AP Government and Politics Flashcards: Congress The Senate And The House

What this deck covers

This deck focuses on Congress The Senate And The House, giving you a quick way to review the definitions, rules, and examples that matter most for AP Government and Politics.

How to use these flashcards

Work through these flashcards in short sessions. Try to answer each prompt before flipping the card, then revisit any cards you miss until the explanation feels automatic.

Flashcard 1: What is a joint session of Congress?

Answer: A session where both the Senate and House meet together. Used for ceremonial occasions and addresses.

Flashcard 2: What is the function of a select committee?

Answer: A temporary committee for a specific purpose. Created for investigations or special issues.

Flashcard 3: What is the role of the Congressional Budget Office?

Answer: To provide economic data and budgetary analysis to Congress. Nonpartisan fiscal analysis for legislative decisions.

Flashcard 4: What is a pocket veto?

Answer: When the President takes no action on a bill for 10 days while Congress is adjourned. Bill dies without presidential action or signature.

Flashcard 5: What is the main function of Congress?

Answer: To make federal laws. Legislative branch's primary constitutional role.

Flashcard 6: Which chamber can ratify treaties with foreign nations?

Answer: The Senate. Exclusive Senate foreign policy power.

Flashcard 7: Which chamber of Congress conducts impeachment trials?

Answer: The Senate. Tries impeachment cases from the House.

Flashcard 8: Which chamber of Congress has the sole power to impeach the President?

Answer: The House of Representatives. Sole power granted by Constitution Article I.

Flashcard 9: What is a filibuster?

Answer: A prolonged speech to delay legislative action. Used primarily in the Senate.

Flashcard 10: What is the minimum age requirement for a U.S. Senator?

Answer: 30 years old. Constitutional requirement for Senate eligibility.

Flashcard 11: Which chamber can ratify treaties with foreign nations?

Answer: The Senate. Exclusive Senate foreign policy power.

Flashcard 12: What is the difference between a bill and a law?

Answer: A bill is a proposed law; a law is enacted legislation. Bills become laws after presidential signature.

Flashcard 13: What is the difference between a bill and a law?

Answer: A bill is a proposed law; a law is enacted legislation. Bills become laws after presidential signature.

Flashcard 14: How many Senators does each state have?

Answer: Each state has 2 Senators. Equal representation regardless of state population.

Flashcard 15: How can Congress override a presidential veto?

Answer: By a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and House. Supermajority required to overturn presidential rejection.

Flashcard 16: Who is the Speaker of the House?

Answer: The leader of the House of Representatives. Elected by House majority party members.

Flashcard 17: Who presides over the Senate in the Vice President's absence?

Answer: The President pro tempore. Usually the most senior majority party senator.

Flashcard 18: How are Representatives apportioned among the states?

Answer: Based on population. Census data determines seat allocation.

Flashcard 19: What is the term length for a U.S. Representative?

Answer: 2 years. Shorter terms ensure frequent accountability.

Flashcard 20: What is the required citizenship duration to be a U.S. Senator?

Answer: 9 years. Constitutional citizenship requirement for senators.

Flashcard 21: What is the minimum age requirement for a U.S. Representative?

Answer: 25 years old. Constitutional requirement for House eligibility.

Flashcard 22: What is the role of the Appropriations Committee?

Answer: To allocate funding for government programs. Controls federal government spending decisions.

Flashcard 23: Which chamber of Congress confirms presidential appointments?

Answer: The Senate. Advice and consent power in Article II.

Flashcard 24: What is a pocket veto?

Answer: When the President takes no action on a bill for 10 days while Congress is adjourned. Bill dies without presidential action or signature.

Flashcard 25: What is a joint session of Congress?

Answer: A session where both the Senate and House meet together. Used for ceremonial occasions and addresses.

Flashcard 26: How many Senators does each state have?

Answer: Each state has 2 Senators. Equal representation regardless of state population.

Flashcard 27: What is the term length for a U.S. Senator?

Answer: 6 years. Longer terms provide stability and continuity.

Flashcard 28: What is the term length for a U.S. Representative?

Answer: 2 years. Shorter terms ensure frequent accountability.

Flashcard 29: Which chamber of Congress has the power to initiate revenue bills?

Answer: The House of Representatives. Origination Clause in Article I, Section 7.

Flashcard 30: What is the role of the Rules Committee?

Answer: To determine the rules for debate of a bill in the House. Controls House floor debate procedures.

Flashcard 31: What is the required citizenship duration to be a U.S. Representative?

Answer: 7 years. Constitutional citizenship requirement for representatives.

Flashcard 32: What is the purpose of a conference committee?

Answer: To reconcile House and Senate bill differences. Resolves bicameral legislative differences.

Flashcard 33: What is the function of a select committee?

Answer: A temporary committee for a specific purpose. Created for investigations or special issues.

Flashcard 34: What is the bicameral legislature?

Answer: A two-chamber system: Senate and House of Representatives. Balances representation and equal state power.

Flashcard 35: What is the role of the Appropriations Committee?

Answer: To allocate funding for government programs. Controls federal government spending decisions.

Flashcard 36: What is the role of the House Majority Leader?

Answer: To lead the majority party in the House. Coordinates party strategy under the Speaker.

Flashcard 37: What is a quorum in Congress?

Answer: The minimum number of members needed to conduct business. Usually majority of total membership.

Flashcard 38: What is the main function of Congress?

Answer: To make federal laws. Legislative branch's primary constitutional role.

Flashcard 39: What is the minimum age requirement for a U.S. Senator?

Answer: 30 years old. Constitutional requirement for Senate eligibility.

