Chapter 5 Flashcards
Who has the ability to declare war?
The ability to declare war rests with Congress.
Who currently holds the title of Speaker of the House?
Nancy Pelosi currently holds the title of Speaker of the House.
What is the role of lobbyists?
Lobbyists are hired by private groups to influence lawmakers.
Who currently holds the title of House Minority Whip?
Steve Scalise currently holds the title of House Minority Whip.
What is gerrymandering?
Gerrymandering is forming an oddly shaped district to increase voting strength for a particular group.
What are Implied Powers also known as?
Implied Powers are known as ‘enumerated powers’ within the Constitution.
What is cloture?
Cloture stops a filibuster when 3/5ths of the Senate agrees to do so.
What does the Rules Committee do?
The Rules Committee limits the debates of bills.
What are ‘Pork Barrel’ Projects?
‘Pork Barrel’ Projects primarily benefit specific constituents.
Where must these bills originate?
These bills must originate in the House of Representatives.
Who holds the power to confirm Presidential appointees?
The Senate holds the power to confirm Presidential appointees.
What is the role of the Conference Committee?
The Conference Committee helps the House and Senate agree on legislation.
What is seniority in Congress?
Seniority is the tradition of making the longest serving members of Congress committee chairs.
What do interns do in Congress?
Interns help with various tasks in Congress.
What does it mean to pigeonhole a bill?
Pigeonhole is when a committee ignores a bill until it dies.
What is a filibuster?
Filibuster is a tactic that amounts to prolonged debate.
What is a Joint Committee?
A Joint Committee contains members from both the House and Senate.
What is Franking Privilege?
Franking Privilege allows Congress members to send job-related mail without postage.
What is a Standing Committee?
A Standing Committee is a permanent committee.
What do Special Interest Groups do?
Special Interest Groups try to influence legislation.
Who are constituents?
Constituents are people represented by a member of Congress.
What is the role of the President Pro Tempore?
A President Pro Tempore fills in for the Vice President to preside over the Senate.
What is a Select Committee?
A Select Committee is created to investigate or address specific issues for a limited time.
How often is a Census conducted?
A Census is conducted every ten years.
What are Private Bills?
Private Bills concern specific individuals or organizations.
How does a member of Congress send a court case to the Supreme Court?
Generally, a member of Congress wouldn’t send a court case to the Supreme Court directly; that’s handled through the judicial system.
