Legislative Study Guide                                                                            Name _____________________________________

 
  1. Which document sets up our government?  Which part of this document sets up the legislative branch?

 

 

  1. What is the main job of the legislative branch?

 

        …the executive branch?

 

        …the judicial branch?

 

  1. What do we call our national legislature?

 

  1. Define bicameral.

 

 

  1. What are the two houses of Congress?

 

 

  1. Where does our Congress work (building and city)?

 

 

  1. How are members of Congress selected?

 

 

  1. Describe the Virginia Plan.  Which house is based on this plan?

 

 

  1. Describe the New Jersey Plan.  Which house is based on this plan?

 

 

  1. What is taken every 10 years to count our population?

 

  1. How many senators come from each state?

 

  1. How many total senators are there in Congress?

 

  1. How many representatives are there from Virginia?

 

  1. Name 3 states with more representatives than Virginia.

 

 

  1. Name 3 states with fewer representatives than Virginia.

 

 

  1. How many total representatives are there in the House?

 

  1. How many total members are there in Congress?

 

  1. How long is a senator’s term?

 

  1. How long is a representative’s term?

 

  1. How many terms may a member of Congress serve?

 

  1. Does a member of Congress have to be a natural born US citizen?

 

  1. How long does a senator have to live in the US before being elected?  A representative?

 

  1. What type of areas do senators represent?

 

  1. What type of areas do members of the House represent?

 

  1. Define constituent.

 

  1. Who are the constituents of George W. Bush?

                                                     …John Warner?

                                                     …Bob Goodlatte?

 

  1. How old do you have to be to serve in the House?  The Senate?

 

  1. What do we call the smaller groups of senators and representatives in Congress that deal with specific types of bills?

 

  1. Put the follow steps of turning a bill into a law in the correct order: 

        a)  President signs it, b) committee work, c) floor debate, d) bill is introduced

 

 

 

  1. When would a conference committee discuss a bill?

 

 

  1. What is a pocket veto?

 

 

  1. What is casework?

 

 

  1. How can Congress override a veto?

 

  1. What are expressed powers?  State two examples.

 

 

  1. What are implied powers?  State two examples.

 

 

  1. What are concurrent powers?  State two examples.

 

 

  1. Who is the official leader of the Senate?  What is his name?

 

 

  1. Who is the leader of the Senate when the official leader doesn’t show up?  His name?

 

 

  1. Who is the leader of the House of Representatives?  His name?

 

 

  1. What is a lobbyist?

 

 

  1. Circle only the powers that Congress may exercise:

       


        --declare war

        --approve a budget (spend money)

        --serve as commander of the military

        --admit new states

        --ratify treaties

        --appoint judges

        --approve judges

        --impeach a President

        --impeach a judge

        --collect taxes

        --coin money

        --ratify amendments

        --propose amendments

        --declare a law unconstitutional

        --override a veto