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GOV CH 10--2 HOUSE AND SENATE

Multiple Choice
Identify the choice that best completes the statement or answers the question.
 
 
There are several differences between the two chambers of the U.S. Congress.Here we look at some of those differences, including those relating to terms of office and qualifications.

The House of Representatives

With its 435 members, the House of Representatives is over four times larger than the Senate . Still, it is referred to as the lower chamber of Congress.

Term of Office

Members of the House of Representatives are elected for two-year terms. The framers believed that such a short term of office would make representatives more responsive to the people . Many people still believe this. Others argue that a two-year representatives spend too term is impractical because much time during the second year campaigning for the next election. A constitutional amendment to lengthen the term for House membership has been proposed several times but has never been successful.

Congressional elections are held in November of even-numbered years, and representatives begin their terms of office on January 3 following the November election. This means that all 435 members must run for reelection at the same time, and the House begins anew following each election.

Despite the short terms of office, there is still a great deal of continuity among members of the House. In the past decade, well over 90 percent of all House incumbents have been reelected. In 1996, 93.4 percent of the incumbents who ran were reelected . Some representatives have been reelected over a dozen times. There is no limit on the number of terms a representative may be reelected to the same office . Many people believe, however, that the number of terms a representative can serve should be limited .

Qualifications

The Constitution sets forth the qualifications for election to the House of Representatives . Members of the House must be at least twenty-five years of age, citizens of the United States for at least seven years prior to the election, and legal residents of the state from which they are elected .

Although not required to do so by the Constitution, representatives have traditionally lived in the districts they represent . This practice is rooted in the belief that representatives should be familiar with the needs of the people they represent in Congress.

The Constitution also gives the House the power to judge the qualifications of its members and to refuse a seat to an elected member. From 1823 to 1967, the House refused to recognize nine members as legitimate lawmakers and denied them their seats. This power, however, was limited by the Supreme Court in 1969 in Powell v. McCormack . In that decision, the Court ruled that Congress cannot exclude any member-elect who meets the Constitution's requirements relating to age, citizenship, and residence.
 

 1. 

How many members are there in the House of Representatives?
a.
100
c.
535
b.
435
d.
400
 

 2. 

What is the term of office for a member of the House of Representatives?
a.
two years
c.
six years
b.
four years
d.
8 years
 

 3. 

What percentage of the House is elected every other year?
a.
50%
c.
100%
b.
33%
d.
200%
 

 4. 

If you wanted to change the change the length of the terms of office for representatives, how would you have to do it?
a.
Pass a bill in Congress
c.
Change the rules of the House
b.
Pass a bill in the House and have the President sign it
d.
Amend the Constitution
 

 5. 

About what percentage of incumbents are reelected every two years?
a.
90%
c.
60%
b.
100%
d.
incumbents are not reelected
 

 6. 

How many times can you be reelected to the House?
a.
two
c.
six
b.
four
d.
no limit
 

 7. 

An immigrant comes to the United States and becomes a citizen. How long does he have to wait before he can run for congress?
a.
two years
c.
seven years
b.
four years
d.
can run immediately after becoming a citizen
 

 8. 

Which of the following are able to run for Congress to represent Chula Vista?
a.
a citizen of Mexico
c.
a citizen born in the United States and living in Washington D.C.
b.
a citizen of Arizona
d.
none of these
 

 9. 

Two people claim that they were elected to represent a congressional district. Who decides which person will be seated as the member of congress?
a.
the Supreme Court
c.
the House of Representatives
b.
the Senate
d.
the Justice Department
 
 
The Senate

The Senate is known as the upper chamber of Congress. The Constitution calls for each state to have two senators, regardless of the state's size or population. Article V of the Constitution specifies that "no state without its consent shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate." This provision guarantees that the states' equal representation in the Senate cannot be changed by amendment. Thus, as long as the original Constitution is in effect, each state will always have two senators to represent it .

Before the adoption of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913, senators were chosen by state legislatures. Since that time, senators have been chosen by the people at large in the November general elections of even numbered years.

Term of Office

Senators are elected for six-year terms . The terms are staggered, so that the terms of one-third of the senators end every two years. In addition, the two senators from each state never run for election in the same year unless a vacancy occurs because of death, retirement, or resignation. If such a vacancy does occur, the governor of the state may call a special election to choose a replacement, or the state legislature may allow the governor to appoint a replacement until an election is held.

The founders designed the Senate as they did to give stability to the legislative branch. Because Senate seats do not all come up for election at the same time, the Senate is considered a "continuous body." Because senators serve six-year terms, they have more time than representatives to understand and deal with issues before they must think about the next election. The six-year term is supposed to make senators less subject to the pressures of public opinion and the pleas of special interests . The longer term in office gives senators more time to act as national leaders before facing the electorate again.

