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1) Which Article of the US Constitution describes what the Legislative Branch will do?

2) Define:

a. Bicameral Legislature:
b. Censure:
c. Constituents:
d. Filibuster:
e. Gerrymander:
f. Lobbying:
g. Quorum:

3) America uses a bicameral (2 chamber) Legislative structure. What are the names of the 2 chambers of the Legislative Branch?

4) How many members is Congress made up of? How many representatives are in each chamber?

5) What is the minimum age to serve in both the Senate and the House of Representatives?

6) List 3 powers vested in Congress.

7) What is a filibuster according to American politics?

1 answer

  1. Article I of the US Constitution describes what the Legislative Branch will do.

  2. Definitions: a. Bicameral Legislature: A legislative body that consists of two separate chambers or houses. In the United States, this refers to Congress, which is made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives. b. Censure: A formal statement of disapproval or reprimand, often used by a legislative body to express condemnation of a member’s actions. c. Constituents: The people who live in a particular electoral district and are represented by an elected official. d. Filibuster: A legislative tactic used in the Senate to prolong debate and delay or prevent a vote on a bill. It typically involves extended speaking or other forms of obstruction. e. Gerrymander: The practice of redrawing electoral district boundaries to favor one political party over another, often resulting in oddly shaped districts. f. Lobbying: The act of attempting to influence the decisions of government officials, typically legislators or members of regulatory agencies, on behalf of a specific group or interest. g. Quorum: The minimum number of members required to be present for a legislative body to conduct its business and make decisions.

  3. The two chambers of the Legislative Branch are the Senate and the House of Representatives.

  4. Congress is made up of 535 members in total: 100 senators (2 from each state) and 435 representatives in the House of Representatives.

  5. The minimum age to serve in the Senate is 30 years and in the House of Representatives, it is 25 years.

  6. Three powers vested in Congress include:

    • The power to make laws (legislation).
    • The power to levy and collect taxes.
    • The power to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the states.

  7. A filibuster in American politics is a tactic used in the Senate whereby one or more senators prolong debate on a piece of legislation to delay or prevent a vote. This often involves lengthy speeches or other obstructive actions, requiring a supermajority of 60 votes to end the filibuster via a process called "cloture."