Flashcard 40: Which chamber of Congress has the power to initiate revenue bills?

Answer: The House of Representatives. Origination Clause in Article I, Section 7.

Flashcard 41: How can Congress override a presidential veto?

Answer: By a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and House. Supermajority required to overturn presidential rejection.

Flashcard 42: How are Senators elected?

Answer: By popular vote. Direct election established by 17th Amendment.

Flashcard 43: What is the power of the purse?

Answer: Congress's power to tax and spend public money. Constitutional power over federal finances.

Flashcard 44: What is the minimum age requirement for a U.S. Representative?

Answer: 25 years old. Constitutional requirement for House eligibility.

Flashcard 45: What is the term length for a U.S. Senator?

Answer: 6 years. Longer terms provide stability and continuity.

Flashcard 46: What is the total number of voting members in the House of Representatives?

Answer: 435 voting members. Fixed by law since 1929 Reapportionment Act.

Flashcard 47: Which chamber of Congress conducts impeachment trials?

Answer: The Senate. Tries impeachment cases from the House.

Flashcard 48: What is the role of the Minority Leader?

Answer: To lead the minority party in their respective chamber. Represents opposition party interests and strategy.

Flashcard 49: What is the difference between a resolution and a bill?

Answer: A resolution addresses internal matters; a bill proposes new laws. Resolutions don't require presidential approval.

Flashcard 50: What is the purpose of a conference committee?

Answer: To reconcile House and Senate bill differences. Resolves bicameral legislative differences.

Flashcard 51: What is the role of the Congressional Budget Office?

Answer: To provide economic data and budgetary analysis to Congress. Nonpartisan fiscal analysis for legislative decisions.

Flashcard 52: Who presides over the Senate in the Vice President's absence?

Answer: The President pro tempore. Usually the most senior majority party senator.

Flashcard 53: Define 'cloture'.

Answer: A procedure to end a filibuster in the Senate. Requires 60 votes to invoke in Senate.

Flashcard 54: What is the role of the Whip in Congress?

Answer: To ensure party discipline and manage votes. Counts votes and enforces party unity.

Flashcard 55: What is the significance of a standing committee?

Answer: A permanent committee that oversees bills related to specific issues. Handles most legislative work and expertise.

Flashcard 56: What is the required citizenship duration to be a U.S. Senator?

Answer: 9 years. Constitutional citizenship requirement for senators.

Flashcard 57: What is the role of the Senate Majority Leader?

Answer: To lead the majority party in the Senate. Coordinates party strategy and floor management.

Flashcard 58: Who is the Speaker of the House?

Answer: The leader of the House of Representatives. Elected by House majority party members.

Flashcard 59: What is the role of the Senate Majority Leader?

Answer: To lead the majority party in the Senate. Coordinates party strategy and floor management.

Flashcard 60: What is the total number of voting members in the House of Representatives?

Answer: 435 voting members. Fixed by law since 1929 Reapportionment Act.

Flashcard 61: Define 'cloture'.

Answer: A procedure to end a filibuster in the Senate. Requires 60 votes to invoke in Senate.

Flashcard 62: What is a filibuster?

Answer: A prolonged speech to delay legislative action. Used primarily in the Senate.

Flashcard 63: Which chamber of Congress has the sole power to impeach the President?

Answer: The House of Representatives. Sole power granted by Constitution Article I.

Flashcard 64: What is the role of the Minority Leader?

Answer: To lead the minority party in their respective chamber. Represents opposition party interests and strategy.

Flashcard 65: What is the role of the House Majority Leader?

Answer: To lead the majority party in the House. Coordinates party strategy under the Speaker.

Flashcard 66: How are Senators elected?

Answer: By popular vote. Direct election established by 17th Amendment.

Flashcard 67: What is the elastic clause?

Answer: Grants Congress the power to pass all necessary and proper laws. Article I, Section 8 implied powers.

Flashcard 68: What is the difference between a resolution and a bill?

Answer: A resolution addresses internal matters; a bill proposes new laws. Resolutions don't require presidential approval.

Flashcard 69: What are the two houses of the United States Congress?

Answer: The Senate and the House of Representatives. Bicameral structure established by the Constitution.

Flashcard 70: What is the role of the Whip in Congress?

Answer: To ensure party discipline and manage votes. Counts votes and enforces party unity.

Flashcard 71: What is the elastic clause?

Answer: Grants Congress the power to pass all necessary and proper laws. Article I, Section 8 implied powers.

Flashcard 72: What is the bicameral legislature?

Answer: A two-chamber system: Senate and House of Representatives. Balances representation and equal state power.

Flashcard 73: How are Representatives apportioned among the states?

Answer: Based on population. Census data determines seat allocation.

Flashcard 74: What is the significance of a standing committee?

Answer: A permanent committee that oversees bills related to specific issues. Handles most legislative work and expertise.

Flashcard 75: What is the power of the purse?

Answer: Congress's power to tax and spend public money. Constitutional power over federal finances.

Flashcard 76: What is the required citizenship duration to be a U.S. Representative?

Answer: 7 years. Constitutional citizenship requirement for representatives.

Flashcard 77: Which chamber of Congress confirms presidential appointments?

Answer: The Senate. Advice and consent power in Article II.

Flashcard 78: What is the role of the Rules Committee?

Answer: To determine the rules for debate of a bill in the House. Controls House floor debate procedures.

Flashcard 79: What are the two houses of the United States Congress?

Answer: The Senate and the House of Representatives. Bicameral structure established by the Constitution.

Flashcard 80: What is a quorum in Congress?

Answer: The minimum number of members needed to conduct business. Usually majority of total membership.