JEOPARDY U.S. Congress U.S. Congress
Categories Vocabulary Powers of Congress Legislative Actions People Requirements Hodge Podge
Final Jeopardy
What is being born on American soil or territory? (This includes U.S. military posts.) These are the guidelines for residency and citizenship that a person must adhere to in order to run for the U.S. Presidency.
What is gerrymandering? This is the practice of redrawing districts into odd shapes to increase political strength. A political cartoon first coined the term.
What is writ of habeas corpus? This Latin term means that the law must bring a prisoner before the court to tell the prisoner the charges against him/her.
What are bills of attainer? These are laws that Congress is forbidden to pass that punish/imprison a person without a jury trial.
What is a fillibuster? This is a method used in Congress to stop a bill from passing by “talking it to death.”
Another name for clause 18, the “necessary and proper” clause. What is the elastic clause ?
Congress is the only branch of government which may levy national taxes. This house must be the one which proposes taxes. What is the House of Representatives?
In Congress, these bills provide money for each program or activity. What are appropriation bills?
Laws dealing with air traffic, railroads, trucking, radio, television, air pollution and the stock market are all based on this clause. What is the interstate commerce clause?
Daily Double “Don’t Choke!”
This Congressional house has the power to approve or reject the President’s nominees for the Supreme Court. What is the Senate?
Oversight and investigation is this type of power exercised by Congress. What is a nonlegislative power?
When congressmen or women help their constituents deal with the federal government or “red tape.” What is casework?
Passed by both houses of Congress, they become laws if signed by the President. What are joint resolutions?
Procedure to end a fillibuster. What is cloture?
What are riders ? Completely unrelated amendments to a bill.
This term is used when an official is formally accused of misconduct in office. Originates in the House of Representatives. What is impeach?
This is the minimum age to run for the House of Representatives. What is age 25?
This is the number of years you must have been a U.S. citizen to run for the House. What is seven years?
Daily Double “Don’t Choke!”
This is the main requirement for residency to run for Congress. What is to reside in the state from which you are elected?
This part of the legislature acts as the jury for a national official that has been impeached. What is the Senate?
This article outlines the responsibilities and the structure of the legislative branch. What is Article I?
This house of Congress is based upon equal votes and has 100 members. What is the Senate?
In this house of Congress representationis based upon the census, resulting in how many members. Name the house and the number of representatives. What is the House of Representatives and 435 members?
Private interest groups hire these to influence government decision makers. Who are lobbyists?
People from a representatives home district are called his or her _______. The people they represent. Who are constituents?
The most powerful member in the House of Representatives is this person. Hint: Not the floor leader. Who is the Speaker of the House?
The number of years a senator is elected to serve in one term of office. What is six years?
This is the main power and function of Congress. What is to make laws?
These are the two most dominant professions (occupations other than politics) in both houses. What are lawyers and business?
What are franking privileges? Congressional memebers’ right to send job-related mail without paying postage.
What are ex post facto laws? Congress may not pass these laws that make an act a crime after the act has been committed.