AP U.S. Government and Politics / Interactions Among Branches of Government
Lesson
Congress and lawmaking
Structure, powers, and gridlock.
Learning goals
- Explain how bicameralism and committees shape which bills survive.
- Identify enumerated powers Congress uses to check the other branches.
Explanation
Congress writes legislation, controls spending, and can check the other branches. Bicameral structure, committees, and party leadership shape what bills survive.
The House and Senate are not copies of each other. Different term lengths, constituencies, and rules change bargaining. Oversight hearings, the power of the purse, and confirmation votes are how Congress stays in a law after it is passed. Gridlock is often a design outcome—two chambers plus a president—not only a personality problem.
Key terms
- bicameralism. A legislature divided into two chambers that must both agree for a bill to pass.
- oversight. Congress's review of how the executive branch carries out the law, often through hearings and investigations.
Common mistakes
- Treating Congress as a single actor with one will.
- Forgetting that funding and confirmation are legislative powers, not only 'passing bills.'
Practice
Original Marlow Works items. Check the answer explanation after you try.
Explain one way Senate confirmation of presidential appointments checks the executive branch.
Original Marlow Works item — not a College Board question.
Take your time—this is practice, not a test.
Answer explanation
Why can a bill with public support still die in Congress?
Answer. Committees, chamber rules, party leadership, or the other chamber can block it before a final vote.
Lawmaking is a sequence of veto points, not a simple majority snapshot.
Related resources
External links with reuse status. Marlow Works is independent and does not copy restricted exam or textbook material.
Official / link only
AP U.S. Government and Politics course page
Official five-unit framework, foundational documents, and skills.
College Board · All rights reserved · accessed 2026-10-01
Open sourceCC BY — attribution required
Introduction to Political Science
Open political science background for institutions and behavior.
Open Textbook Library listing · CC BY · accessed 2026-10-01
Open source