Fun Trivia : U.S. Congress

Structure Sub-topic of: U.S. Government Quizzes Interesting Questions, Facts and Information There are a total of 10 general entries. Special Topics The House, the Senate, and the Governors, too Odd U.S. Senate 108th Congress Congressional Lingo

Interesting Questions, Facts, and Information

U.S. Congress

The Committee in the House of Representatives that is responsible for issues such as taxes and international trade is called the Committee on what?

The U.S. Congress


Ways and Means. Presumably the name came about as a description by which the "ways and means" of revenues were collected! Members cannot serve on any other Committee although technically they can apply for a waiver. Three former Presidents served as Chairman of the Committee: Polk, Fillmore and McKinley.



We know that the Vice President would succeed the President should he/she be forced to leave office any reason. Who is next in the line of succession after that?

The U.S. Congress


The Speaker of the House. Secretary of State Al Haig was obviously unaware that the Constitution had been amended when after the attempted assassination of President Reagan he suggested he was next in line of succession after the Vice President. The fact that the Speaker is third in line can have political consequences. For example, had Republican President Richard Nixon been forced out of office prior to the appointment of Gerald Ford as Vice President during the Watergate scandal the Presidency would have passed to Speaker Carl Albert, a Democrat.



All legislation dealing with funding must start in which body, according to the Constitution?

The U.S. Congress


The House of Representatives. The framers felt that the House, as the only body at that time directly elected by the people, should have the initial control of the money flow in government. This in no way means the Senate has less authority in this area.



If the Congress cannot pass an appropriations bill to provide funds for a governmental department or organ of the government, what can it pass to keep the provision of spending alive?

The U.S. Congress


A continuing resolution. Toward the end of a Congressional session you will see the CRs flowing like a flood as Congress often cannot get to Appropriations bills especially if they are contentious. Sometimes governmental departments will operate on a CR rather than an Appropriation for a considerable amount of time.



During a State of the Union address who sits behind the President during his speech?

The U.S. Congress


The Speaker of the House and the Vice President. They sit in chairs above the President as the two next in line. Also they are the presiding officers over the two legislative bodies albeit the Vice President's role in the Senate is largely ceremonially except with tie votes in which case he/she casts the deciding vote. A speech before Congress has emerged over time. It was not the practice until the 20th century.



Which Speaker of the House later became President of the United States?

The U.S. Congress


James K. Polk. Polk was one of the very few Presidents to deliver on all his campaign promises. He served one term and died shortly thereafter. Other Speakers have run for the Presidency and lost such as Henry Clay and James G. Blaine in the 19th Century. FDR's Vice President, James Garner, was a Speaker. But normally it takes a great deal of time and effort to attain the office of Speaker and few wish to give that up in order to take a chance on running for President. Truman never served in the House. Madison served in the House but was never elected to the Speakership.



Legislative differences between the House and Senate are resolved by what?

The U.S. Congress


A Conference Committee. In many cases legislation passed by the two bodies contains different language. When this occurs a committee of key members involved in the crafting of the bill are appointed to hammer out compromise and then both chambers must pass the revised measure before it is submitted to the President for his signature into law.