F8

A. HOUSE & SENATE DIFFERENCES

1. Number of seats (total) in EACH chamber of Congress.
1. Senate: 100
2. House of Representatives: 435
2. Number of seats held by Virginia in EACH chamber.
1. Senate: 2
2. House of Representatives: 11
3. Length of a term in EACH chamber.
1. Senate: 6 years
2. House of Representatives: 2 years
4. Two Constitutionally given powers unique to the U.S. Senate.
1. Has sole power to try all impeachments
2. Power to ratify all treaties
5. Two Constitutionally given powers unique to the U.S. House.
1. House votes on the president in event of a tie
2. Only House can impeach the president
6. One difference between rules in the House and Senate
1. The Senate can engage in filibustering to prevent a law from passing to the House.

B. IMPORTANT COMMITTEES: Look up standing committees and conference committees. Then find out about a few specific committee names.

1. Which kind of committee is responsible (among other things) for considering most bills and deciding whether to let them move to a vote?
1. Standing Committee
2. Give one example of the kind of committee above.
1. Education Committee
3. What kind of committee works out differences between the House and Senate before they send a bill to the President?
1. Conference Committee
4. Which specific committee in the House decides when (and for how long) bills will be discussed?
1. House Rules Committee
5. Which specific House committee makes tax laws?
1. Ways and Means Committee
6. Which specific committee (same name in House and Senate) authorizes overall levels of spending that may get changed later?
1. Budget Committee
7. Which specific committee (same name in House and Senate) makes laws that set exact funding levels for each agency and department?
1. 
   

C. MORE FROM THE CONSTITUTION

1. A pocket veto is when the President lets a bill sit for 10 days without acting. But it only succeeds in killing a bill if Congress does what?
1. If Congress is on break or not in session
2. For what reasons does the Constitution specifically say that the president may be impeached and removed?
1.  "for conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors."
3. Describe two powers Congress has that check or balance the President.
1. Can override  veto with 2/3 majority vote.
2. Can remove president from office.
4. Describe two powers Congress has that check or balance the Supreme Court.
1. Confirm appointments to the Supreme Court
2. Can impeach justices
5. Which amendment allows U.S. Senators to be elected by the people -- and not by state legislatures, as they once were?
1. 17th amendment

D. OTHER VOCABULARY

1. What does Congress do when it exercises oversight?
1. It's the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies.
2. What does it mean if a member of Congress acts as a trustee when he votes?
1. He is voting without influence from other members
3. What's one important thing that the War Powers Act said?
1. It limits the powers possessed by the president of the United States
4. What does the C.B.O. do, generally speaking?
1. It provides economic data to Congress.
5. What is the franking privilege?
1. It allows members of Congress to send mail to constituents without paying for postage.

E. IMPORTANT JOBS

1. What does a whip do for his party?
1. Ensures party discipline in legislature so that official party members vote according to official party policy.
2. How does the Senate President Pro Tempore get his job, traditionally?


1. He must be senator of the majority party with longest record of continuous service.


3. What OTHER job title does the President of the Senate hold?
1. Vice President

EXTRA CREDIT: WHO HOLDS THE JOBS? (This can earn you extra points on the quiz).

1. Speaker of the House of Representatives
1. John Boehner
2. House Majority Leader & House Majority Whip
1. Eric Cantor and Kevin McCarthy
3. House Minority Leader & House Minority Whip
1. Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer
4. Senate Majority Leader & Senate Majority Whip
1. Harry Reid and Richard Durbin
5. Senate Minority Leader & Senate Minority Whip
1. Mitch McConnel and John Cornyn
6. Senate President Pro Tempore
1. Patrick Leahy
7. President of the Senate
1. Joe Biden