How Congress Is Organized

If there are more Democratic than Republican congressmen, it means that the Democratic party holds the majority in the Congress. As a result, the majority leader, who is responsible for leading the party with the most seats, will be a Democrat.

The House of Representatives has 435 members.

The Speaker of the House is selected by members of their party. This means that the members of the political party in power in the House of Representatives choose their own Speaker. This selection process allows the party to choose a Speaker who aligns with their party's values, goals, and agenda. It also ensures that the Speaker has the support and confidence of their party members, which is crucial for effective leadership in the House.

The correct answer is 100 because the Senate in the United States consists of 100 members, with each state being represented by two senators. This is outlined in the Constitution, which establishes the Senate as one of the two chambers of Congress. The number 26, 65, and 435 are incorrect as they do not accurately represent the number of members in the Senate.

A standing committee is a permanent committee that is established to handle ongoing matters and issues within an organization or governing body. Unlike select or joint committees, which are usually formed for specific purposes and disbanded once their tasks are completed, standing committees continue to exist and function throughout the lifespan of the organization or governing body. They play a crucial role in the decision-making process and often have the authority to propose and draft legislation or policies related to their respective areas of responsibility.

The correct answer is A and C because Congress has expressed powers, also known as delegated powers, which are specifically listed in the Constitution. These powers include the authority to levy taxes, declare war, and regulate commerce. Congress also has implied powers, which are not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are necessary and proper to carry out the expressed powers. Implied powers allow Congress to take actions that are necessary for the functioning of the government, such as creating a national bank. Therefore, both expressed and implied powers are types of powers that Congress possesses.

The correct answer is "Expressed (or delegated) powers." The explanation for this answer is that Article 1 of the Constitution specifically outlines the powers granted to the legislative branch of the government, which is Congress. These powers are explicitly stated and are also known as delegated powers because they are granted to Congress by the Constitution. Implied powers, on the other hand, are not specifically listed in the Constitution but are necessary for Congress to carry out its expressed powers. However, the question asks for powers given from Article 1, so the correct answer is expressed (or delegated) powers.

In the Senate, members are allowed to speak freely at the podium to debate an issue for an unlimited period of time. This is known as the filibuster, a tactic used to delay or prevent a vote on a particular bill. The Senate has fewer rules and regulations regarding debate compared to the House of Representatives, allowing for extended discussions and the opportunity for individual senators to express their views at length.

Implied powers refer to powers that are not explicitly stated in the Constitution but are derived from the "necessary and proper" clause. This clause, also known as the elastic clause, grants Congress the authority to make laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers. Implied powers allow the government to adapt and address unforeseen circumstances and changes in society without being limited to only the powers explicitly listed in the Constitution. Therefore, the correct answer is "Those that are not stated directly and come from the 'necessary and proper' clause of the Constitution."

The chairperson of the committee is determined by whoever has the majority in Congress. This means that if one political party has more members in Congress than the other, a member of that party will be chosen as the chairperson. This ensures that the chairperson is from the party that has the most influence and power in Congress, allowing for effective leadership and decision-making within the committee.

The role of the party whip is to try to persuade members of their party to vote in line with the party's position on a particular issue and to keep track of the number of votes they have on that issue. They are responsible for maintaining party discipline and ensuring that party members vote as directed by the party leadership. Their role is not to report to the president pro tempore or the Speaker of the House, nor is it to physically whip anyone.

A temporary committee is a committee that is formed for a specific purpose and for a limited duration of time. It is created to address a particular issue or task and is dissolved once that issue or task is resolved. The term "select" is often used to refer to temporary committees in some contexts, making it the correct answer in this case. Standing committees, on the other hand, are permanent committees that exist for an extended period of time and are responsible for specific areas of legislation or oversight. Joint committees are formed by members of both houses of a legislature to address specific issues that require collaboration between the two chambers.

The chairperson of a Standing, Select, or Joint Committee is important because they have the authority to control the committee's activities and strongly influence the decisions that people make. This role allows them to guide the direction of the committee's work and ensure that it aligns with their goals and priorities. By having this level of control and influence, the chairperson can shape the outcomes and impact of the committee's work, making their role crucial in the decision-making process.

The committee has multiple options when they receive a bill. They can choose to kill the bill if they do not like it immediately. They can also decide to pigeonhole the bill, meaning they set it aside without even considering it. Additionally, they have the option of sending the bill to a subcommittee as it is written or making changes to it before sending it to the subcommittee. Therefore, all of the options mentioned are possible actions that the committee can take when they receive a bill.

The correct answer is C and D. The Speaker of the House is just in charge of the House, while the president pro tempore is in charge of just the Senate. This means that the Speaker of the House has authority and responsibility only over the operations and proceedings of the House of Representatives, while the president pro tempore has similar authority and responsibility, but only over the Senate. Both positions are important leadership roles in their respective chambers of Congress.

The answer correctly identifies some basic limits to congressional power in the Constitution. These limits include the inability to favor one state over another, the prohibition of interference with certain individual rights, the limitation of the money available to spend, and the presence of checks and balances to prevent the abuse of power.

