The Legislative Branch

Essential Questions

  • How do the branches of the national government compete and cooperate in order to govern?
  • To what extent have changes in the powers of each branch affected how responsive and accountable the national government is in the 21st century?

Key Terms - Quizlet for Chapter 4

  • Senate, House, Chamber Sizes, Constituencies, Term Lengths in Congress, Enumerated Powers (including Passing a Budget, Raising Revenue, Coining Money, Declaring War, and Maintaing Armed Forces), Implied Powers, Necessary and Proper Clause, Policy-Making Process, Congressional Standing Committees, Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, Party Leadership in Congress, Committee Leadership, Filibuster and Cloture, Holds, Unanimous Consent, Rules Committee, Committee of the Whole, Discharge Petition, Treaty Ratification, Confirmation, Federal Budget, Discretionary Spending, Mandatory Spending, Entitlement Spending, Tax Revenues, Budget Deficit, Pork Barrell, Logrolling, Party Polarization, Gerrymandering, Redistricting, "One Person, One Vote," Divided Government, Lame-Duck, Trustee, Delegate, Politico

Topics

  • 2.1 Congress: The Senate and the House of Representatives
    • Key Terms: Senate, House, Chamber Sizes, Constituencies, Term Lengths in Congress, Enumerated Powers (including Passing a Budget, Raising Revenue, Coining Money, Declaring War, and Maintaing Armed Forces), Implied Powers, Necessary and Proper Clause
    • Foundational Documents: The Constitution
  • 2.2 Structures, Powers, and Functions of Congress
    • Key Terms: Policy-Making Process, Congressional Standing Committees, Speaker of the House, President of the Senate, Party Leadership in Congress, Committee Leadership, Filibuster and Cloture, Holds, Unanimous Consent, Rules Committee, Committee of the Whole, Discharge Petition, Treaty Ratification, Confirmation, Federal Budget, Discretionary Spending, Mandatory Spending, Entitlement Spending, Tax Revenues, Budget Deficit, Pork Barrell, Logrolling 
  • 2.3 Congressional Behavior
    • Key Terms: Party Polarization, Gerrymandering, Redistricting, "One Person, One Vote," Divided Government, Lame-Duck, Trustee, Delegate, Politico
    • Required Cases: Baker v. Carr (1961), Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Resources