Name______________
Big Time Test Review
Period______
1. To be sent to the President, a bill must be passed by… the HoR and the Senate
2. What is a Standing Committee? a committee that is all but permanent
3. What is a pocket veto? A pocket veto is a legislative maneuver that allows a president with veto
power to exercise that power over a bill by taking no action.
4. How many senators are elected from each state? 2
5. What is the minimum age requirement for being a member of Congress? 25
6. What happens after the Census in regards to the HoR? the 435 are reapportioned amongst the
states based on population
7. What does Bicameralism mean? 2 house legislature
8. According to the Constitution, revenue bills must originate in the … HoR
9. Nominees to the U.S. Supreme Court must be confirmed by … Senate
10. The filibuster is a technique used in the … Senate
11. To end a filibuster is known as a … Cloture
12. To end a filibuster requires ________ members present and voting to cut off debate. 60
13. The _______ has the job of presiding over the Senate, breaking ties when necessary. V.P.
14. What happens when the House and the Senate pass different versions of the same bill? It
goes to a conference committee.
15. Why is the House of Representatives called “the People's House?” originally only the HoR
was directly elected by the people whilst the Senate was not and only indirectly became senators
16. How often does the Census take place? beginning of every decade… every 10 years
17. What are the 2 types of Gerrymandering? packing and cracking
18. The main job of Congress is to … to make laws
19. Impeachment is the sole power of the … HoR
20. What is the minority party in the HoR? democrats
21. How is the Speaker of the House Chosen? popular vote by the majority party in the HoR
22. Who is the Majority Party in the Senate? republicans
23. How many House of Representative members are elected from each state? depends on the
population
24. The Senate does not have the power to … impeach
25. The Executive Calendar deals with … considers Treaties and Presidential nominations
26. Strom Thurman gave the longest ever filibuster in what year and for how long? 24 hours and
18 minutes
27. Bills are introduced in the House of Representatives by placing them in a hopper
28. Bills in the House of Representatives are read in their entirety at least __________ times. 2
29. What happens to most bills? they DIE!
30. Federal judges are _______ by the president and _______ by the senate. appointed approved
31. Following the Vice President, the next in line to be President is the … SoH
32. A President cannot exceed this many years as President … 10
33. This address is given by the President to the Congress … State of the Union Address
34. This Amendment deals with Presidential succession in detail … 25
35. The head of the Executive Branch is the … Potus
36. The White House is located on … 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
37. The Constitutional duty of the President is to … enforce federal laws
38. In addition to congressional override, Congress has what power over a president? removal
39. What item represents one of the greatest sources of power for a president? military
40. The commander of the United States armed forces is the … Potus
41. To release an individual from legal punishment is to … Pardon
42. The President makes __________ per year. 400,000$
43. The President is given the use of __________ to travel the world as necessary. Air Force 1
44. Which article of the Constitution deals almost entirely with the Executive Branch? II
45. What is the main job of the Vice President? to wait for the Potus to die and assume the
position of the new Potus… and secondarily to deal with tie breakers in the Senate
46. Does every Cabinet member need to be approved by Congress. yes
47. How many different Cabinet departments are there? 15
48. To be President, one must … (shoot for multiple answers) be 35, born a citizen, be a resident
for 14+ years
49. How many terms was Franklin Delano Roosevelt elected President? 4
50. If during a Presidential election there is a tie in the Electoral College the __________ will be
the tie breaker. V.P.
51. The impeachment of a president is an example of checks and balances by the … Legislative
Branch
52. What is the magic number for winning the Presidential Election through the Electoral
College? 270
53. Andrew Jackson was sometimes called the Veto King for vetoing __________ bills during his
2 terms. 12
54. The head of the Department of Justice is known as the … Attorney General
55. The Presidential Cabinet rules and regulations are set forth in Article ___ of the Constitution.
there are no anything about the cabinet in the constitution
56. Which Branch of the Federal Government was envisioned to be the most powerful?
Legislative
57. Which 2 Presidents have been impeached? Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton
58. Presidents may be removed from office by … Senate
59. The formal body of presidential advisors who also head the executive departments are known
as the … Cabinet
60. Which prominent feature of the executive branch has no basis in the Constitution and is in
actuality an informal institution based on practice and precedent? Cabinet
61. The first president to be elected to a third term in office was … FDR
62. The President that went against Congress the most by vetoing 635 bills was … FDR
63. What is the difference between an executive agreement and a treaty is? Congress has to
approve of a treaty. An executive agreement is between the President and the leader of another
country and is only good so long as they are both in power.
