Congressional Structure and Function Quiz

Congressional Structure and Function

• Apportionment: States are awarded congressional seats based on population proportion.
• Legislature: A bicameral legislature (Senate and House of Representatives) was created by the Constitutional Convention.
• House Leadership: The Majority Leader is second in authority to the Speaker of the House.
• Conference Committees: These committees reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate.
• Pork-Barrelling: Directing federal funds or benefits to a specific district can aid a member of Congress's district.
• Delegate Model: An elected official who votes as their constituents want.
• Whips: Count votes and ensure party discipline.
• Filibuster Cloture: Cloture, requiring 60 votes, formally ends a filibuster.
• Pocket Veto: A bill can become law if pocket vetoed, but only if the president doesn't sign it and Congress adjourns.
• House Apportionment: Members of the House are apportioned based on population and serve two-year terms.
• Congressional Research Service (CRS): Provides nonpartisan summaries of bills and tracks their progress.
• Impeachment: Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton were impeached but not removed from office due to failures in the Senate trial after the House vote.
• House Size: The House of Representatives has 435 members, a fixed number by law.
• Appropriations: Congress grants federal funds to agencies and programs during the appropriations process.
• Party Unity: Congressional party unity measures partisan cohesion and discipline.

Congressional Procedures and Processes

• Party Caucus: Members of Congress gather to select leadership.
• Select/Special Committees: Temporary committees appointed for specific purposes.
• Congressional Approval: Americans' approval ratings of Congress fluctuate with effectiveness and partisan gridlock.
• Senate Presiding Officer: The Vice President presides over the Senate.
• President Pro Tempore: Selected by the majority party to preside over the Senate in the VP's absence.
• House Majority Leader: Smooths passage of majority-backed bills.
• Trustee Model: Legislators use judgment and expertise to make decisions.
• Discharge Petition: A way to force a bill out of committee and onto the House floor.
• Bill Process (House): Bills typically follow a path of introduction, committee referral, subcommittee review, full committee report and floor debate, conference committee, and presidential action.
• Bill Process (Senate): Similar path of introduction, referral, subcommittee, committee, debate, conference committee and presidential action.
• Casework: Assisting constituents in obtaining government services.
• Staff Influence: Members' staff influence how representatives vote on bills impacting their district.
• Reconciliation: Limits debate on budget controversies to twenty hours, ending potential filibusters.
• Logrolling: When members agree to support each other's bills in exchange for support.
• HOLD: A tactic a senator uses to signal objections to a bill or nomination, requiring consultation before further action.

Test your knowledge on the structure and functions of Congress, including topics like apportionment, leadership roles, and legislative processes. This quiz covers the key concepts essential for understanding how the U.S. Congress operates.