U.S. Congress Overview

Study Notes

Congress

Congress is comprised of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Members of the House of Representatives are elected every two years by the people of their state.
Representatives must be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for seven years, and reside in the state they represent.
The House of Representatives started with 65 members and currently has 435.
Each state has two senators in the Senate.
Senators are elected every six years by their state.
Senators must be at least 30 years old, a U.S. citizen for nine years, and reside in the state they represent.
The Vice President is the President of the Senate and votes only in the case of a tie.
The President Pro Tempore leads the Senate in the Vice President's absence.
Only the Senate has the power to try officials impeached by the House.
The Chief Justice presides over impeachment trials.
A majority of senators must be present for the Senate to conduct business, known as a quorum.
Senators or Representatives can be expelled with a two-thirds vote.

Congressional Procedure

All bills, including those for raising revenue, must originate in the House of Representatives.
To become a law, a bill must pass both the House and Senate with identical wording.
Once passed, the bill is sent to the President who can sign it into law, veto it, or enact a pocket veto by taking no action for 10 days.
If Congress adjourns during the 10-day period, the bill is considered vetoed.
A two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate can override a presidential veto.

The President

The President and Vice-President are elected for four years.
The President can only serve two terms.
The number of electors each state has in the Electoral College is equal to the number of Representatives and Senators it has in Congress.
To be President, one must be a natural born citizen of the U.S., at least 35 years old, and have lived in the U.S. for 14 years.
The Presidential Oath of Office concludes with the statement "defend the Constitution of the United States."

Supreme Court

The Supreme Court holds the judicial power of the United States.
The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction in cases involving the United States, ambassadors, and disputes between states.
In all other cases, the Supreme Court has appellate jurisdiction, meaning lower court decisions can be appealed to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court's decisions override all other decisions and establish precedents for future cases.
To convict someone of treason, two witnesses must testify or a confession must be made.

States

Citizens of one state have the same rights and privileges as citizens of other states.
In 1788, fugitive slaves had to be returned to their owners by other states.
Congress can admit new states as long as they are not within the jurisdiction of another state.
Congress makes rules about territories and the United States protects states from external threats.

Amending the Constitution

Amendments can be proposed by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress or by a three-fourths majority of state legislatures.
A proposed amendment becomes part of the Constitution when three-fourths of the states ratify it.
Before 1808, no amendment could affect the slave trade.

Constitution as Supreme Law

The Constitution is the supreme law of the land, overriding state laws and constitutions when there is a conflict.
The Constitution promised to continue paying war debts despite replacing the Articles of Confederation.
The Constitution required approval from nine of the thirteen state conventions to become official, changing the unanimous agreement requirement outlined in the Articles of Confederation.
All members of the executive and legislative branches must take an oath to support the Constitution, but no religious test can be required to hold public office.

Description

This quiz explores the structure and functions of the U.S. Congress, including the roles of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Test your knowledge on the requirements for members, their election cycles, and the impeachment process. Dive into the legislative branch of the U.S. government and assess your understanding!