Humanities 8 Legislative Branch Test Study Guide Part 2
Topic
Powers of Congress
Resource
Painless 70-75; Article I, section
8; WTP Lesson 15; SS notebook
Debate over the powers of
Congress…see SS notebook
answer to question #1 on WTP,
136
Enumerated powers (define)
Review them all, but only
required to know:

Declare war

Assess and collect taxes

Regulate commerce

Coin money

Raise and support an army and
navy

Govern the District of Columbia
General welfare clause; Elastic
Clause, Painless 74-75 & WTP, 133
Limits on Congress
Painless 77-78; Article I, section
9; WTP 133-4; binder
Banning the slave trade
Habeas Corpus
Ex Post Facto
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Humanities 8 Legislative Branch Test Study Guide Part 2
Grant titles of nobility
Exclusive powers
Painless 79
The House
 Impeach
The Senate’s powers
 Approve presidential
nominations

Approve treaties

Power to try and convict
impeached officials
Checks and balances
WTP, 134
Painless: 109-110; 179-181
What checks do these branches
have over the legislative branch?
 Executive
 Judicial
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Humanities 8 Legislative Branch Test Study Guide Part 2
How a bill becomes a law
Painless 94-111; ss
notebook; binder
a.Origins of bills

Executive branch

Members of Congress/staff

Interest groups and lobbyists

General public (citizens)
b.Introducing a bill

Who can introduce?

$$$ bills start where?

Sponsor

Hopper

HR or S #
c.Standing Committee
 Name an example of a standing committee

Jurisdiction

Chair and ranking member

Subcommittee

Hearings

Markup

Vote
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Humanities 8 Legislative Branch Test Study Guide Part 2
d.Floor Debate

Purposes of and reasons for differences in the two chambers:
Rules committee (House only)
Filibuster and cloture (Senate only)

Amendments

Other side of the “Aisle”
e.Floor Vote

Voice vs. Roll Call

How many votes needed for passage?
f.Conference Committee

Compromise bill
g.Sent to president for signature

Veto

Override
h. Things that can happen to a bill along the way: tabled, killed,
approved/passed, amended.
i. Review your video notes: differences between textbook and dynamic legislative
process as well as criticisms of Congress
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