Senate to expel another member?

2/3rds majority vote

What’s a constituent?

voting members of a community or organization that have the power to appoint or elect others

What’s a trustee candidate most likely going to do?

someone who decides questions on merit and does whatever he/she thinks is best

What’s a delegate candidate most likely going to do?

someone who sees themselves as an agent of voters and votes however constituents want

What’s a partisan?

a committed member or supporter of a political party or a political movement 

When is Congress’ (HoRs) first day in action?

January 3rd

Describe an HoRs first day in Congress

roll call, choose a speaker, adopt/re-adopt rules, and design committees

The Speaker of the House is created by ________.

our Constitution 

Does the Speaker of the House belong to the majority or minority party?

The majority party

Are Speakers of the House long or short time members of the House?

long time members

What are some of the duties of a Speaker of the House?

presiding over all sessions, interpreting & applying rules, assigning bills to committees, ruling on questions of procedure, naming members of all select committees, and signing all bills

Who is the President of the Senate?

The VP of the US

What does the President of the Senate do?

presides, keeps order, cannot speak nor vote (unless necessary for a tie breaker)

What does the President Pro-Tempore do?

serves as the President of the Senate during the (Vice) President’s absence

Who is the Dean of the House?

the longest-serving member

Both majority and minority houses have ____ ______.

floor leaders

Who assists both Dems and Repubs, majority and minority parties, the HoReps and Senate , and floor leaders?

Whips

Where are bills assigned once introduced?

A committee

Standing committees are _______?

permanent w/ a chair person chosen by the majority party

Joint committees are ______?

permanent and made up of Representatives and Senators

Select committees are ________?

temporary for a special purpose

What are some examples of situations where a select committee was necessary?

Watergate, Steroids in Baseball, January 6th Incident, and Benghazi Attack

Conference committees are ________?

temporary, joint committees (House + Senate) made to iron out the differences in a bill