Legislative branch

The Speaker of the House

• is the most powerful officer in

  Congress.

• is appointed by the president

• must belong to the same political party as the president

• cannot be elected to more than two consecutive terms

To ensure that the majority of all senators are experienced,

• junior senators are elected for eight-year terms

• only one third of the senators are up for reelection every two years

• senior senators chair all committees

• all senators are guaranteed two terms in office

The writers of the Constitution established a bicameral legislature in order to

• provide equal representation in one house for all of the states

• streamline the process whereby a bill becomes a law

• prevent Congress from imitating the British Parliament

• make it more difficult for Congress to declare war in the future

The Senate and the House of Representatives have passed different versions of an air pollution bill. The kind of committee that would most likely be formed to work out a compromise would be a

• standing committee

• select committee

• conference committee

• joint committtee

A 32 year old member of Congress has recently been reelected for her second term of office. It may be assumed that this person is a

• senator

• representative

• senior senator

• party whip

Congress is in session, and the president is given a bill to sign. He lets the bill sit on his desk for 10 days. It can be concluded that

• the bill has become law.

• the bill has been vetoed.

• the bill will have to go back to committee.

• both houses of Congress will have to vote on the bill again.

Committees appointed on a temporary basis to consider issues not handled by the standing committees are called

• joint sessions

• select committees

• special committees

• committees on committees

After a bill is introduced, it is usually

• sent to the president for approval

• discussed before a Committee of the Whole

• sent to a standing committee

• sent to a joint conference committee

The Senate, unlike the House of Representatives, does not have the power to

• pass laws regulating trade

• introduce appropriation bills

• try impeached officials

• approve treaties

If the president pro tempore is presiding in the Senate, it may be assumed that the

• president is absent

• majority leader is absent

• vice-president is absent

• floor leader is absent