Legislative Branch Quiz Questions

When the President rejects a bill, it is called a veto. A veto is the power of the President to reject a proposed law or bill. This means that the President refuses to sign the bill into law, preventing it from becoming enacted. The veto can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate, but if the override fails, the bill does not become law. Therefore, veto is the correct answer in this case.

The correct answer is "Term." In the context of Congress, a term refers to the period of time that a member serves in office. Members of the House of Representatives serve two-year terms, while Senators serve six-year terms. The concept of a term is important in understanding the structure and duration of congressional service.

The correct answer is Majority Leader. The top member of the party with the most members is known as the Majority Leader. This position holds significant power and influence within the party and is responsible for guiding the party's legislative agenda and coordinating party members' actions. The Majority Leader is typically chosen by the party members and plays a crucial role in shaping and implementing party policies and priorities.

The amount of time that Congress meets is called a session. A session refers to the period during which Congress convenes and carries out its legislative duties. It typically lasts for a year, starting in January and ending in December. During a session, lawmakers discuss and debate various bills, propose new laws, and make important decisions. Each session is divided into two parts: the first session and the second session. The term refers to the period of time that an individual serves in office, while season and quarter are not relevant to the duration of Congress meetings.

The Speaker of the House is responsible for running meetings in the House of Representatives. This position is the highest-ranking member of the House and is elected by the members of the House. The Speaker of the House has the authority to set the agenda, preside over debates, and enforce the rules of the House. They play a crucial role in maintaining order and facilitating the legislative process in the House of Representatives.

The official count of the population of the United States is conducted through a process called the Census. The Census is a nationwide survey that is carried out every 10 years to gather data on the population, including information on age, race, gender, and other demographic factors. This count is crucial for various purposes, such as determining representation in Congress, allocating government funds, and planning for public services and infrastructure. The Census provides an accurate and comprehensive snapshot of the population, making it the correct answer to this question.

A "filibuster" refers to a procedure in the Senate where a vote on a bill is intentionally delayed by continuously debating the bill. It involves a tactic used by a member of Congress to prolong the discussion on a bill and prevent it from being voted upon. The purpose of a filibuster is to obstruct or delay the legislative process, typically in order to gain concessions or prevent the passage of a bill. It involves continuous talking or debating until the participants decide to stop, thereby delaying the vote on the bill.

After a bill passes BOTH houses of Congress, it must be signed by the President into law. This is because the President has the power to either sign a bill into law or veto it. If the President signs the bill, it becomes law. However, if the President vetoes the bill, it can still become law if both houses of Congress vote to override the veto with a two-thirds majority in each house. Therefore, the President's signature is necessary for a bill to become law.

The correct answer is "A resident of the state that they represent." This means that in order to be a member of the House of Representatives, an individual must live in the state that they are representing. This requirement ensures that the representative has a direct connection and understanding of the needs and concerns of the constituents they are representing. It also helps to ensure that the representative is familiar with the state's specific issues and can effectively advocate for their constituents' interests.

The correct answer is "At least 30 years old." This is because the question is asking for a requirement that a member of the Senate must meet, and out of the given options, being at least 30 years old is the only requirement mentioned. The other options, such as being college educated, being a U.S. citizen for at least five years, and being a member of a specific political party, are not mentioned as requirements for being a member of the Senate.

The correct answer is 435. The House of Representatives is the lower house of the United States Congress and is made up of 435 members. Each state is allocated a certain number of representatives based on its population, with larger states having more representatives and smaller states having fewer. The total number of representatives is fixed at 435 since 1913, when the Permanent Apportionment Act was passed. This ensures that each representative represents roughly the same number of people, promoting equal representation among states.

A bill can indeed be introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate. This is because the legislative process in the United States involves both chambers of Congress, and bills can originate in either one. Once a bill is introduced in one chamber, it goes through a series of steps before it can become a law, including committee review, debate, and voting. If the bill is approved in the chamber where it was introduced, it then moves to the other chamber for consideration and the same process is repeated. Therefore, it is true that a bill can be introduced in either the House of Representatives or the Senate.

The people that a member of Congress represents are called constituents. Constituents are the individuals who live in the district or state that the Congress member represents and who have elected them to office. The Congress member is responsible for representing the interests and concerns of their constituents and making decisions that align with their needs.

The correct answer is "Initiative (petition)." This process allows citizens to propose a new law by collecting a certain number of signatures on a petition. Once the required number of signatures is obtained, the proposed law is put on the ballot for a public vote. This gives citizens the power to directly influence legislation and bypass the typical legislative process. The other options, referendum and filibuster, do not involve citizens directly creating a law but rather refer to different aspects of the legislative process.

Before a bill can be voted on by the full house, it must first pass through the proper committee. This is because committees are responsible for reviewing and analyzing bills in detail, conducting hearings, and making recommendations to the full house. The committee system allows for a more thorough examination of legislation and helps to streamline the legislative process by ensuring that bills are properly vetted before reaching the floor for a vote.

A rider is a provision that is added to a bill even if it is unrelated to the original purpose of the bill. This is a common practice in Congress, where lawmakers attach additional provisions to bills in order to gain support or to pass unrelated legislation. Riders can be controversial as they allow for unrelated issues to be addressed without going through the normal legislative process.

In the Senate, if the Vice-President is not present, the President Pro-Tempore runs the meeting. The President Pro-Tempore is a senator from the majority party who is elected by their colleagues to preside over the Senate in the absence of the Vice-President. This position is typically held by the most senior member of the majority party. The Speaker of the House, Majority Whip, and Majority Leader are all positions in the House of Representatives, not the Senate, and therefore do not run the meeting in the Senate.

The Vice-President's primary job is to serve as the Speaker of the Senate. This means that they preside over Senate sessions, maintain order, and have the power to cast a tie-breaking vote if necessary. While the Vice-President may also have other responsibilities, such as reviewing bills before they come to the President, the question specifically asks for the primary job, which is being the Speaker of the Senate. Therefore, the correct answer is Speaker of the Senate.

The Great Compromise created a two-house legislature in the United States. This compromise was reached during the Constitutional Convention in 1787 and resolved the conflict between states with large populations and states with small populations. The compromise established a bicameral legislature, with the House of Representatives based on population and the Senate giving equal representation to all states. This compromise was crucial in ensuring the ratification of the United States Constitution and the formation of a strong federal government.

Violations of the rules of Congress may result in expulsion. Expulsion is the most severe disciplinary action that can be taken against a member of Congress for misconduct or unethical behavior. It involves removing the member from their position and barring them from future participation in Congress. Suspension, on the other hand, is a temporary punishment, and impeachment is a process for removing a president from office, not a punishment for members of Congress. Therefore, expulsion is the correct answer as it aligns with the consequences for violating the rules of Congress.