Qualifications

The qualifications senators must meet are somewhat different from those for representatives . Members of the Senate must be at least thirty years of age, citizens of the United States for at least nine years, and legal residents of the states from which they are elected . The Constitution allows the Senate to judge the qualifications of its members and to exclude a member-elect by a majority vote.
 

 10. 

There are 100 Senators in the Senate. Who decides how many senators each state gets?
a.
the Senate itself
c.
the Supreme Court
b.
the House and the Senate
d.
the Constitution
 

 11. 

The 17th Amendment says that senators will be elected by the people instead of the state legislatures.
a.
true
b.
false
 

 12. 

How long are senators elected for?
a.
two years
c.
six years
b.
four years
d.
depends on the state and year
 

 13. 

What percentage of the Senate is elected each two years?
a.
100%
c.
33%
b.
50%
d.
Terms are 6 years so 20% every two years would mean all senators were elected in a six year period
 

 14. 

The Founding Fathers thought the Senate would provide ______ to the Congress.
a.
stability and continuity
c.
logic and reason
b.
change and creativity
d.
stability and change
 

 15. 

As long as you are 35 years old and a citizen of the United States for 9 years, you can run for the U.S. Senate.
a.
true
b.
false
 
 
The Power of Incumbency

incumbents are people who get reelected to office. There are several possible explanations for the repeated successes of incumbents. One explanation, although the least likely one, is that voters know how their representatives vote on important policy issues, agree with their positions, and want to send them back to Washington. The more likely source of incumbents' success, however, is visibility. Incumbents work very hard at making themselves known throughout their districts so that, in the voting booth, voters will at least recognize their names on the ballot . Incumbents frequently travel back to their home districts (on the average members visit their home districts about thirty-five times a year) . They also enjoy the franking privilege, which is a free mail service designed to keep voters informed about current issues and the representative's voting record. Instead of postage, they use their printed signatures, called franks, on official correspondence.

Additionally, incumbents win friends and votes by servicing "the folks back home." They do this in two ways. One is casework, which involves helping individual constituents cut through bureaucratic red tape to get what they want. The other is pork barrel, which involves bringing federal funds to their districts in the form of federal projects, contracts, or grants available to cities, colleges, businesses, and other organizations .

Another explanation for an incumbent's success is that a current member of the House (or Senate) is usually in a better position to raise campaign funds than an opponent. Incumbent representatives raise, on average, six times more for their reelection campaigns than do challengers .
 

 16. 

Who has the advantage in congressional elections.
a.
challengers
c.
former members
b.
incumbents
d.
future members
 

 17. 

Members of congress are able to send mail for free. What is this called?
a.
routing privilege
c.
posting privilege
b.
franking privilege
d.
none of these
 

 18. 

Your local congressman uses his influence to get a court house built in your town. What is this called?
a.
franking
c.
pork barrel
b.
incumbency
d.
correspondence
 

 19. 

“Name recognition,” is a big advantage that incumbents have in elections
a.
true
c.
names do not matter in elections
b.
false people usually don’t trust politicians
 

 20. 

What does “Power of incumbency” mean?
a.
incumbents have more power in congress than other members who are not incumbents
c.
The constitution says that incumbents should be more powerful because of their wisdom
b.
You have to server at least 12 years  in congress to get an incumbency and that makes you powerful
d.
Members already elected to congress have advantages over non-elected candidates running for congress
 
 
HOUSE
SENATE
Members chosen from local districtsMembers chosen from entire district
Two year termSix year term
Has always been elected by votersUntil 1913 (17th Amendment) elected by state legislatures
May impeach federal officialsMay convict federal officials of impeachable offenses
Larger - 435 voting membersSmaller - 100 members
More formal rulesFewer rules and restrictions
Debates are limitedDebates are extended
Floor action is controlledUnanimous consent rules
Less prestige and individual noticeMore prestige and media attention
Originates bills for raising revenues Power of “advice and consent” on presidential appointments and treaties
Local or narrow leadershipNational leadership
 

 21. 

Which house has more time to express their opinions in debate?
a.
house
b.
senate
 

 22. 

Which member represents more people?
a.
house member
b.
senator
 

 23. 

Which house is responsible for raising money?
a.
house
b.
senate
 

 24. 

Which branch has the power to impeach?
a.
house
b.
senate
 

 25. 

Which member gets to approve cabinet members and people appointed to the Supreme Court
a.
house
b.
senate
 

 26. 

Which body would be responsible for the trial of a president who has been impeached?
a.
house
c.
supreme court
b.
senate
 

 27. 

Which Article of the Constitution deals with the House of Representatives?
a.
I
c.
III
b.
II
d.
V
 

 28. 

Which Article of the Constitution deals with the Senate
a.
I
c.
III
b.
II
d.
IV
 



 
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