Chapter 7 – Legislative Branch Study Guide Answer Key

implied powers-the powers of Congress that are not specifically written in the Constitution

impeach-to accuse an official of wrong doing (charging an official with impeachment is done in the House)

expressed powers-the powers of Congress that are specifically stated in Article 1 of the Constitution

veto-the power of the president to reject a bill passed by Congress (Congress can override a veto with a vote of 2/3rds of both houses)

standing committee- permanent committees in Congress (meant to lessen Congress’s workload-they review bills)

constituents- the people

census-a formal count of the people (used to decide representation in the House)

senators-(100 total) must be at least 30 and have been a citizen for 9 years, must live in the state they represent, each state gets 2, they approve treaties and presidential appointments, they hold the impeachment trials, and they can filibuster during debates

population-number of people (population decides representation in the house/ FL has 27)

legislature-lawmaking body/Congress

bills-propsed law

elastic clause (necessary and proper clause)-clause in Article 1 that allows Congress to stretch its’ expressed powers

representatives-(435 total) must be at least 25 years old and have been a citizen for 7 years, must live in the state they represent, each state has at least 1 (decided based on population), they can charge an official with impeachment, all bills on revenue must start with them in the House, and they cannot filibuster because all bills go before a “rules committee” before they are debated

bicameral-2 houses of Congress (This was decided during the Constitutional Convention when the “Great Compromise” was made to appease both the large and small states)

President of the Senate (title and name) Vice President Joe Biden (President Pro tempore Orrin Hatch)

The leader in the House (title and name) Speaker of the House Paul Ryan

Florida’s senator’s Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson

The Representative in our district Ron DeSantis

  1. How is representation chosen in the House and Senate?

The House’s representation is proportional to the population in the state and the Senate has equal representation (2 per state).

  1. What are the qualifications necessary to be elected to the Senate? House of Representatives?

Senate: 30 yrs old, citizen for 9 yrs, live in the state you represent

House: 25 yrs old, citizen for 7 yrs, live in the state you represent

  1. What is the vice president’s role in the Senate?

The vice president is the leader of the Senate. He also votes only in cases of a tie.

  1. Who do representatives and senators serve?

They serve their constituents. This is their number one job as an elected representative.

  1. Why did the U.S. chose a bicameral legislature? (Hint: Constitutional Convention)

Congress was determined to be bicameral during the Constitutional Convention. The Great Compromise stated that the number of seats each state would have in the House would be based on population (favored large states) and the Senate would be based on equal representation (favored small states).

  1. Why is Congress considered bicameral?

Congress is bicameral because it has 2 houses.

  1. How does the census impact Congress?

Every 10 years the census can affect the number of seats each state receives in the House. If the state’s population grew significantly they might gain seats or if their population shrank a state might lose seats.

  1. Where does Congress get its lawmaking powers from?

Article I of the Constitution

  1. List the nonlegislative and legislative powers of Congress.

Nonlegislative: approve ambassadors, Supreme Court justices, federal judges, and treaties, impeach presidents and justices

Legislative: write and pass bills

  1. Describe the House and Senate’s roles in the impeachment process.

The House charges the official with wrong doing and the trial is held in the Senate. If found guilty in the Senate an official can be removed from office.

  1. What are the 3 types of committees and why does the legislative branch have them?

Standing: permanent committees (defense, agriculture, commerce, etc.)

Select: temporary committees that deal with issues as needed

Joint/Conference: committees with members from both houses of Congress

Committees are used to lessen Congress’s workload.

  1. List the steps a bill takes to become a law.
  1. Idea
  2. Bill is sponsored and sent to the appropriate standing committee
  3. Bill is sent to the floor of either house for debate
  4. Bill is voted on by the full house
  5. Bill is passed to the other house and the process is begun again
  6. If bill is passed by both houses it is sent to the president for consideration
  7. President signs the bill and it becomes a law.

Quickie* (sponsor, committee, debate, vote, switch, committee, debate, vote, president)