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Legislative Branch
44 cards·by chelsea
What is the Legislative Branch
Congress
Which houses are in Congress
House of Representatives and Senate
What is the main purpose of Congress
to make laws
How long are the terms for the House of Representatives
2 years
What are the 3 qualifications for members of the House of Representatives
25 years old, U.S. citizen for at least 7 years, live in the state s/he represents
How is the number of representatives in the House determined
based on population
How often is a census taken
every 10 years
Who leads the sessions in the House
Speaker of the House
What does impeach mean
to accuse a federal officer of wrong-doing
How many Senators does every state have
2
How long are Senator terms
6 years
When are senators elected
one-third are elected every 2 years
What are the 3 qualifications to be a senator
30 years old, U.S. citizen for at least 9 years, live in the state s/he represents
Who presides over the Senate to break ties
Vice President of the United States
Who presides over the Senate when the Vice President is absent?
President Pro Tempore
What does the Senate act as when the House impeaches a federal official
a jury
Who presides over the Senate hearing if the President is impeached
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court
How many Senators must vote for the federal official to be removed from office
two-thirds
What happens if the federal official is found guilty
they are removed from office and barred from holding federal office in the future
What is a quorum
the smallest number of members who must be present for Congress to conduct business.
How many people is a quorum
50% and 1
What is a Congressional Record
a published record of each house's meetings
Who decides the salary of members of Congress
members of Congress
What is revenue
money/income raised by the government
Where must tax bills originate from
the House of Representatives
What are the changes Senate can propose to the tax bills
amendments
What is a bill
a proposed law
What can the President do to the bill
Sign it (becomes law), veto (send it back to Congress), do nothing and becomes law in 10 days
How can Congress override a veto
with 2/3 vote
What is the purpose of taxes
to pay debts, defend teh country, general welfare
What is the commerce clause
Congress can regulate foreign and interstate trade
What is naturalization
the process of a foreigner becoming a U.S. citizen
What is bankruptcy
when a person or business can't pay its debts
What is a copyright
protects writers and artists
What is a patent
protects inventors
Under who's request can Congress declare war
the President
What is the National Guard
the militia
Who controls the militia
each state's governor
What is the Elastic Clause
allows Congress to make a law relating to its powers
What is the Writ of Habeas Corpus
court order requiring the government to produce the body of a prisoner and explain why the
prisoner is being held
What is a bill of attainder
a law declaring a person guilty o f a crime without a trial
What is an ex post facto law
a law that punishes an act that wasn't illegal at the time when it was committed
What is apportionment
Congress passing a law allowing the government to spend money
What are 4 powers denied to the states
can't make treaties, make money, tax imports and exports, keep an army/navy