Congressional Membership Ch 5

Question 0

What is bicameral legislature?

Answer 0

Being made up of two houses

Question 1

Which branch of government has the most power?

Answer 1

Legislative

Question 2

What does congress do?

Answer 2

Initiates and approves laws

Question 3

How long does a term in congress last?

Answer 3

Two years

Question 4

Each term of congress is divided into how many sessions?

Answer 4

Two

Question 5

How many members are in the House of Representatives?

Answer 5

435

Question 6

Which is larger: House of Representatives or senate?

Answer 6

House of Representatives

Question 7

How is the number of members in the House of Representatives chosen?

Answer 7

By population of each state

Question 8

What are the qualifications of being in the House of Representatives?

Answer 8

At least 25 years old, citizen of the US for at least 7 years, and legal resident of the state that elects them.

Question 9

What happens if a member of the House of Representatives dies or resigns before their term is over?

Answer 9

The governor of the state they represented may appoint a new member until a special election is called.

Question 10

How is the population of each state measured?

Answer 10

The census bureau takes a national census (population count) every 10 years.

Question 11

What is reapportionment?

Answer 11

The population of each state determining the new number of representatives to which each is entitled.

Question 12

What is the limit to the number of representatives in the House of Representatives?

Answer 12

435

Question 13

What are congressional districts?

Answer 13

A state is split into the number of representatives it has and one is elected from each area.

Question 14

What is redistricting?

Answer 14

The process of setting up new district lines after reapportionment has been completed.

Question 15

What is gerrymandering?

Answer 15

The political party controlling a states government draws the district boundaries to gain advantage in elections.

Question 16

What is packing? What is cracking?

Answer 16

Packing is putting all opposing voters in one district. Cracking is distributing them so there are few in each district.

Question 17

How are representatives of the senate representing each state?

Answer 17

There are two from each state

Question 18

What are the qualifications for senators?

Answer 18

At least 30 years old, citizens of the USA for 9 years, and legal residents of the states they represent.

Question 19

How is the vote for senators divided in each state?

Answer 19

Voters of each state select senators at-large, or statewide.

Question 20

How long is a term for each senator?

Answer 20

6 years

Question 21

How does the senate preserve continuity?

Answer 21

Only one third of senators run for reelection every two years.

Question 22

What happens if a senator dies or resigns before their term is over?

Answer 22

The state legislature may authorize for the governor to appoint someone until the next election, or the governor may call for a special election.

Question 23

How are salaries decided in the Senate and the House?

Answer 23

They choose their own salaries

Question 24

What is the twenty seventh amendment?

Answer 24

It prohibits congress from giving themselves a pay raise.

Question 25

What is the power of exclusion in the Senate and the House?

Answer 25

Members may take a majority vote to exclude someone who was voted in by a state.

Question 26

What is censure?

Answer 26

A vote of formal disapproval of a members actions.

Question 27

Nearly half the members of congress work as ______.

Answer 27

Lawyers

Question 28

What are incumbents?

Answer 28

Members already in office

Question 29

How many members of congress are usually reelected?

Answer 29

90 percent

Question 30

What resulted in republicans gaining control of both houses after many years of democrat control?

Answer 30

The tide against incumbents because voters felt they had too much power