Unit Two – The Legislative Branch

The First Quiz

Review!

What is the main job or purpose of Congress?

What is the main job or purpose of Congress?

They’re the legislative branch, so their main

purpose is to make laws.

How many members in the House?

How many members in the House?

435 voting members

How many members in the Senate?

How many members in the Senate?

100

How long is a session of Congress?

How long is a session of Congress?

1 year, but a congressional term is two sessions, (and a term is 2 years long).

How much of the Senate is up for re-election at a

time?

How much of the Senate is up for re-election at a

time?

One third

Why does the Federal government conduct a

decennial census?

Why does the Federal government conduct a

decennial census? It’s mandated by the

Constitution, but representation on several levels depends on representation, so we need to know how many people live

where.

What is the purpose of Congressional Committees?

What is the purpose of Congressional Committees?

It’s where all the work on bills happen. Easier to get work done among smaller work

groups. Debate happens on the floor of the House /

Senate.

What is a bicameral legislature?

What is a bicameral legislature?

A legislative branch of government that has two houses. We have two, the House (population) and the

Senate (equal representation)

What does the House Rules Committee do?

What does the House Rules Committee do?

The most powerful committee in the House, all bills to here and then are assigned to another committee, then the bill goes

back into this committee before going back to the floor for

debate and vote.

What is the Speaker of the House?

What is the Speaker of the House?

The presiding officer in the House from the majority

party, lots of power, influence proceedings by

deciding which members can speak, and informal power in

just getting things done.

How is redistricting and reapportionment related?

How is redistricting and reapportionment related?

They both apply to representation in Congress,

reapportionment is determining what states either

gain or lose, redistricting is drawing up new lines in the states who’ve lose seats.

What is a caucus?

What is a caucus?

A meeting, usually closed, of a small group of people

in Congress of like interests, like the Black

Caucus, minority caucus.

What is Gerrymandering?

What is Gerrymandering?

When a state legislature redraws congressional districts, in interesting

shapes, that benefits the party in power.

What do Party Whips do?

What do Party Whips do?

Just like the name sounds, they are party leaders who

serve as assistant floor leaders and watch how

party members intend to vote on bills and help keep

people in line.

The End