Chapter 6: Vocab Flashcards
CONSTITUENT
a person from a legislator’s district
CENSUS
a population count taken by the Census Bureau every 10 years
GERRYMANDER
an oddly shaped election district designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group
MAJORITY PARTY
in both the HOR and the Senate, the political party to which more than half the members belong
MINORITY PARTY
in both the HOR and the Senate, the political party to which fewer than half the members belong
STANDING COMMITTEE
permanent committee that continues work from session to session in its Congress
SENIORITY
years of service, which is used as a consideration for assigning committee members
EXPRESSED POWERS
powers that Congress has that are specifically listed in the Constitution
IMPLIED POWERS
powers that Congress has that are not stated explicitly in the Constituion
ELASTIC CLAUSE
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
IMPEACH
to accuse government officials of misconduct in office
WRIT OF HABEAS CORPUS
a court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why they are holding the person
BILL OF ATTAINDER
a law that punishes a person accused of a crime without a trial or a fair hearing in court
EX POST FACTO LAW
a law that would allow a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committed
FRANKING PRIVILEGE
the right of senators and representatives to send job-related mail without paying postage
LOBBYIST
a representative of an interest group who contacts lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy making
CASEWORK
the work that a lawmaker does to help constituents with a problem
PORK-BARREL PROJECT
government project grant that primarily benefits the home district or state
JOINT RESOLUTION
a resolution that is passed by both houses of Congress
SPECIAL-INTEREST GROUP
an organization of people with some common interest who try to influence government decisions
FILIBUSTER
a tactic for defeating a bill in the Senate by talking until the bill’s sponsor withdraws it
CLOTURE
a procedure used in the Senate to limit debate on a bill
VOICE VOTE
a voting method in which those in favor say “Yea” and those against say “No”
STANDING VOTE
in Congress, when members stand to be counted for a vote on a bill
ROLL-CALL VOTE
a voting method in the Senate in which members voice their votes in turn
VETO
refusal to sign a bill or resolution
POCKET VETO
president’s power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for 10 days
