Need HElp with Government!!?

Question

I need help with these questions, if you could give me the source that would be great! THanks!

How did Congress come to be established as a two-house legislature?

Describe the three kinds of committees maintained by the Senate. What are the committees called and what is their function?

Explain the purpose of a filibuster. Why do Senators use it? How could it be considered anti-democratic? Who holds the record for the longest filibuster?

Explain the roles of the majority and minority leaders in the Senate. How are these leaders chosen?

Answer 1

Do you have a textbook?!  Here is some basic information.  I would use your textbook to supplement what I have told you.  

Congress was established as a two-house legislature by the Connecticut Compromise.  This compromise comibined parts of the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan.  

I am guessing your teacher is talking about standing committees, subcommittees, and select committees.  Standing committees are permanent committees that specialize in certain subject areas.  These committees investigate, debate, and must vote on bills before they go to the full Senate.  Subcommittees are subunits of the standing committees that help the committee to further divide their workload.  Subcommittees mark-up legislation and report on it to the full committee.  Select committees are special committees that are created to deal with a certain problem or perform an investigation.

A filibuster is an informal tactic that a senator can use to block or delay a vote on a bill by debating at length.  It takes the votes of a simple majority of senators to pass a bill, but a vote of 60 senators (a cloture vote) is required to break a filibuster.  So if a senator or group of senators are unhappy with a bill and thinks it will pass with a simple majority (50% plus one), then they can try to filibuster.  If 60 senators do not vote to stop the filibuster, then the bill is dead.  The filibuster is considered anti-democratic because it is an informal tactic that can subvert the will of the democratically elected majority.  Strom Thurmond holds the record for his filibuster of one of the Civil Rights Act.

The majority and minority leaders in the Senate are the leaders of their party who set their party agenda and schedule when votes will take place.  They are elected by their respective party caucuses.