Final answer:
This detailed answer covers a range of topics in social studies, including the number of House of Representatives and Senate members, the determination of representation, appropriation bills vs revenue bills, the Senate as the upper house, loose/liberal construction vs strict construction, congressional powers, the Necessary and Proper Clause, entitlements, winning grants and contracts, the government's spending money, enumerated powers, immigration control, overriding a veto, starting revenue bills and the impeachment process, bill mortality rates, and the steps in creating the national budget.
Step-by-step explanation:
20. Members in the House of Representatives and Senate
The House of Representatives has 435 members, while the Senate has 100 members.
Determining Representation
The number of House of Representatives members is based on the population of each state, with each state guaranteed at least one representative. The number of Senators is fixed at two per state.
21. Appropriation Bills vs Revenue Bills
Appropriation bills authorize the government to spend money, while revenue bills generate income for the government.
22. Senate as the Upper House
The Senate is known as the upper house because it has more prestige, enjoys certain additional powers, such as approving treaties and confirming presidential appointments. It is also a continuous body, meaning only one-third of its members are up for re-election every two years.
23. Loose/Liberal Construction vs Strict Construction
Loose/liberal construction refers to a broad interpretation of the Constitution, allowing the government more flexibility in exercising its powers. Strict construction, on the other hand, takes a literal interpretation of the Constitution, limiting the government's actions to those explicitly stated.
24. Congressional Powers in Article I, Section 8
Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution grants Congress powers such as the power to levy and collect taxes, regulate commerce, declare war, and establish post offices.
25. Necessary & Proper Clause and Implied Powers
The Necessary and Proper Clause, also known as the Elastic Clause, allows Congress to make laws that are necessary and proper for carrying out its enumerated powers. This clause has been used to justify the existence of implied powers.
26. Entitlements and Examples
Entitlements are government programs that guarantee certain benefits to individuals who meet specific eligibility criteria. An example of an entitlement is the Social Security program.
27. Importance of Winning Grants and Contracts
Lawmakers try to win grants and contracts for their constituents to bring resources and funding to their districts, ultimately benefitting their constituents and enhancing their chances of re-election.
28. Main Source of Federal Government's Spending Money
The main source of the federal government's spending money is through taxes, including income taxes, corporate taxes, and other forms of taxation.
29. Enumerated/Expressed Powers of Congress
Three examples of enumerated/expressed powers of Congress include the power to coin money, establish post offices, and regulate interstate commerce.
30. Government's Control of Immigration
The government's control of immigration is an example of a concurrent power, where both the federal and state governments have authority.
31. Overriding a Presidential Veto
Congress can override a presidential veto by obtaining a two-thirds majority vote in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
32. Revenue Bills and Impeachment Process
Only the House of Representatives can start revenue bills, while the House of Representatives has the sole power to initiate the impeachment process.
33. Most Bills Die in Congress
Most bills die in Congress during the committee stage, where they are often not approved or voted on by the full House of Representatives or the Senate.
34. National Budget Creation Steps
The steps in creating the national budget include the president's budget proposal, review by congressional committees, budget resolutions, appropriations committees, and finally, passing the appropriations bills.
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