Chapter 6: Legislative Branch Flashcards
Bicameral
Great compromise established Congress as 2-part system
Occurs
Takes place
Census
Population count taken by Census Bureau (every 10 years)
Constituents
People represented
Gerrymander
Oddly shaped district designed to increase voting strength of a particular group
Adjust
change
Majority party
In both houses, the political party to which half of the members belong to
Minority party
Political party that plays a smaller role in government
Standing committees
Permanent committees (eg. agriculture, commerce)
Seniority
Years of service
Expressed powers
Most powers are delegated to the Congress (A1, S8)
Implied powers
(Clause 18) powers not explicitly stated in Constitution
Elastic Clause
Clause 18 called “elastic” because they are allowing Congress to stretch its power to meet new needs
Regulating
managing
Impeach
House has sole authority to impeach, or accuse officials of MISCONDUCT in office
Writ of Habeas Corpus
Congress cannot suspend: a court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why they are holding the person.
Bills of Attainder
Congress cannot suspend: a law that would punish an person without jury trial
Ex post facto laws
Congress cannot suspend: laws that make an act a crime AFTER the act has been committed
Franking privilege
Ability to send job related mail without paying postage
Lobbyists
People hired by private groups to influence government decision-makers
Draft
outline
Complex
difficult
Estimates
guesses
Casework
The help that congressional offices provide to constituents
Pork-barrel projects
Government projects and grants that primarily benefits home district/state
Elements
factors
Joint resolutions
Formal statements that are passed by both houses of Congress, become laws if signed by President - used to propose constitutional amendments/delegate $$$ for special purposes
Special-interest groups
Organizations made up of people with common interests
Filibuster
To talk a bill to death, basically stalling
Cloture
Under this, no one can speak for more than one hour
Categories
types
Voice vote
Members say “Yea” or “No”, speaker determines result
Standing vote
Members stand to be counted for/against bill
RECORDED VOTE
Votes are recorded electoronically
Roll-call vote
As names are called, members say “Aye” or “No”
Veto
President refuses to sign bill into law
Pocket veto
When president does nothing for ten days, bill dies (as long as Congress is not in session)
