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Study Guide Legislative Branch 2021

The document is a study guide for the legislative branch. It defines key terms like bicameral, expressed powers, and elastic clause. It outlines the structure of Congress including the House of Representatives and Senate. It describes the law-making process and congressional powers. It also discusses how interest groups and lobbyists can influence legislation through campaign contributions and delivering votes.

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Will Madsen
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244 views

Study Guide Legislative Branch 2021

The document is a study guide for the legislative branch. It defines key terms like bicameral, expressed powers, and elastic clause. It outlines the structure of Congress including the House of Representatives and Senate. It describes the law-making process and congressional powers. It also discusses how interest groups and lobbyists can influence legislation through campaign contributions and delivering votes.

Uploaded by

Will Madsen
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Name: Will Madsen

Legislative Branch Study Guide

Congressional Structure
What is the name of the US legislative branch and what are the names of its two houses?
1. Legislative Branch = Congress is made up of…
2. House of Representatives
3. Senate

What term describes a legislative body that is divided into two houses?
4. Bicameral

Characteristic House of Senate


Representatives
Minimum age 5. 25 6. 30
Years as a U.S. citizen 7. 7 8. 9
Length of term 9. 2 10. 6
Total # members 11. 435 12. 100
# from each state 13. Based on state 14. 2
population
Area represented 15. District 16. State
Presiding officer 17. Speaker of the 18. Vice President
House

What is a Congressperson’s main responsibility?


19. To serve their constituents

Define constituents:
20. Residents of the area that the Congressperson serves

Every ten years Representatives are reapportioned based each state’s population determined by
what?

21. The US Census

Congressional Powers
What term describes the powers specifically given to Congress in Article I of the U.S.
Constitution?

22. Expressed powers


Give three examples of these powers:

23. Impeach the President


24. Declare War
25. Approve Treaties

Write ‘House’ or “Senate” next to the correct powers:

26. Appropriate money (Revenue Bills) = House


27. Approve appointments = Senate
28. Approve treaties = Senate
29. Hold impeachment trial = Senate
30. Begin impeachment charges = House

What is another name for the elastic clause?


31. The Necessary and Proper Clause

What does the elastic clause allow Congress to do?


32. Use any means necessary to use it’s expressed powers

Provide an example of an implied power:


33. Create Military Bases

Legislative Influence
Define lobbyist.
34. Someone who comes the Capitol Building to attempt to sway the viewpoint of a
Congressperson on an issue

What is the main purpose of interest groups and lobbyists?


35. To get certain types of legislation passed

How do interest groups and lobbyists influence legislation?


36. Secure campaign contributions
37. Delivering votes of constituents who support the issue

What factors influence a legislator’s vote?


38. Votes from their constituents
39. Money from interest groups and constituents
Law-making Process
List the seven main steps of the law-making process in order.

40. Introduction

41. Sent to Committee

42. Voted on in Committee

43. Voted on in the entire house of Congress

44. Sent to other house of Congress

45. Process repeats until it passes in both houses

46. Sent to President to sign/veto

What must finally happen for a bill to be enacted into law?


47. It must be signed by the President

How can Congress override a presidential veto?


48. 2/3 Majority vote in both houses

When Congress overrides a presidential veto, it is checking which other branch?


49. The Executive

What other actions can the president have besides sign or veto a bill?
50. Ignore it

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