Ch7 Vocab Flashcards
The lower house of congress consisting if a different number of representative from each state depending on population
House of Representatives
The upper house of congress consisting of two representatives from each state
Senate
To happen or take place
Occur
A population count taken by the census bureau
Census
To change or alter in order to fit or conform
Adjust
A person from a legislator district
Constituent
An oddly shaped election district designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group
Gerrymander
In both the House of Representatives and the senate the political party to which more then half the members belong
Majority party
In both the house if representatives and the senate the political party to which fewer then half the members belong
Minority party
Years of service which is used as a consideration for assigning commitee members
Seniority
Powers that us congress has that is specifically listed in the constitution
Expressed powers
Another name for expressed powers
Enumerated powers
Powers that the congress has that is not states explicitly in the constitution
Implied powers
Clause in article I section 8 of the constitution that gives congress the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out it’s expressed powers
Elastic clause
To manage to to control
Regulate
Duty congress holds besides lawmaking
Non legislature power
To accuse government officials of misconduct in office
Impeach
A court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why they are holding the person
Writ of habeas corpus
A law that punishes a person accused of a crime without a trial or a fair hearing in court
Bill of attainder
A law that allows a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was commited
Ex post facto law
The right of senators and representatives to send job related mail without paying postage
Franking privilege
Representative of an interest group who contacts lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy making
Lobbyist
To make an outline or a rough version
Draft
To judge the approximate nature value quality or amount of a thing
Estimate
The work that a lawmaker does to help constituents with a problem
Casework
Government project grant that primarily benefits a congress person home district or state
Pork barrel project
A resolution that is passed by both houses of congress
Joint resolution
An organization of people with some common interest who try to influence government decisions
Special interest group
To offer a bill for consideration
Submit
A completely unrelated amendment added to a Bill
Rider
A tactics for defeating a bill in the senate by talking until the bills sponser withdraws it
Filibuster
A procedure used in the senate to limit debate on a bill
Cloture
A voting method in which those in favor say aye and those against say no
Voice vote
In congress when members stand to be counted for a vote on a bill
Standing vote
A voting method in the senate in which each members voice their votes in turn
Roll call vote
Presidents power to kill a bull if congress is not in session by not signing it for ten days
Pocket veto
