Government Unit 2 - Legislative Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Is Congress bicameral or unicameral?

Unicameral

Bicameral (correct)

Name the houses of Congress.

House of Representatives and Senate

What was the 'Great Compromise'?

An agreement that defined representation in the House and Senate.

How many senators are there?

100 Signup and view all the answers

How many representatives are there?

435 Signup and view all the answers

How is representation in the House determined?

By population as determined by the census every ten years. Signup and view all the answers

How is representation in the Senate determined?

Two senators per state. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 3 constitutional requirements for holding the office of Senator?

Must be 30 years old, U.S. citizen for at least 9 years, and live in the state represented. Signup and view all the answers

What are the 3 constitutional requirements for holding the office of Representative?

Must be 25 years old, U.S. citizen for at least 7 years, and live in the state represented. Signup and view all the answers

How long is a senator's term of office?

6 years Signup and view all the answers

How long is a representative's term of office?

2 years Signup and view all the answers

What is a census? How often is one done? Why is it important to Congress?

A census is a count of the population taken every 10 years, important for apportioning seats in the House. Signup and view all the answers

Why would one want to gerrymander?

To concentrate votes for a party's advantage. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the voting style of a trustee, delegate, partisan, and politico.

Delegate represents constituents; Trustee follows their own conscience; Partisan aligns with party; Politico acts based on political future. Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'power of the purse'?

All bills that raise revenue must start in the House. Signup and view all the answers

Who has the power of the purse?

The House of Representatives Signup and view all the answers

Who has the power to impeach?

The House of Representatives Signup and view all the answers

Who has the power to try impeachment cases?

Senate Signup and view all the answers

Who has the power to declare war?

Congress Signup and view all the answers

Who has the power to ratify treaties?

Senate requires a 2/3 vote. Signup and view all the answers

Who has the power to approve presidential appointments to the federal courts?

Senate for higher courts, House of Representatives for lower courts. Signup and view all the answers

What is a bill of attainder? Who has the power to pass this kind of bill?

Bills targeting a group or individual; no one has the power to pass such bills. Signup and view all the answers

What is a writ of habeas corpus?

The right to a fair trial and due process. Signup and view all the answers

What is an ex post facto law? Can Congress make these laws?

Laws making an action illegal retroactively; Congress cannot make these laws. Signup and view all the answers

Who elects the president if the Electoral College fails to decide?

The House of Representatives elects the President. Signup and view all the answers

Who elects a Vice-President if the Electoral College fails to decide?

The Senate would elect the Vice President. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Congress Structure and Composition

Congress is bicameral, comprising two branches: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
There are 100 Senators and 435 Representatives in Congress.

Representation in Congress

House representation is determined by state population via a decennial census; each state has at least one Representative.
Each state is represented by two Senators, regardless of population.

Constitutional Requirements

Senators must be at least 30 years old, U.S. citizens for at least 9 years, and reside in the state they represent.
Representatives must be at least 25 years old, U.S. citizens for at least 7 years, and reside in the state they represent.

Term Lengths

A Senate term lasts 6 years; a House term lasts 2 years.

Census and Reapportionment

A census counts the population every 10 years, impacting the allocation of House seats among states.

Gerrymandering

Gerrymandering involves redrawing district lines to benefit a particular party or group; it can ensure representation but may violate constitutional principles.

Voting Styles

Delegate: Votes based on constituents' interests.
Trustee: Votes based on personal conscience.
Partisan: Votes according to party wishes.
Politico: Adopts a mixed approach for political gain.

Powers of Congress

The "power of the purse" denotes that all revenue-raising bills must originate in the House.
The House has the power to impeach, while the Senate tries impeachment cases.
Congress holds the power to declare war and ratify treaties (requires a two-thirds Senate vote).
Senate approves presidential appointments to higher federal courts; the House handles lower courts.

Legislative Restrictions

Bills of attainder cannot be passed by Congress, targeting specific individuals or groups.
Writ of habeas corpus ensures rights to a fair trial and protection from unlawful detention.
Ex post facto laws, which make prior legal actions illegal, cannot be enacted by Congress.

Electoral College Contingencies

If the Electoral College fails to decide a president, the House selects the President from the top three candidates based on Electoral votes.
The Senate elects the Vice President in the event of an Electoral College deadlock.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the legislative branch of the U.S. government with these flashcards. Explore key concepts like the bicameral structure of Congress, the houses of Congress, and the Great Compromise from the Constitutional Convention.