Legislative Branch

There are three formal qualifications outlined in the United States’ Constitution, which says that a member of the House: 1) must be at least 25 years of age, 2) must have been a United States citizen for at least seven years, and 3) must be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected.

• Senate

• House of Represenatives

There are two members for each of the fifty states. A senator must meet a higher level of qualifications, as outlined in the Constitution: 1) a senator must be at least 30 years of age, 2) must have been a citizen of the United States for at least nine years, and 3) must be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected.

• Senate

• House of Representatives

Congressional elections are held on the same day in every state. For the House of Representatives, elections are held on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year. The congressional elections that are held in nonpresidential election years are referred to as ______________.

• off-year elections

• general

• primary

• even-numbered year

The senate is referred to as a __________________, which means that all of the seats are never up for election at the same time. Only one-third of the senators run for election every two years. Since a senator has a six-year term, only 33 to 34 senators run for election or re-election every two years.

• continuous body

• apportioned

• reapportioned

• adhoc committee

Originally, senators were elected by the state legislatures; they were elected in this manner for the first 125 years following the passing of the U.S. Constitution. The amendment was passed in 1913. The ratification of the it placed the election of senators in the hands of the American citizens

• 17th admendment

• 16th admendment

• 14th admendment

• 15th admendment

The Constitution does provide that the seats in the House of Representatives shall be ________, or distributed, among the states based on their populations. Each state is guaranteed at least one House member.

• apportioned

• reapportioned

• constituency

• 17th amendment

The members are elected by registered voters in the district in which they represent. They have the advantage of having a smaller ____________, which includes the people and interests each House member represents. This provides an opportunity for representatives to be more involved and aware of issues that are important to the voters in their particular district.

• constituency

• reapportioned

• apportioned

• 16th admendment

The seats in the House may be ___________, or redistributed, based on the results of the census, which is conducted every ten years. Some states may gain a representative(s), while some may lose; the number of the membership remains at 435.

• reapportioned

• apportioned

• constituency

• 17th admendment

The intent of the Founders was to design a ___________ legislature, or a legislature with two houses. There are three reasons that the founders preferred the bicameral structure. First, historically, the Founders were familiar with the design of the British Parliament, which had two houses. Second, the bicameral design was a practical matter. There was a conflict between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. Third, in theory this bicameral design would allow for a system of checks between both houses.

• bicameral

• unicameral

• autocracy

• oligarchy

The House of Representatives has several powers assigned exclusively to it, including the power to initiate revenue bills, impeach federal officials, and elect the President in the event of an Electoral College tie. The __________________ is another term for the initiation of revenue bills.

• power of the purse

• 17th admendment

• 16th admendment

• taxation