Chapter 10 (The National Legislature) Flashcards

1
Q

Bicameral

A

a legislature made up of two houses

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2
Q

Reasons why Constitution establishes bicameral legislature

A

for historical, practical, and theoretical reasons

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3
Q

Term

A

a term of Congress last for two years

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4
Q

Session

A

a session of Congress is that period during which, each year, Congress assembles and conducts business

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5
Q

Convene

A

to begin a new session of Congress

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6
Q

Adjourn

A

suspend, as in a session of Congress

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7
Q

Recess

A

a time when both houses of Congress temporarily suspend business

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8
Q

Prorogue

A

adjourn, as in a legislative session

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9
Q

Special Session

A

an extraordinary session of a legislative body, called to deal with an emergency situation

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10
Q

Apportion

A

distribute, as in seats in a legislative body

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11
Q

Reapportion

A

to redistribute the seats in the House of Representatives every ten years, after each census

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12
Q

Reapportionment Act of 1929

A

the “permanent” size of the House is 435 members

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13
Q

Off-year elections

A

those Congressional elections that occur in nonpresidential years

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14
Q

Single-member district

A

electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office

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15
Q

At-large election

A

election of an officeholder by the voters of an entire governmental unit (e.g., a State or country) rather than by the voters of a district or subdivision

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16
Q

Gerrymandering

A

the drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group

17
Q

Qualifications to serve in House of Representatives

A
  1. at least 25 years of age
  2. have been a citizen of U.S. for at least 7 years
  3. be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected
18
Q

Incumbent

A

the person who currently holds the office

19
Q

Size of the Senate

A

Fixed by the Constitutional requirement that every State shall have 2 Senators. Today 100 Senators represent 50 States.

20
Q

Continuous body

A

the Senate is a continuous body because all of its seats are never up for election at the same time

21
Q

Constituency

A

the people and interests that an elected official represents

22
Q

Qualifications to serve in Senate

A
  1. at least 30 years of age
  2. have been a citizen of U.S. for at least 9 years
  3. be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected
23
Q

Delegate

A

members of Congress who cast votes based on the wishes of their constituents

24
Q

Trustee

A

lawmaker who votes based on his or her conscience and judgment, not the views of his or her constituents

25
Q

Partisan

A

lawmaker who owes his/her first allegiance to his/her political party and votes according to the party line

26
Q

Politico

A

lawmaker who attempts to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles

27
Q

Bill

A

a proposed law presented to a legislative body for consideration

28
Q

Floor consideration

A

the process by which proposed laws are considered and acted upon by the full membership of the House or Senate

29
Q

Oversight function

A

review by legislative committees of the policies and programs of the executive branch

30
Q

Franking privilege

A

benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free

31
Q

Congressional pay

A

the Constitution says that Congress fixes its own pay

32
Q

The Speech or Debate Clause

A

Article I, Section 6, Clause 1 of the Constitution gives members of Congress the ability to speak freely in their job without fear of being sued in the courts