Legislative Branch
Congress or the branch of government that has the power to make laws.
political parties
Organization that tries to influence government policy by promoting its ideas and backing candidates for office.
Senate
100 members, 2 members for each state. 6 year terms. Vice President is the head of this body. Responsibility to advise and give consent to Presidential appointments such as Supreme Court Justices and U.S. Ambassadors.
House of Representatives
Part of Congress. Considered the "lower house." Representatives elected directly by the people. Number of representatives for each state determined by the state's population. 435 voting members.
Speaker of the House
Leader of the majority party and presiding officer of the House of Representatives. Key role in assigning bills to committee and members to committees. Sets party's legislative agenda. Second in line of succession to the Presidency.
whips
Party leaders who work with the majority leader or minority leader to count votes beforehand and persuade members whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party.
Vice President
First in line of succession to the Presidency. Only constitutional role = President of Senate & casts tie-breaker vote in Senate. Called a "running mate" -- typically selected to increase odds of winning the presidential election.
majority leader
The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy, confers with other party leaders, and tries to keep members of the party in line.
minority leader
The principal leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate.
President Pro Tempore
Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president
qualifications to be a member of the House of Representatives
25 years of age, citizen for 7 years, must live in the state from which elected
qualifications to be a member of the United States Senate
30 years of age, citizen for at least 9 years, must live in the state from which elected.
impeachment
An action by the House of Representatives to accuse the president, vice president, or other civil officers of the United States of committing "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."
bicameral
A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses
mass media
Forms of communication, such as newspapers, radio, internet, social media, that reach millions of people.
two-party system
An electoral system with two dominant parties that compete in national elections.
multi-party system
Political party system that recognizes 3 or more major political parties
House term
Two years
Legislative Branch
Congress
Legislative Branch
Article 1 of the Constitution
2 chambers of congress
Senate and House of Representatives
House of Representatives
Proportional representation
Leader of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the House
House of Representatives requirements
Age- 25 years old
Residency- lives in district they represent
Citizenship- must be an US citizen for at least 7 years
Power to introduce a bill/ law
Congress
Congress and state legislatures
Power to propose amendments to the Constitution providing there is a two-thirds vote to do so
Official power to declare war
Congress
Power of the president to reject a bill
Veto
How many members of Congress must vote to override a president's veto?
two-thirds
Impeachment
Charging an official of wrongdoing
Acts as a jury
Senate's role during impeachment trial of president
Senate requirements
Age- 30 years old
Residency- lives in state he/she represents
Citizenship- must be an US citizen for at least 9 years
Leader of the Senate when the vice president is absent
President Pro Tempore
Vice President
Leader of the Senate
Only votes unless the Senate is equally divided
Vice President
Senators each state has
2 Senators per state
100 total Senators
writ of habeas corpus
Protects people from being jailed or imprisoned without being formally charged