64. How many total Electoral College votes are there? 538
65. The Senate approving all Presidential appointments is an example of … Checks and Balances
66. The leader of the Department of State would have the job title __________. Secretary of
State
67. To which Executive Department does the U.S. Coast Guard belong? Homeland Security
68. Which Executive Department is in charge of radioactive waste? Department of Energy
69. How many amendments are there to the U.S. Constitution? 27
70. How many amendments are in the Bill of Rights? 10
71. Which amendment abolished slavery in the United States? 13
72. What is notable about the 21st Amendment? it did away with the 18th amendment… this is the
only time an amendment has been repealed.
73. What fraction of the states has to ratify an amendment before it becomes part of the
Constitution? 3/4
74. Which amendment prohibited alcoholic drinks from being sold in the United States? 18th
74 ½. What did the 19th Amendment do? give women the right to vote
75. What are the two steps that take place before an amendment becomes part of the
Constitution? proposal and ratification
76. Which amendment gave all men the right to vote regardless of race? 15th
77. The legal voting age is set to 18 as per what amendment? 26th
78. Which amendment prohibits the quartering of soldiers in homes of private citizens? 3rd
78 ½. Who wrote the Bill of Rights? James Madison
79. How many amendments were eventually ratified which were written by the author of the Bill
of Rights? 13
80. Which amendment limits the number of years a President can serve? 22nd
81. In the above amendment, what is the limit to the number of years a President can serve? 10
82. Presidential term limits were set in place because Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected
________ times. 4
83. What amendment gives you the right to bear arms? 2nd
84. In what decade was the last amendment ratified? 90’s
85. Which amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishment? 8th
86. What Article of the Constitution deals with the Methods of Amendment? 5th
87. Which amendment in the Bill of Rights gives you the right to walk down the sidewalk? 9th
88. Which amendment in the Bill of Rights guarantees freedom of the press? 1st
89. Which amendment guarantees the right to petition the government for a redress of
grievances? 1st
90. Which amendment guarantees your freedom of religion? 1st
91. Which amendment guarantees your freedom of speech? 1st
92. Which amendment guarantees the right to peaceably assemble? 1st
93. Which amendment protects you from unreasonable searches and seizures? 4th
94. Which amendment says you cannot be compelled to be a witness against yourself in a
criminal case? 5th
95. Which amendment gives you the right to a speedy trial? 6th
96. Which amendment gave women full rights as citizens? 19th
97. The 27th Amendment specifies that … If the salary for Congress members is changed, then the
salary change will not take effect until the next election.
98. The 23rd Amendment specifies that … Washington D.C. will receive 3 electoral votes even
though it is not a state
99. Rights not specifically delegated to the federal government or prohibited by the Constitution
are given to the states by what amendment? 10th
100. Which amendment deals with Presidential succession in detail? 25th
101. Which amendment gives Congress the right to tax citizens based on income? 16th
102. If you're born here you're a citizen due to which amendment? 14th
103. This amendment allows for involuntary servitude as a punishment. 13th
104. Which amendment ensures the direct election of Senators? 17th
105. What is the most important function Congress performs? they make laws
106. When do Congressional sessions begin? January 3rd
107. What is the relationship between congressional reapportionment and redistricting? if your
states amount of representatives to the HoR is changing due to the census/population then the
districts in your state will be redrawn… 1 district per representative. Ofttimes the redistricting is
done in an unfair manner because the majority paty for that state gets to redraw the district lines
and they usually try to do so to benefit their party. This is called Gerrymandering.
108. What are 2 purposes to a Filibuster in the Senate? postpone a vote to get more media
coverage or to entirely prevent a vote (which has never happened in the U.S.)
109. What are three powers of the Majority Party in the HoR? choose SoH, Appoint committee
chairmen, appoint new members of the HoR to committees (which can help or hurt someones
career)
110. What is the need for committees in the HoR and the Senate? to simplify and specialize
peoples powers and abilities to help where they are most able
Busy work I wanted to give you earlier… will not be on test
Membership of the HoR and the Senate of the U.S. Congress
HoR
Number of Members
Female
Male
Party Affiliation
Democrats
Republicans
Independents
Qualifications for
Membership
Term of Office
Salary
Avg. Pension Benefits
Presiding Officer
Senate