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Flashcards in Legislative Branch Deck (52)
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0
Q

Congress is made up of……

A

The House of Representatives and the Senate

1
Q

What is the legislative branch’s main job?

A

To make laws

2
Q

Congress begins meeting when?

A

On the third day of January every odd numbered year.

3
Q

The meetings are called?

A

Terms

4
Q

How long do the House of Representative terms last?

A

Two years with a break during the summer.

5
Q

When did the first term of Congress meet?

A

1789-1791

6
Q

How many Senators are in the Senate?

A

100

7
Q

How many representatives are in the House of Representatives?

A

435

8
Q

The Congress can expel a member by what kind of vote?

A

A 2/3 vote

9
Q

What is a Congressional Record?

A

A record kept of all the meetings in Congress, and is published.

10
Q

Privileges of the members of Congress

A
  • Cannot be arrested when going to or from Congress, or while attending a session of Congress
  • A member cannot be sued or punished for anything said in Congress
11
Q

Filibuster

A

Can only be done in Senate, purpose is to stall a vote from coming to the floor

12
Q

What is the only house able to introduce a money bill?

A

The House of Representatives

13
Q

Quorum

A

The requirement for there to be at least one over half of the members there to meet (applies to both houses)

14
Q

Census

A

A population count taken every ten years to determine both population and how many representatives each state gets

15
Q

Requirements to be a member of the House of Representatives

A

Must be at least 25 years of age, be a US citizen for at least 7 years, and live in the state elected for

16
Q

Speaker of the House

A

Current: John Boehner
He is the presiding officer, selected by members of the house, second in line for presidency (after the Vice President ), usually a member of the majority part

17
Q

The House of Representatives begin the impeachment process by

A

Accusing the official of wrong doing or misuse of powe

18
Q

We live in what District

A

District 14

19
Q

Our District 14 representative is

A

Randy Hultgren

20
Q

Who is our president protempore?

A

Patrick Leahy

21
Q

How many senators are there per state?

A

There are 2

22
Q

How long is a term in the Senate?

A

6 years

23
Q

After how many years is 1/3 of the Senate up for reelection?

A

2 years

24
Q

Requirements for Senate

A
  • 30 years and older
  • Citizen of US for at least 9 years
  • live in the state represented
25
Q

In the impeachment process what does the Senate do?

A

They hold a trial and act as a jury, they vote for impeachment

26
Q

What are the Vice President’s duties in the Senate?

A

He is in charge of all meetings in the Senate. Can only vote in case of a tie between senators.

27
Q

Who holds the meetings if the Vice President is absent?

A

The president protempore

28
Q

Expels means

A

To remove

29
Q

Adjourn means

A

To stop meeting

30
Q

What is the elastic clause?

A

The power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper

31
Q

What are the powers of Congress as written in the Constitution?

A

Power to tax, borrow money, regulate trade, naturalization, coin money, establish a system of weight and measurement, establish a post office, declare war, and provide a military

32
Q

3 types of powers to Congress

A

Enumerated powers, implied powers, and inherent powers

33
Q

Enumerated powers

A

Powers given to Congress by the government, SPECIFICALLY listed in the Constitution

34
Q

Implied Powers

A

General powers given to Congress, they are stated, but not enough information is given in the Constitution about details

35
Q

Inherent powers

A

Unlisted powers that a government must have simply because it exists as a government and needs to run its affairs smoothly. (Best example is foreign affairs)

36
Q

Habeas Corpus

A

Means “you shall have the body”. This right allows a person to be seen and heard in a courtroom by a judge.

37
Q

Bills of Attainer

A

Outlawed by Constitution. It is a law passed by the government that convicts a person of a crime and punishes them without a trial.

38
Q

Ex Post Facto law

A

These cannot be passed by Congress. This law punishes people for a crime that was not a crime at the time.

39
Q

Other limits on Congress

A

Cannot tax products from a state, cannot give preference to any state’s seaport, government money can only be spent by passing a law, cannot issue titles of nobility

40
Q

Naturalization

A

The process by which one can become a US citizens

41
Q

Certain limits on the states

A
  1. Cannot make treaties with other countries
  2. Cannot coin their own money
  3. Have same limits that are put on Congress
42
Q

Powers of government are put in three categories

A

Delegated, concurrent, and reserved powers

43
Q

Delegated powers

A

Powers that are given to the national government in Washington D.C

44
Q

Concurrent powers

A

Powers that are shared between the national and state governments

45
Q

Reserved powers

A

Powers only given to state governments

46
Q

Majority

A

Means one over half, or the larger group of politicians

47
Q

Minority

A

The smaller group of politicians

48
Q

Fraction needed to override a veto

A

2/3 of Congress

49
Q

What can the President do when a bill gets to him?

A

Sign it (it’s now a law), pocket veto (not sign or veto after ten days after Congress adjourns, bill dies), veto, (bill dies), ignores after ten days while Congress is in session (now a law)

50
Q

What does the Preamble do?

A

Introduces us to the Constitution’s main cause, which is to create our own government with freedom built into it

51
Q

What is the current term and session of Congress?

A

113th term, 2nd session