Congress Notes

Question 1

What is congress known as

Answer 1

The first branch

Question 2

Who is the president pro tempore

Answer 2

Member with the most seniority in the majority party

Question 3

What is a congressional caucus

Answer 3

When likeminded individuals are together

Question 4

What are the four types of committees

Answer 4

Select committees
Joint committees
Conference committee
Standing committee

Question 5

Select committees

Answer 5

Groups appointed for a limited purpose and duration (ex a special committee to investigate drug use in baseball)

Question 6

Joint committees

Answer 6

Those on which both reps and senators serve

Question 7

Conference committee

Answer 7

A joint committee appointed to resolve differences between the house and senate in versions of a bill (senate bills are always favored and passed more because senate has already won filibuster)

Question 8

Standing committee

Answer 8

The most important type of committee - ex armed services and ways and means

Question 9

Where is the rules committee what does it do

Answer 9

Only occurs in the house, sets rules for debate

Question 10

What is the CBO and what does it do

Answer 10

The congressional budget office: it advises on economic effects and impacts of spending programs, advises on costs for different programs (nonpartisan estimating how much a bill will cost)

Question 11

What is the GAO and what does it do

Answer 11

The general accounting office; it performs financial audits of money spent by the executive branch (past money that has already been spent)

Question 12

What does 2/3 house and 2/3 senate approval mean

Answer 12

Amendment

Question 13

What type of legislature does congress have and why

Answer 13

Bicameral so congress doesn’t have too much power

Question 14

where is most of the work done in the house

Answer 14

in committee

Question 15

order of importance in the senate

Answer 15

majority leader
majority whip
minority leader
minority whip

Question 16

order of importance in the house

Answer 16

speaker of the house
majority leader
majority whip
minority leader 
minority whip

Question 17

what is a congressional caucus

Answer 17

likeminded individuals together

Question 18

what are the four types of committees

Answer 18

select committees
joint committees
conference committees
standing committees

Question 19

select committees

Answer 19

groups appointed for a limited purpose and duration (ex: special committee to investigate drug use in baseball)

Question 20

joint committees

Answer 20

those on which both reps and senators serve (ex: conference committee)

Question 21

standing committees

Answer 21

The MOST important type of committee ( ex: armed services & ways and means

each member usually serves on 2 standing committees

Question 22

what is the ways and means commitee

Answer 22

deals with judiciary appropriation: rules committee

Question 23

where is the only place you can find the rules committee

Answer 23

the house

Question 24

what is an example of SNAP benefits

Answer 24

food stamps

Question 25

what isan example of TANF

Answer 25

welfare and temporary assistance for needy families

Question 26

who predict voting outcomes

Answer 26

the whip

Question 27

what allows congress to question how government is spending money?

Answer 27

the oversight committee

Question 28

what are the two duties of congress

Answer 28

voting on a bill and oversight

Question 29

what is the GAO; what does it do

Answer 29

General accounting office; performs financial audits of money spent by executive branch

Question 30

what is the CBO; what does it do

Answer 30

Congressional budget office; advises on economic effects/ impacts of spending programs, advises on costs of different programs

Question 31

how much approval is needed to pass an ammendment

Answer 31

2/3 from the house, 2/3 from the senate

Question 32

where do most bills die?

Answer 32

in committee