U.S. Constitution Article I: Legislative Branch

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Questions and Answers

What primary responsibility does the Legislative branch hold?

Vetoing laws

Interpreting laws

Enforcing laws

Creating laws (correct)

Which of the following is true about impeachment proceedings in the House?

The House can initiate impeachment charges against federal officials. (correct)

Only the Senate can initiate impeachment charges.

No president has ever been impeached by the House.

Impeachment charges can only be made by the Judiciary Committee.

What role does the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court play in an impeachment trial?

Collects evidence against the official

Votes to impeach

Writes the impeachment articles

Presides over the trial (correct)

Which action can only be taken by the Senate after an impeachment by the House?

Remove an official from office Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is false regarding the power of impeachment?

No presidents have been impeached by the House. Signup and view all the answers

What must occur for a presidential appointment to be confirmed?

Advice and Consent of the Senate Signup and view all the answers

What is true about the impeachment process in relation to federal judges?

All eight officials removed from office were federal judges. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following accurately describes the functions of the two houses of Congress?

They work independently on some duties but must collaborate on others. Signup and view all the answers

Which power does Congress NOT possess?

To issue currency Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step for a bill to become a law?

A member of Congress introduces the bill Signup and view all the answers

What role does the Conference Committee play in the legislative process?

To reconcile differences between two versions of a bill Signup and view all the answers

If the president does not sign a bill within 10 days, what happens?

The bill becomes a law Signup and view all the answers

Which entity has the authority to override a presidential veto?

A joint session of Congress Signup and view all the answers

What must happen after a bill passes both the House and Senate if there are different versions?

A Conference Committee must reconcile the differences Signup and view all the answers

What are committees responsible for in the context of reviewing bills?

They investigate and approve bills before they are voted on by the full house Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following powers is specifically limited to a term of two years?

To raise and support Armies Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Legislative Branch Overview

The Legislative branch is responsible for creating laws in the U.S. and is outlined in Article I of the Constitution.
Composed of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Key responsibilities: passing laws, declaring war, levying taxes, and holding impeachment powers.

Impeachment Process

Congress has the sole power of impeachment; initiated by the House of Representatives.
The House can initiate impeachment charges through a resolution or individual bills.
The Judiciary Committee assesses whether to pursue impeachment; if approved, articles are sent to the House for a vote.
If the House adopts articles of impeachment, members act as prosecutors in the Senate trial.
Over 60 impeachment proceedings have occurred, with eight officials removed—none were presidents.
Presidents impeached but not removed include Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton, and Donald Trump.

Senate Duties

The Senate confirms presidential appointments, including Supreme Court justices and cabinet members.
Only the Senate can conduct impeachment trials, with the Chief Justice presiding during a presidential trial.
A two-thirds Senate vote is required to remove an official from office.

Joint Powers of Congress

Both houses must cooperate on multiple legislative duties, including:
- Laying and collecting taxes
- Borrowing money
- Regulating commerce
- Establishing naturalization rules
- Coining money and regulating its value
- Establishing post offices
- Declaring war
- Raising and maintaining armies without long-term funding commitments
- Providing for the militia

Legislative Process

Only Congressional members can introduce legislation; the president can request legislation.
Introduced bills go to committees for review; the House has 23 committees, the Senate 17.
A bill must pass through subcommittees and committees before reaching the House or Senate floor for a vote.
Differences in bills passed by each house lead to the formation of a Conference Committee for reconciliation.
Once both houses agree on a final version, the bill is sent to the president for signature.
The president can veto, return, take no action, or sign the bill. If unsigned for 10 days, the bill becomes law automatically.
Congress can override a presidential veto with a two-thirds majority vote.

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Description

Explore the foundations of the Legislative branch established under Article I of the U.S. Constitution. This quiz covers the roles and responsibilities of Congress, including law-making, impeachment, and taxation. Test your knowledge on the crucial functions of the House of Representatives and the Senate.