Types of Powers Granted to Congress and House & Senate Elections
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of Congress?

  • Provide public education
  • Oversee the actions of the president
  • Make laws (correct)
  • Represent the views of constituents

    • Which chamber of Congress is responsible for representing the views of constituents?

  • Both the House of Representatives and the Senate (correct)
  • Senate
  • House of Representatives
  • Neither the House of Representatives nor the Senate

    • What is bicameralism?

  • The practice of having two executive branches
  • A form of government with no legislative body
  • The practice of having two legislative chambers (correct)
  • A form of government with only one legislative chamber

    • How does the bicameral system ensure agreement on proposed legislation?

    <p>By requiring both houses to pass identical bills</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is gerrymandering?

    <p>The manipulation of election boundaries for political advantage</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which method is used for congressional apportionment in the U.S.?

    <p>Equal proportions method</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How often is population data gathered for congressional apportionment?

    <p>Every 10 years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of power is specifically stated in the Constitution?

    <p>Enumerated power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which power is inferred as necessary to achieve the objectives of the national government?

    <p>Implied power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does the House of Representatives have a stronger and more structured leadership than the Senate?

    <p>Short two-year terms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which group emerged in 2010 and can raise and spend unlimited funds independently of a campaign or party?

    <p>Super PACs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used for a power that is assumed to exist as a direct result of the country’s existence?

    <p>Inherent power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do Senate members differ in facing their constituents compared to House members?

    <p>They face them less frequently</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What did the 2002 McCain-Feingold Act place limits on?

    <p>Total contributions to political parties</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of power is necessary to achieve the objectives of the national government?

    <p>Inherent power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Why does the House of Representatives have structured leadership compared to the Senate?

    <p>Short two-year terms</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What term describes a power that is neither explicitly stated nor inferred, yet is assumed to exist as a result of the country's existence?

    <p>Inherent power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary difference between descriptive representation and collective representation in Congress?

    <p>Descriptive representation emphasizes Congress as a body representing the entire population, while collective representation emphasizes the diversity within Congress.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which factor influences congressional approval ratings based on the text?

    <p>High unemployment levels correlate to higher approval ratings for Congress.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the House of Representatives, what determines the leadership position of the Speaker?

    <p>The entire House elects the Speaker to this important position.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What differentiates inherent powers from enumerated powers in the context of Congressional authority?

    <p>Enumerated powers are explicitly stated in the Constitution, while inherent powers are implied.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What contributes to the structured leadership in the House of Representatives compared to the Senate?

    <p>The House has a majority conference and a minority conference based on party numbers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What distinguishes inherent powers from enumerated powers in the context of Congressional authority?

    <p>Enumerated powers are those specifically granted by the Constitution, while inherent powers are those that Congress assumes to carry out its functions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the structure of the Senate differ from the House of Representatives regarding leadership positions?

    <p>Senate leadership includes a president and majority/minority leaders, while House leadership is solely represented by the Speaker.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of an implied power exercised by Congress?

    <p>The power to regulate interstate commerce.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of Senate procedures, what is a filibuster primarily used for?

    <p>To prevent a vote on a bill by extending debate indefinitely.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How do implied powers differ from inherent powers in terms of their basis?

    <p>Implied powers derive from the necessary and proper clause, while inherent powers come from historical precedents.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Congressional Powers

    • Enumerated power: explicitly stated in the Constitution
    • Implied power: not specifically detailed in the Constitution, but inferred as necessary to achieve national government objectives
    • Inherent power: assumed to exist as a direct result of the country's existence, neither enumerated nor implied

    The Legislative Process

    • A bill is drafted and majority leadership consults with the parliamentarian on committee assignment
    • A hearing is held on the bill, followed by the markup stage
    • The bill passes through the House Committee on Rules, then to the floor for debate and amendments
    • The House votes on the bill, and if passed, it is placed on the Senate calendar
    • If passed by the Senate, the bill is sent to the president for signature or veto
    • If signed, the bill becomes law

    Congressional Representation

    • Descriptive representation: rooted in the racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, gender, and sexual identity of representatives
    • Collective representation: the relationship between Congress and the United States as a whole, considering whether the institution represents the American people

    Congressional Elections

    • House of Representatives: stronger, more structured leadership, with members serving 2-year terms
    • Senate: members serve 6-year terms, farther from constituent demands and scrutiny
    • Campaign funding: 2002 McCain-Feingold Act placed limits on contributions, prohibited coordination between candidates and PAC campaigns, and required personal endorsements on political ads
    • Super PACs: emerged in 2010, can raise and spend unlimited funds independently of campaigns or parties

    Congressional Leadership

    • Speaker of the House: most important leadership position, elected by the entire body, with significant power
    • Minority leader: official leader of the opposition
    • Whips: enforce party discipline and "whip up" votes
    • Senate leadership: majority and minority leaders hold power, with the vice president as Senate president

    Congressional Committees

    • Standing committees: permanent committees, first call for proposed bills
    • Joint committees: composed of members from both the House and Senate, charged with exploring key issues, informational only
    • Ad hoc committees: temporary, set up to address specific topics, often conduct special investigations

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    Description

    Learn about the three kinds of powers granted to Congress - Enumerated, Implied, and Inherent powers. Explore the differences between the House of Representatives and Senate elections.

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