All flashcards
Flashcard 1: Which chamber can ratify treaties with foreign nations?
Answer: The Senate. Exclusive Senate foreign policy power.
Flashcard 2: What is a joint session of Congress?
Answer: A session where both the Senate and House meet together. Used for ceremonial occasions and addresses.
Flashcard 3: What is the difference between a bill and a law?
Answer: A bill is a proposed law; a law is enacted legislation. Bills become laws after presidential signature.
Flashcard 4: What is the significance of a standing committee?
Answer: A permanent committee that oversees bills related to specific issues. Handles most legislative work and expertise.
Flashcard 5: What is the bicameral legislature?
Answer: A two-chamber system: Senate and House of Representatives. Balances representation and equal state power.
Flashcard 6: What is the elastic clause?
Answer: Grants Congress the power to pass all necessary and proper laws. Article I, Section 8 implied powers.
Flashcard 7: What is the power of the purse?
Answer: Congress's power to tax and spend public money. Constitutional power over federal finances.
Flashcard 8: What is a quorum in Congress?
Answer: The minimum number of members needed to conduct business. Usually majority of total membership.
Flashcard 9: Define 'cloture'.
Answer: A procedure to end a filibuster in the Senate. Requires 60 votes to invoke in Senate.
Flashcard 10: What is the purpose of a conference committee?
Answer: To reconcile House and Senate bill differences. Resolves bicameral legislative differences.
Flashcard 11: What is a filibuster?
Answer: A prolonged speech to delay legislative action. Used primarily in the Senate.
Flashcard 12: What is the role of the House Majority Leader?
Answer: To lead the majority party in the House. Coordinates party strategy under the Speaker.
Flashcard 13: What is the role of the Senate Majority Leader?
Answer: To lead the majority party in the Senate. Coordinates party strategy and floor management.
Flashcard 14: How are Representatives apportioned among the states?
Answer: Based on population. Census data determines seat allocation.
Flashcard 15: How are Senators elected?
Answer: By popular vote. Direct election established by 17th Amendment.
Flashcard 16: Who is the Speaker of the House?
Answer: The leader of the House of Representatives. Elected by House majority party members.
Flashcard 17: What is the required citizenship duration to be a U.S. Representative?
Answer: 7 years. Constitutional citizenship requirement for representatives.
Flashcard 18: What is the required citizenship duration to be a U.S. Senator?
Answer: 9 years. Constitutional citizenship requirement for senators.
Flashcard 19: Which chamber of Congress has the sole power to impeach the President?
Answer: The House of Representatives. Sole power granted by Constitution Article I.
Flashcard 20: What are the two houses of the United States Congress?
Answer: The Senate and the House of Representatives. Bicameral structure established by the Constitution.
Flashcard 21: What is the main function of Congress?
Answer: To make federal laws. Legislative branch's primary constitutional role.
Flashcard 22: What is the term length for a U.S. Representative?
Answer: 2 years. Shorter terms ensure frequent accountability.
Flashcard 23: How can Congress override a presidential veto?
Answer: By a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and House. Supermajority required to overturn presidential rejection.
Flashcard 24: What is the role of the Congressional Budget Office?
Answer: To provide economic data and budgetary analysis to Congress. Nonpartisan fiscal analysis for legislative decisions.
Flashcard 25: What is the difference between a resolution and a bill?
Answer: A resolution addresses internal matters; a bill proposes new laws. Resolutions don't require presidential approval.
Flashcard 26: What is the role of the Appropriations Committee?
Answer: To allocate funding for government programs. Controls federal government spending decisions.
Flashcard 27: What is the role of the Rules Committee?
Answer: To determine the rules for debate of a bill in the House. Controls House floor debate procedures.
Flashcard 28: What is a pocket veto?
Answer: When the President takes no action on a bill for 10 days while Congress is adjourned. Bill dies without presidential action or signature.
Flashcard 29: What is the role of the Minority Leader?
Answer: To lead the minority party in their respective chamber. Represents opposition party interests and strategy.
Flashcard 30: What is the function of a select committee?
Answer: A temporary committee for a specific purpose. Created for investigations or special issues.