Understanding Congress: Structure and Function

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Questions and Answers

Who is the current Speaker of the House?

Mike Johnson (correct)

Chuck Schumer

Kamala Harris

Steve Scalise

What is the maximum number of terms a member of the Missouri House of Representatives can serve?

4 terms (correct)

2 terms

8 terms

6 terms

What is required for a senator to be eligible to serve?

A U.S. citizen for at least 6 years

Must reside in the state for 2 years

At least 28 years old

At least 30 years old (correct)

What role does the President Pro Tempore play in the Senate?

Presides over Senate sessions Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following roles is responsible for directing the majority party's legislative agenda in the Senate?

Majority floor leader Signup and view all the answers

What does the filibuster tactic in the Senate aim to do?

Block legislation through prolonged debate Signup and view all the answers

How many U.S. senators does each state have?

Two Signup and view all the answers

Who serves as the Vice President of the United States and also acts as President of the Senate?

Kamala Harris Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following voting types represents a lawmaker who balances all influences when making decisions?

Politicos Signup and view all the answers

What grants Congress the authority to create laws necessary to implement its powers?

Necessary and Proper Clause Signup and view all the answers

Which power is explicitly denied to Congress by the Constitution?

Suspend the Writ of Habeas Corpus Signup and view all the answers

In the impeachment process, which body has the responsibility to hear the case and act as the jury?

Senate Signup and view all the answers

Which power is NOT granted to the states by the Constitution?

To make treaties Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum number of members required for Congress to conduct official business?

A simple majority Signup and view all the answers

What was the outcome of the McCulloch v. Maryland case regarding congressional powers?

It affirmed the existence of implied powers. Signup and view all the answers

What is the minimum age requirement to serve in Congress?

30 years old Signup and view all the answers

Which body of Congress is based on the population of each state?

House of Representatives Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of standing committees in the legislative process?

To review, amend, or reject bills Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a requirement to be a member of the House of Representatives?

Must have been a U.S. citizen for at least 7 years Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of redistributing seats in the House of Representatives based on population changes after the Census called?

Reapportionment Signup and view all the answers

Where must revenue bills originate within the legislative structure of the U.S. Congress?

House of Representatives Signup and view all the answers

What is gerrymandering?

Manipulating district boundaries to favor one party Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'Term of Congress' refer to?

A period of two years during which Congress meets Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of the Oversight function of Congress?

To monitor and review executive branch activities Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature with two chambers, like the US Congress (Senate and House of Representatives)

Term of Congress

A two-year period, starting January 3rd of odd-numbered years

Session of Congress

The annual period when Congress assembles to conduct business

Adjourns

When Congress ends a session, temporarily or permanently

Committee of the Whole

A procedure where the entire House of Representatives acts as a committee to expedite debate and amendments

Quorum

The minimum number of members needed for a legislative body to conduct official business (usually a majority)

Missouri General Assembly

Missouri's state legislature, composed of the House of Representatives and Senate, meeting in Jefferson City

Incumbent

A person currently holding an office or position

Suffrage

The right to vote in political elections

Oversight Function

The process by which Congress monitors and reviews executive branch activities

Eminent Domain

The government's power to take private property for public use, with compensation

U.S. House of Representatives

Representation is based on each state's population, determined by the Census
Elections are held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in even-numbered years
The process of redistributing seats in the House based on population changes is called apportionment or reapportionment and occurs every 10 years
The Reapportionment Act of 1929 capped the House at 435 members, establishing rules for reapportionment
Congressional districts are geographic areas within a state, each represented by one member

Gerrymandering

Manipulating district boundaries to favor one party or group

Off-Year Elections

Congressional elections held in non-presidential election years.

Origin of Revenue Bills

Revenue bills must originate in the House of Representatives.

Representatives per State

Each state is guaranteed at least one representative

Term of Representatives

Two years.

Formal Qualifications for House of Representatives

Must be at least 25 years old.
Must have been a US citizen for at least 7 years.
Must live in the state they represent.

