The Constitution: Article I Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is Article I?

Section 1

What does the legislative branch of the government do?

The Legislative Branch makes the Federal laws.

What two houses make up Congress?

The House of Representatives and the Senate

Which is the Upper House and which is the Lower House?

The Upper House is the Senate. The Lower House is the House of Representatives. Signup and view all the answers

Define bicameral and unicameral.

Bicameral = two house legislature Signup and view all the answers

What is the length of term for a Representative?

Two years Signup and view all the answers

How is a representative elected?

A representative is elected by the people of the state that he/she represents. Signup and view all the answers

What are the qualifications of a Representative?

They must be 25 years old, have been a U.S. citizen for seven years, and have lived in the state that he/she represents. Signup and view all the answers

How is the number of representatives for each state determined?

Based on the number of people in the state (population), with each state getting at least one representative. Signup and view all the answers

How many representatives in all? How many does California currently have?

There are 435 representatives in all. California has 53 representatives. Signup and view all the answers

What is impeachment?

Impeachment is the decision that a high executive or judicial officer should go to trial for serious misbehavior. Signup and view all the answers

Who has the power to impeach?

Only the House of Representatives has the power to start the impeachment process. Signup and view all the answers

What is a census? How often is it taken? Why?

A census is an official count of the people taken every 10 years to determine representation. Signup and view all the answers

What happens if a Representative dies while holding office?

The governor of the state calls an election to fill the vacancy. Signup and view all the answers

What is the 'Speaker of the House'? How are they chosen?

The Speaker of the House is the Representative who is elected by the rest of the House to preside over the House. Signup and view all the answers

When are the normally scheduled elections for Representatives?

Representatives are normally elected on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even numbered years. Signup and view all the answers

How many senators does each state get?

Each state gets 2 senators. Signup and view all the answers

What is the term of office for a Senator?

Senators get 6 year terms. Signup and view all the answers

What are the qualifications of a Senator?

They must be 30 years old, a citizen of the U.S. for at least 9 years, and have lived in the state that he/she represents. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Article I Overview

Article I of the Constitution outlines the structure and powers of the legislative branch of government.
It establishes Congress, which is responsible for making federal laws.

Structure of Congress

Congress consists of two houses: the House of Representatives (Lower House) and the Senate (Upper House).
Bicameral system indicates a two-house legislature, while unicameral refers to a single-house legislature.

House of Representatives

Representatives serve a term of two years.
They are elected by the citizens of their respective states.
Qualifications include being at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for seven years, and a resident of the state they represent.
The number of representatives per state is determined by the state’s population, with each state guaranteed at least one representative.
There are a total of 435 representatives, with California having the highest number at 53.
Impeachment process is initiated solely by the House of Representatives.

Census and Representation

The census, an official count of the population, occurs every ten years and helps determine congressional representation.
If a representative dies while in office, the state governor is responsible for calling a special election to fill the vacancy.

Leadership in the House

The Speaker of the House is elected by representatives to preside over proceedings.
Elections for representatives typically occur on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November during even-numbered years.

Senate

Each state is allocated two senators, irrespective of population.
Senators serve six-year terms, with specific qualifications: they must be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least nine years, and reside in the state they represent.
If a senator dies in office, protocols are in place for filling the vacancy, typically involving governor appointments or special elections.

Additional Key Information

Impeachment serves as a mechanism to hold high-ranking officials accountable for serious misconduct, potentially leading to removal from office.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge of Article I of the Constitution with these flashcards. Learn about the legislative branch, its function, and the two houses that make up Congress. Perfect for students and anyone interested in American government!