LEGISLATIVE BRANCH (CONGRESS)

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LEGISLATIVE BRANCH (CONGRESS)
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KEY TERMS

• 1. bicameral 2 house legislature
• 2. gerrymandering draw district lines (in odd
  shapes) to favor a group of people
• 3. constituents citizens represented by elected
  leaders
• 4. congressional record public voting record of
  members of Congress
• 5. franking privilege send mail for free
• 6. immunity protected from certain arrests and
  lawsuits
• 7. expulsion kicked out by Congress with 2/3
  vote
• 8. incumbent- the official currently serving
  office
• 1 advantage incumbents have is name
  recognition

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I. Elections (Congress)

• A. held every 2 years (even years)
• B. first Tuesday after the 1st Monday in November
  of even years
• C. inauguration takes place Jan. 3

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II. Congressional sessions (meet at least 1x per
year)

• A. Regular session normal meetings of Congress
• B. Special session emergency meetings of
  Congress (called by Pres.)
• C. Joint session house and senate meet together
• Ex state of the union speech by President

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III. Congressional Committees

• A. standing committees hear information on
  bills standing committees are divided into
  subcommittees (public hearings)
• B. select committee temporary committee usually
  for investigations
• C. joint committee committee made of members
  from both houses
• -EX conference committee compromise
  on 2 different versions of the same bill

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IV. Other powers of Congress

• A. enumerated war, money, and military
• B. implied necessary and proper clause
• C. non legislative powers
• 1. treaties approved by Senate
• 2. appointments approved by Senate
• 3. amendments proposed by 2/3of Congress
• 4. impeach house impeaches senate does trial