US Government - Bicameralism and Congress

US Government - Bicameralism and Congress

• Bicameral: Two-house legislature (Senate and House of Representatives)
• Reapportionment: Process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives based on population changes.
• 17th Amendment: Direct election of senators.
• Expressed/Enumerated Powers: Powers specifically given to Congress by the Constitution.
• Implied Powers: Powers not explicitly stated but inferred from the Constitution.
• Powers of Congress: Legislative powers, including creating laws, declaring war, and regulating commerce.
• War Powers Act of 1973: Attempt to limit the president's power to commit troops abroad without congressional approval.
• Advice and Consent: Senate's power to approve presidential appointments and treaties.
• Impeachment: Process for removing a president or other federal official from office.
• Standing Committees: Permanent committees in Congress that specialize in specific policy areas.
• Temporary Committees: Committees with a specific purpose that dissolve after their task is complete.
• Conference Committees: Committees that resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.
• Congressional Oversight: Congress monitoring the actions of the executive branch.
• Caucuses: Groups of members of Congress with shared interests.
• Ways and Means Committee: House committee responsible for raising revenue.
• Rules Committee: House committee that sets rules for debate and amendment on bills.
• Committee of the Whole: Full House debating a bill as a committee to expedite proceedings.
• Discharge Petition: Procedure to force a bill out of committee and onto the floor for debate.
• Filibuster: Tactic to delay or block a vote on a bill by prolonged debate.
• Cloture: Procedure to end a filibuster.
• Germane: Amendments relevant to the bill under consideration.
• Ingermane: Amendments not relevant to the bill under consideration.
• Omnibus: Large bills that cover many topics.
• Pork Barrel Spending: Funding for projects that primarily benefit a specific region or constituency.
• Referrals: Process of assigning bills to committees.
• Logrolling: Trading votes, supporting each other's bills.
• Delegate/Trustee/Politico: Models for how members of Congress represent their constituents.
• Veto: Presidential power to reject a bill passed by Congress.

US Government - Executive Branch & Powers

• 22nd Amendment: Limits presidential terms to two.
• 20th Amendment: Specifies the dates for presidential inauguration and congressional sessions.
• Lame Duck: Period following an election when the outgoing president's power is diminished.
• Honeymoon Period: Initial period of high public approval for a new president.
• Presidential Succession Act: Establishes the order of succession to the presidency if the president is unable to serve.
• 25th Amendment: Clarifies procedures for presidential disability and succession.
• Presidential Powers and Executive Hierarchy: Formal and informal powers of the president.

US Government - Separation of Powers & Checks and Balances

• Treaties v Executive Agreement: Difference between treaties (requiring Senate approval) and executive agreements.
• Executive Order: Rule or regulation issued by the president that has the force of law.
• Signing Statement: A written statement issued by a president upon signing a bill into law.
• Executive Privilege: Power of the president to withhold information from other branches of government.
• Cabinet: Advisors to the president, composed of heads of executive departments.
• Departments: Major federal agencies with specific responsibilities.
• Agencies: Smaller units within departments, specializing in particular areas.
• EOP: Executive Office of the President.
• White House Staff: Analysists and advisors within the Executive Office of the President.
• NSC: National Security Council.
• Executive Branch relationship with other branches: Interactions between the executive branch and other branches of government.
• Executive branch relationship with press: How the executive branch interacts with the media.
• New Media: Modern technologies, such as social media.
• Twitter in chief: The President using social media to communicate.
• 2nd Amendment: Right to bear arms.
• Necessary and Proper Clause/Elastic Clause: Clause giving Congress broad powers to make laws necessary and proper for carrying out other powers.
• Marbury v Madison: Established judicial review.
• Republic: Form of government based on representative rule
• Separation of Powers: Division of government power among three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial.
• Whip: Member of Congress who works to ensure their party members vote along with leadership.
• Majority Spending: When majority party controls spending
• Supremacy law: Principle stating federal laws are supreme to state laws.
• War Powers Act: Statutory limitations on the President's war powers, requiring congressional notice.
• 23rd Amendment: Presidential electors for D.C.
• 2nd Amendment (again): Right to bear arms.
• Line Item Veto: Power to veto part of a bill which is unconstitutional.
• House representative for each state is determined by population: Representation in the House is based on population.
• Political Ideology: Set of beliefs about the role of government and society
• Political Socialization: Process of learning about and developing political beliefs.

US Government - Federalism

• Divided Government: When the executive and legislative branches are controlled by different parties.
• Federalism: System of government where power is divided between a federal government and state governments.
• Federalist: Supporters of the US Constitution during the ratification debates.

Test your knowledge on the structure and functions of the US Congress, including key concepts like bicameralism, reapportionment, and the powers of Congress. This quiz covers important legislative processes, the War Powers Act, and the roles of committees. Challenge yourself to understand the intricate workings of the legislative branch of the US government.