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Questions and Answers
What is the primary function of the Executive Branch in the government?
What is the primary function of the Executive Branch in the government?
What is the minimum number of Supreme Court justices required to consider a case?
What is the minimum number of Supreme Court justices required to consider a case?
What is the term for the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional?
What is the term for the power of the Supreme Court to declare laws unconstitutional?
What is an Executive Order?
What is an Executive Order?
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What is the role of the Vice President in the event of a presidential vacancy?
What is the role of the Vice President in the event of a presidential vacancy?
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What is the name of the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
What is the name of the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court?
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How often are members of the House of Representatives elected?
How often are members of the House of Representatives elected?
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What is the total number of seats in the Senate?
What is the total number of seats in the Senate?
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What is the role of the Speaker of the House?
What is the role of the Speaker of the House?
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What is the process of a bill becoming a law?
What is the process of a bill becoming a law?
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What is the role of the President in the legislative process?
What is the role of the President in the legislative process?
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What is the term used to describe the process of talking a bill to death in the Senate?
What is the term used to describe the process of talking a bill to death in the Senate?
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Study Notes
Structure of Congress
- House of Representatives: 435 seats, elected every 2 years
- Senate: 100 seats, elected every 6 years, with ⅓ of the Senate cycling out every 2 years
- Leadership positions:
- Speaker of the House: Mike Johnson
- House Majority Leader: Steve Scalis
- House Minority Leader: Hakeem Jefferies
- Pro Tempore: Patty Murray
- Senate Majority Leader: Chuck Schumer
- Senate Minority Leader: Mitch McConnel
Powers of Congress
- Make laws
- Declare war
- Raise and spend money
- Regulate commerce
- Establish lower federal courts
- Impeach and remove the President
Checks and Balances of Legislative Branch
- Override executive veto
- Control money
- Senate confirms presidential appointments
- Impeach President
- Impeach justices
- Ratify treaties
- Create lower courts
How a Bill Becomes Law
- Bill is sent to Majority Leader
- Majority reads it then sends it to committee
- Committee either approves or kills it
- Goes back to Speaker who either kills or puts on agenda
- Read and debated on the floor
- Vote
- Either dies or is passed on to House
- House goes through it and if no changes are made, then sent to President
- President signs it
House Positions
- Reapportioned every 10 years
- Filibuster: talk a bill to death
- Role of Speaker of the House:
- Run floor sessions
- Decide what bills make it to committee and the floor
Implied Powers of Congress
- Anything considered necessary and proper for the country
- Congress can pass as law
Executive Branch
- Checks and balances of Executive Branch
- How is a President Elected:
- Primaries and Caucuses select several nominees
- National convention narrows it down further till they have one person running for election
- General election everyone votes
- Electoral College/congress votes
Roles of the President
- Chief of State
- Crisis Leader
- Chief Diplomat
- Chief Legislator
- Chief Executive
- Chief Citizen
- Party Leader
- Commander in Chief
Presidential Cabinet
- Gives advice on the state of the nation
- Helps run the country
Presidential Powers
- Appointment of judges, cabinet, generals, and officers
- Treaties
- Executive Agreements
- Recognition of groups or countries
- Recall and Expel Ambassadors
- Executive Privilege
- Judicial pardon, reprieve, commutation, and amnesty
- Veto
- Pocket Veto
- Call Special session of Congress
- Executive Order
Vice President
- Serve as acting President
- Determine if President can’t do job
Judicial Branch
- Federalism (dual) nature of courts
- There are federal and state courts that both operate under the Supreme Court
- Marbury v. Madison:
- Gave court power of judicial review
- Ability to declare laws unconstitutional
Court System
- Local and District Courts
- Appeal Court
- Supreme Court
Becoming a Supreme Court Justice
- Vetted background
- Presidential Nomination
- Senatorial Approval
- Rule of Fours:
- Four justices are interested in case
- Give writ of certiorari and put case on docket
Chief Justice of Supreme Court
- John G. Roberts
Supreme Court
- Number of justices: 9
- Types of Opinions:
- Majority
- Plurality
- Concurring
- Dissenting
Government Overview
- Main function of three branches:
- Legislative: makes laws
- Executive: enforces laws
- Judicial: interprets laws
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Description
Test your knowledge of the US Congress, including the terms and seats of the House and Senate, as well as the leaders of each chamber. Learn about the election cycles and leadership positions, including the Speaker of the House and Senate Majority Leader.
