Chapter 5 - The Legislative Branch Flashcards
Article 1, Section 8, Clause 18 of the Constitution, which gives the national legislature the power to “make all laws that are necessary and proper” to exercise the powers granted by the Constitution; also known as the “elastic clause.”
Necessary and Proper Clause
To impose or collect.
Levy
A tax levied on one person but passed on to another for payment to the government; tariffs are examples of this.
Indirect Tax
A tax an individual pays directly to the government.
Direct tax
A condition in which government revenues are lower than expenses.
Deficit
Article 1, Section 8, Clause 3 of the Constitution that outlines the commerce powers granted to Congress (EX: Right to regulate interstate commerce).
Commerce Clause
A legal dispute.
Litigation
One who argued Congress should have the power / freedom to act vigorously, and expanded the meaning of the Constitution to take into account the new times.
Loose Constructionist
One who argues that Congress should exercise only those powers clearly stated in the Constitution.
Strict Constructionist
Legal documents that require a person to testify in a certain matter.
Subpoenas
A court order that forces the police to present a person in court to face charges; a Latin phrase meaning “you have the body.”
Writ of Habeas Corpus
A law that punishes a person without trial.
Bill of Attainder
Laws that criminalizes an action that took place in the past and that was legal at the time; a Latin phrases meaning “from after the fact.”
Ex post facto laws
A position held by the Vice President of the United States, who presides over debate in the Senate chamber.
President of the Senate
The official who presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President.
President Pro Tempore
The person elected by the majority party who serves as the spokesperson and main strategist for the majority party in the Senate.
Senate Majority Leader
The tradition in the Senate in which the chair of a committee is given to the most senior majority Senator on a committee.
Seniority Rule
The tactic used when opponents of a measure seek to prevent it coming up for a vote in the Senate by refusing to stop talking in hopes of stalling action long enough that the rest of the Senate will be forced to move on to other business.
Filibuster
The vote to end debate of a bill in the Senate.
Cloture
The people who live in a particular geographic area represented by Congress.
Constituents
The distribution of House seats among the states based on their population.
Apportionment
A special type of act in which a bill sets aside funds for a specific purpose.
Appropriation
The congressional power to charge officials in the executive and judicial branches with wrongdoing, and then bring them to trial and can be removed from office before the completion of their term.
Impeachment
A broad congressional power for Congress to review how the executive branch is operating and to make sure that it is following the laws Congress has passed.
Congressional Oversight
A total court or survey of a group of people, typically recording various details and information about the individuals within a population.
Census
The act of drawing distinct boundaries for political advantage.
Gerrymandering
A privilege given to members of Congress that allows them to send free mail to constituents, typically by their signature rather than through postage.
Franking privilege
A privilege granted ensuring that members of Congress cannot be prosecuted for anything they say or any statements they make on the floor while Congress is in session.
Immunity
The most powerful member and presiding officer of the House of Representatives.
The Speaker of the House
A proposed law.
Bill
A permanent committee, which addresses major areas in which most proposed laws fall.
Standing Committee
A smaller, sub-committee made up of a few people in a committee that take an even narrower focus than a committee.
Subcommittee
A committee that carries out specific tasks not already covered by existing committees, such as investigations, often for a limited duration of time (members appointed by the Speaker)
Select Committee
A committee formed by the House and Senate that addresses broad issues that affect both chambers.
Joint Committee