The correct answer is A and B. Both the Senate and House of Representatives have a majority leader and a minority leader. The majority leader is responsible for managing the legislative agenda and ensuring that bills supported by the majority party are passed. The minority leader, on the other hand, represents the interests of the minority party and works to oppose or modify legislation proposed by the majority party. These floor leaders play a crucial role in shaping and advancing their party's legislative priorities. The other options, party whip and Speaker of the House, are also important positions in the legislative process, but they are not specifically referred to as floor leaders.

Cloture is the correct answer because it refers to the parliamentary procedure used to end a filibuster by limiting the person's speaking time to one hour. This requires a vote of at least 60 members in order to pass. The other options, such as couture, cool beer, and tokure, are unrelated and do not describe the specific procedure mentioned in the question.

The House of Representatives has very formal rules for debating a bill because there are more representatives in the House compared to the Senate. With a larger number of members, it becomes more challenging to have organized and orderly debates. Therefore, the House of Representatives has stricter rules and procedures in place to ensure that debates are conducted in a structured manner and that all members have an opportunity to voice their opinions.

The president pro tempore is selected based on their age, with the oldest person from their party being chosen for the position. This tradition is followed to ensure stability and experience in the role, as the president pro tempore is third in line to succeed the president in case of a vacancy. By selecting the oldest member, it is believed that they would have accumulated a wealth of knowledge and expertise over the years, making them suitable for the responsibilities of the position.

All of the options listed are special powers of Congress. The Senate acts as the jury for impeachment trials, the House has the ability to introduce tax bills, the House can choose the President if no candidate wins a majority by the Electoral College, and the Senate can approve or reject the President's appointments of certain high government officials. Therefore, the correct answer is "All of the above."

A filibuster is a parliamentary procedure where a member of a legislative body speaks for an extended period of time to delay or prevent a vote on a proposed legislation. In the United States, a filibuster is only possible in the Senate. This is because the Senate has different rules compared to the House of Representatives. In the Senate, there is no time limit for speeches, allowing a senator to continue speaking indefinitely. In contrast, the House of Representatives has stricter rules that limit debate time and do not allow for the same kind of prolonged speeches. Therefore, a filibuster can only occur in the Senate.

The correct answer is to get folks to force the bill's sponsor to finally withdraw the bill so Congress can't move on to other things. Filibustering is a tactic used in legislative bodies, such as Congress, to delay or prevent the passage of a bill. By talking all night, the individual aims to extend the debate and stall the progress of the bill, putting pressure on its sponsor to withdraw it. This tactic is often employed when the filibusterer opposes the bill and wants to prevent it from becoming law.

When a committee gives a bill to a subcommittee, the subcommittee researches the issue, holds public hearings to gather input and feedback, makes changes to the bill if necessary based on the information gathered, and sends it back to the committee. This process allows the subcommittee to thoroughly examine the bill, gather public opinion, and make any necessary revisions before it is sent back to the committee for further consideration and potential amendments.

If the House and Senate pass different versions of a bill, it cannot be sent directly to the President for signing. Instead, both versions of the bill should be sent to a joint committee or conference where members from both chambers work together to blend the versions into one cohesive bill. Once the joint committee has created a unified version, it should be voted on again by both the Senate and the House. Only after this process should the bill be sent to the President for signing.

After a bill is introduced, sent to committee, sent to subcommittee (and public hearings), sent back to committee, and then sent to either the Senate or the House (wherever it started), it now has to go to the other chamber of Congress. If the bill started in the House, it now has to go to the Senate. If the Senate doesn't like it, it can write its own version of the bill. Similarly, if the bill started in the Senate, it now has to go to the House. If the House doesn't like it, it can write its own version of the bill.

If the President vetoes a bill, Congress has one last chance to save it by overriding the President's veto. This requires a 2/3 vote in both the House and Senate. This means that two-thirds of the members in both chambers of Congress must vote in favor of overriding the veto in order for the bill to become law despite the President's objection.

The correct answer is standing, joint, and select. In Congress, standing committees are permanent committees that focus on specific policy areas and are responsible for reviewing and drafting legislation. Joint committees are composed of members from both the House of Representatives and the Senate, and they are usually formed to address specific issues that affect both chambers. Select committees, on the other hand, are temporary committees established for a specific purpose, such as investigating a particular issue or event. These three types of committees play different roles in the legislative process and help Congress effectively carry out its functions.

The two types of pocket veto are described in the answer. The first type occurs when the President lets 10 days pass without signing a bill while Congress is in session, and in this case, the bill becomes law without the President's signature. The second type occurs when the President lets 10 days pass without signing a bill while Congress is not in session, and in this case, the bill is considered dead without the President's signature.

The Constitution grants non-legislative powers such as proposing amendments, investigating, and impeaching. Proposing amendments refers to the ability to suggest changes to the Constitution. Investigating involves the power to conduct inquiries and gather information for legislative purposes. Impeaching refers to the authority to bring charges against a public official for misconduct. These powers are separate from the legislative process and are meant to serve as checks and balances on the government.

The three ways to count how members of Congress vote on issues are voice vote, standing vote, and roll-call vote. A voice vote is used when the answer is expected to be mostly yes or no and it is not important to get an exact vote. A standing vote is used when an exact number of votes is needed, but the names of the congresspersons and how they voted are not required. A roll-call vote involves calling out each congressperson's name and their vote, making it a public record. This allows the people to track how they vote and decide if they want to vote for them again based on their voting record.