DC Congress Study Guide for Test
Where is the basis for Congress' Constitutional authority found? - correct answer Article I
Why do we have 2 houses (bicameral)? - correct answer Compromise at the Constitutional
Convention (large state v small state)
To slow the process
Serve as an intra-branch check
What are the requirements to be a member of the House of Representatives? - correct answer
must be at least 25, an American citizen for 7 years, and a resident of the state they represent
How long is a Representative's term? - correct answer 2 years, no limits to number of terms you
can serve
House members - correct answer must be more responsive to the needs of local interests in the
districts they represent since their terms are so short
What are the requirements to be a member of the Senate? - correct answer must be at least
30, an American citizen for 9 years, & a resident of the state they represent
How long is a Senator's term? - correct answer 6 years, no limits to number of terms you can
serve
How many members are there in the House? - correct answer 435
How long is each congressional session? - correct answer 2 years
When are congressional elections held? - correct answer Every even numbered year
What is different about the Senate and the House regarding elections? - correct answer All 435
members of the House are up for reelection at the same time every two years. The Senate is a
continuous body (1/3rd up for reelection every two years)
17th Amendment - correct answer called for the direct election of Senators by the people,
previously Senators were selected by their state legislatures
Where are the enumerated/delegated (written down) powers of Congress listed? - correct
answer Article I Section 8
Enumerated powers of Congress - correct answer Congress can lay and collect taxes
Congress can regulate Commerce
Congress can borrow money
Congress can regulate national and international trade
, Congress can establish rules for naturalization and bankruptcy laws
Congress can coin money
Congress can set the standard for weights and measures
Congress can punish counterfeiters
Congress can establish post offices and post roads
Congress can grant patents to inventors and copyrights to authors
Congress can set up federal courts
Congress can punish piracy and crimes committed at sea
Congress can declare war
Congress can raise and upport armies
Congress can provide and maintain a navy
Congress can make rules for the government of land and sea forces
Congress can call on the militia (National Guard) to put down rebellion and invasion and to
enforce the laws
Congress can help organize, arm, and discipline the militia
Congress can exercise control over the District of Columbia and over other federal property
Congress can make all laws necessary for carrying out its Constitutional powers
Where do the implied powers come from? - correct answer Necessary and proper clause aka
elastic clause
Which body of Congress is more influential on the budget and why (what do they initiate)? -
correct answer The House/Revenue bills
Power of the Purse - correct answer The constitutional power of Congress to raise and spend
money. Congress can use this as a negative or checking power over the other branches by
freezing or cutting their funding.
Who is more influential on foreign affairs and why? - correct answer Senate because they have
to approve treaties
Which body has the right to unlimited debates? - correct answer The Senate
Who impeaches? - correct answer The House with a majority vote (only 3 Presidents have ever
been impeached: Johnson, Clinton and Trump)
Where is the basis for Congress' Constitutional authority found? - correct answer Article I
Why do we have 2 houses (bicameral)? - correct answer Compromise at the Constitutional
Convention (large state v small state)
To slow the process
Serve as an intra-branch check
What are the requirements to be a member of the House of Representatives? - correct answer
must be at least 25, an American citizen for 7 years, and a resident of the state they represent
How long is a Representative's term? - correct answer 2 years, no limits to number of terms you
can serve
House members - correct answer must be more responsive to the needs of local interests in the
districts they represent since their terms are so short
What are the requirements to be a member of the Senate? - correct answer must be at least
30, an American citizen for 9 years, & a resident of the state they represent
How long is a Senator's term? - correct answer 6 years, no limits to number of terms you can
serve
How many members are there in the House? - correct answer 435
How long is each congressional session? - correct answer 2 years
When are congressional elections held? - correct answer Every even numbered year
What is different about the Senate and the House regarding elections? - correct answer All 435
members of the House are up for reelection at the same time every two years. The Senate is a
continuous body (1/3rd up for reelection every two years)
17th Amendment - correct answer called for the direct election of Senators by the people,
previously Senators were selected by their state legislatures
Where are the enumerated/delegated (written down) powers of Congress listed? - correct
answer Article I Section 8
Enumerated powers of Congress - correct answer Congress can lay and collect taxes
Congress can regulate Commerce
Congress can borrow money
Congress can regulate national and international trade
, Congress can establish rules for naturalization and bankruptcy laws
Congress can coin money
Congress can set the standard for weights and measures
Congress can punish counterfeiters
Congress can establish post offices and post roads
Congress can grant patents to inventors and copyrights to authors
Congress can set up federal courts
Congress can punish piracy and crimes committed at sea
Congress can declare war
Congress can raise and upport armies
Congress can provide and maintain a navy
Congress can make rules for the government of land and sea forces
Congress can call on the militia (National Guard) to put down rebellion and invasion and to
enforce the laws
Congress can help organize, arm, and discipline the militia
Congress can exercise control over the District of Columbia and over other federal property
Congress can make all laws necessary for carrying out its Constitutional powers
Where do the implied powers come from? - correct answer Necessary and proper clause aka
elastic clause
Which body of Congress is more influential on the budget and why (what do they initiate)? -
correct answer The House/Revenue bills
Power of the Purse - correct answer The constitutional power of Congress to raise and spend
money. Congress can use this as a negative or checking power over the other branches by
freezing or cutting their funding.
Who is more influential on foreign affairs and why? - correct answer Senate because they have
to approve treaties
Which body has the right to unlimited debates? - correct answer The Senate
Who impeaches? - correct answer The House with a majority vote (only 3 Presidents have ever
been impeached: Johnson, Clinton and Trump)
