Unit 4: Legislative Branch

Question 1

What is the most basic function of Congress?

Answer 1

They brainstorm ways to solve problems in the government and country

Question 2

True/False
Every level of federalism has a Legislative Branch!

Answer 2

TRUE

Question 3

When do the terms of Congress start?

Answer 3

12 noon on Jan 3rd, odd # years, 2 years

Question 4

What is a quorum in each house of Congress?

Answer 4

A majority, more than 1/2, a session
House: 218
Senate: 51

Question 5

When are the elections for Congress?

Answer 5

In November the months before

Question 6

Can you cancel or stop sessions of Congress?

Answer 6

NOPE

Question 7

How many total members in each house?

Answer 7

100 Senate
435 House

Question 8

How are congressional district boundaries drawn?

Answer 8

Gerrymandering!!

Question 9

How many districts in Colorado? Are they even (geographically)?

Answer 9

7. and no!

Question 10

What can gerrymandering be used for?

Answer 10

Help or hurt a particular group of voters, particularly minorities. Commonly put all the major cities in one district… the Black vote.

Question 11

Who are Colorado’s Senators?

Answer 11

John Hickenlooper (D, junior senator)
Micheal Bennet (D)

Question 12

How many terms can you serve as a Senator?

Answer 12

As many as you want!

Question 13

Which house has more power?

Answer 13

THE SENATE

Question 14

Which house is more neutral/less partisan?

Answer 14

the senate, as they represent a whole state, not just one district

Question 15

What does a trustee do?

Answer 15

“trust me! I’ll do what I say!”

Question 16

What does an Agent of Electorate do?

Answer 16

whatever gets them reelected!! changing beliefs, etc

Question 17

What does a Partisan do?

Answer 17

only do things based on the beliefs of their political party, not their actual values

Question 18

What is a Politico?

Answer 18

all of the above, lie, cheat, steal, do anything to get reelected

Question 19

What compensations do Congressmen get?

Answer 19

Staff, paychecks, franking priveleges, benefits, pension, arrest immunity

Question 20

How does Congress get its powers?

Answer 20

THE CONSTITUTION: expressed, implied, and inherent, but ONLY FROM CONSTITUTION

Question 21

what does a strict constructionist believe?

Answer 21

Government is best that governs the LEAST. By the letter of the Constitution

Question 22

who started the strict constructionists?

Answer 22

Thomas Jefferson

Question 23

what does a liberal constructionist believe?

Answer 23

Congress has lots more implied powers, lots of government involvement. Uses necessary and proper clause LOTS!

Question 24

who started the liberal constructionists?

Answer 24

Alexander Hamilton

Question 25

what percent of taxes are created by Congressional legislation?

Answer 25

90%

Question 26

T/F: Congress has limits on taxing (not helping or hurting a particular group/business) and this is coming under scrutiny due to bills like sugar tax, exercise tax...

Answer 26

True (duh)

Question 27

T/F: the rich aren't paying enough taxes

Answer 27

FALSE ! ! the rich pay most of our national share of taxes

Question 28

if the rich pay their taxes, why do we have problems with taxes?

Answer 28

many top COMPANIES pay 0$ in taxes (AMAZON!)

Question 29

why is national debt climbing higher?

Answer 29

our government is increasingly investing in PEOPLE, who don't get us returns, giving away money

Question 30

what is our national debt? what's it doing?

Answer 30

public debt has been climbing thanks to the gov investing in people who don't return money

Question 31

who has the power to borrow money on the credit of the USA?

Answer 31

Congress

Question 32

what is the Commerce Clause?

Answer 32

gives Congress the power to regulate commerce between states

Question 33

What is collusion and price fixing?

Answer 33

when all makers of a certain product, such as diapers, all raise their prices, getting more expensive but eliminating competition. ILLEGAL

Question 34

who creates bankruptcy laws?

Answer 34

Congress, uniform bankruptcy laws for all 50 states

Question 35

what is congress' impact on weights and measures

Answer 35

HUGE IMPACT!!! they make sure all measuring tools, gas dispensers, weights, etc. are calibrated perfectly. ANYTHING THAT WEIGHS/MEASURES AND MAKES MONEY MUST BE CERTIFIED

Question 36

who controls patents and copyrights?

Answer 36

Congress

Question 37

Can Congress claim eminent domain?

Answer 37

YES! for building St. Louis arch, etc

Question 38

what gives Congress implied powers?

Answer 38

Necessary and Proper Clause

Question 39

is it slow or fast for congress to create legislation?is this intentional?

Answer 39

SLOW, lots of procedures. Tries to get away from AD-HOC

Question 40

what are the differences between the first House and Senate conventions?

Answer 40

House is SLOW, lots of filling of positions and voting Senate moves FAST, designed to be stable year after year

Question 41

what is the State of the Union address?

Answer 41

when the President of the USA addrsses Congress and gives them "goals of the term" basically

Question 42

what is the seniority rule? is it in the House?

Answer 42

Senior Senators get the most important jobs. Not in House as much

Question 43

what types of committees are there?

Answer 43

Standing Committees: always needed Select Committees: temporary Joint Committees: both House and Senate

Question 44

what is the House Rules Committee?

Answer 44

it takes all the legislation ideas and input and sorts the best 1% of ideas, only pursuing legislation that is a good use of time

Question 45

what percent of Bills and Resolutions actually become law?

Answer 45

5%

Question 46

what are the two types of congressional bills?

Answer 46

public: federal speed limit, tax cut private: car manufacturing. MOST BILLS

Question 47

what are Congressional Resolutions?

Answer 47

WHO CARES? they're not law, not signifigant, basically a tweet

Question 48

how is it different for a bill coming from the House than the Senate?

Answer 48

the Senate is SIMPLER. there's also no limits on time, while each Representative in House only has 5 minutes

Question 49

how can a veto be overridden?

Answer 49

by 2/3 of each house