Questions and Answers
Is Congress bicameral or unicameral?
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?
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How many representatives are there?
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How is representation in the House determined?
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How is representation in the Senate determined?
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What are the 3 constitutional requirements for holding the office of Senator?
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What are the 3 constitutional requirements for holding the office of Representative?
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How long is a senator's term of office?
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How long is a representative's term of office?
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What is a census? How often is one done? Why is it important to Congress?
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Why would one want to gerrymander?
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Describe the voting style of a trustee, delegate, partisan, and politico.
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What is the 'power of the purse'?
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Who has the power of the purse?
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Who has the power to impeach?
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Who has the power to try impeachment cases?
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Who has the power to declare war?
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Who has the power to ratify treaties?
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Who has the power to approve presidential appointments to the federal courts?
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What is a bill of attainder? Who has the power to pass this kind of bill?
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What is a writ of habeas corpus?
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What is an ex post facto law? Can Congress make these laws?
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Who elects the president if the Electoral College fails to decide?
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Who elects a Vice-President if the Electoral College fails to decide?
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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.