Ch.10 Congress Flashcards
Term
two-year period of time during which Congress meets.
Session
period of time during which, each year, Congress assembles and conducts business.
Convene
To begin a new session of Congress.
Adjourn
suspend, as a session of Congress
Recess
A time when both houses of Congress temporarily suspend business.
Prorogue
Adjourn, as in a legislative session.
Sine Die
Neither house can adjourn without the consent of the other house.
Special Session
An extraordinary session of a legislative body, called to deal with an emergency situation.
Apportion
Distribute, as in seats in a legislative body.
Reapportion
Redistribute, as in seats in a legislative body.
Off-year election
Congressional election that occurs between presidential election years.
Single-member district
Electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each electoral office.
District
A voting block that represents about 700,000 people.
Gerrymander
The drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group.
Incumbent
The current officeholder.
Continuous body
Governing unit whose seats are never all up for election at the same time.
Constituency
The people and interests that an elected official requests.
Delegate
Representatives: members of Congress who cast votes based on the wishes of their constituents.
Trustee
Lawmaker who votes based on his or her conscience and judgment. not the views of his or her constituents.
Partisan
Lawmaker who owes his/her first allegiance to his/her political party and votes according.
Politico
Lawmaker who attempts to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles: see trustee, delegate, partisan.
Oversight function
Review by legislative committees of policies and programs of the executive branch.
Speech and Debate Clause
It protects representatives and senators from suits for libel or slander arising from their speech in Congress.
What are the three reasons why the House of Representatives is Bicameral?
- Historical reason: British Parliament - had 2 houses
- Practical reason: Settled conflict between small & large states
- Theoretical reason: Check & balance each other
What are the three unique powers of the House/Senate?
- Trial for impeachment
- Ratify treaties
- Confirmation (approves) - Cabinet, Judges, etc.
What are the two ways in which gerrymandering is done?
- Spread the opposition’s voters out in as many districts as possible.
- Concentrate the opposition’s voters in as few districts as possible.
What are the qualifications of a House member/ and a Senator?
House member:
- must be 25 years old
- U.S. citizen for 7 years
- must live in state
Senator:
- must be 30 years old
- U.S. citizen for 9 years
- must live in a state
What are the 5 major roles of a congressmen?
- Legislators: make laws
- Representative: voice of people: delegate, trustee, partisan, politico
- Committee members: take up bills
- Servants to constituents: help people
- Politicians: a person who governs
What are the 3 limits on congressional pay?
- President’s veto
- Voter backlash
- 27th amendment (does not take effect until the next term)
Bicameral
an adjective describing a legislative body of two chambers.