Missouri U.S. Representatives (St. Louis area)

1st District: Cori Bush (Democrat)
2nd District: Ann Wagner (Republican)
3rd District: Blaine Luetkemeyer (Republican)
8th District: Jason Smith (Republican)

Define Leadership Roles

Speaker of the House: presides over the House, assigns bills to committees, and leads the majority party (Mike Johnson)
Majority Floor Leader: leads the majority party and manages legislative business (Steve Scalise)
Minority Floor Leader: leads the minority party and acts as opposition spokesperson (Hakeem Jeffries)

Missouri House of Representatives

163 members

Term of Office (U.S. Senate)

Six years

Term Limit (U.S. Senate)

Four terms (8 years)

Qualifications for U.S. Senate

At least 30 years old.
US citizen for at least 9 years.
Reside in the state they represent.

Continuous Body (U.S. Senate)

A term that describes staggered elections, with one-third of senators up for election every two years

U.S. Senate Constituency

The residents of a senator's state

17th Amendment

Established the direct election of US senators by the people.

Filibuster (U.S. Senate)

A tactic used to delay or block legislation through prolonged debate

Cloture (U.S. Senate)

A Senate motion requiring 60 votes to end a filibuster

President of the Senate

The Vice President of the United States (Kamala Harris)
Vote only to break a tie

President Pro Tempore

Presides over the Senate in the Vice President's absence (Patty Murray)

Majority Floor Leader (U.S. Senate)

Directs the majority party's legislative agenda (Chuck Schumer)

Minority Floor Leader (U.S. Senate)

Directs the minority party's legislative strategy

MO Senators and Parties

Eric Schmitt (Republican)
Josh Hawley (Republican)

Missouri Senate

34 Members
4 year term
2 terms (8 years)

Voting Types (Missouri Senate)

Trustees: Vote based on personal judgment.
Delegates: Vote based on constituents' wishes.
Partisans: Vote based on party lines.
Politicos: Balance all influences

Powers and Limitations : Missouri Senate

Expressed powers: Powers explicitly granted to Congress in the Constitution.
Implied powers: Powers not explicitly stated but inferred from the Constitution.
Strict constructionists: Favor a narrow interpretation
Liberal constructionists: Favor a broad interpretation
Necessary and Proper Clause: Grants Congress the power to make all laws necessary and proper to execute its enumerated powers.

Powers denied to Congress

Writ of Habeas Corpus: Cannot be suspended except in emergencies.
Bills of Attainder: Cannot pass laws punishing people without trial.
Ex post facto laws: Cannot pass laws retroactively criminalizing actions.

Impeachment

The House of Representatives has the sole power to impeach
The Senate hears the impeachment and acts as the jury.
Chief Justice presides in impeachments of a president
Missouri has a specific Supreme court to attempt and handle impeachments

Senate Confirmation

Appointments: Confirms presidential nominations
Treaties: Requires a two-thirds Senate vote

Lawmaking Process

Process of a bill becoming a law: Introduced, committee review, floor debate, vote in both chambers, presidential action
Standing committees: Possible actions: Approve, amend, reject, rewrite, hold
Conference committees: Resolve differences between House and Senate bill versions
Seniority rule: Gives key committee positions to longest-serving members.
How a bill must pass: By majority vote in identical form
Possible presidential actions: Sign, veto, allow to become law without signing, pocket veto.
Can Congress override a veto? Yes, by two-thirds majority.

Additional Terms

Bill: A proposed law.
Rider: An unrelated amendment added to a bill.
Floor consideration: Debate and voting on a bill by the full chamber.
Joint and Concurrent Resolutions: Legislative measures addressing specific purposes or issues.
Quorum: The minimum number of members needed for business.
Missouri Constitution—Initiative: A process allowing citizens to propose legislation.
Referendum: A public vote to approve or reject laws.

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Description

This quiz covers the essential concepts related to the structure and function of Congress, including the term, sessions, and legislative procedures. Test your knowledge on key terms such as bicameral legislature, quorum, and the role of committees in the legislative process. Ideal for students of government and political science.