Congress (Definitions) Flashcards
Bicameral
Legislature has two chambers. Congress has House of Representatives and Senate
Gerrymandering
Manipulating district boundaries to influence the result of an election
Impeachment
A simple majority vote in House to decide whether an Executive official should be tried in the Senate. If the official loses the Senate trial, they are removed from office
Exclusive powers
Powers that only one chamber of Congress possesses
Concurrent powers
Powers that both chambers of Congress can use
Speaker of the House
Presiding officer of the House, who is elected at the start of each Congress. Possesses a number of powers (see facts deck)
Majority and minority leaders
Elected by party groups at the start of each Congress. Larger party is led by majority leader and smaller party is led by minority leader
Committee system
The only place where members of the Executive branch can be questioned by members of Congress
Standing committees
Permanent, policy specialist committees that perform legislative and investigatory functions
Sub-committee
A more specific, smaller committee made up of members of a larger committee (eg House transportation and Infrastructure has subcommittees of Aviation, Highways and transit etc)
House Rules Committee
A House standing committee responsible for prioritising bills coming from the committee stage to the House
Select committees
Temporary committees that are set up to investigate a specific issue
Seniority rule
Chair of a standing committee will be member of majority party with longest service on that committee
Legislative Process
First reading -> Committee stage -> Timetabling -> Second reading -> Third reading -> (Conference committee) -> Presidential Action
Presidential Action
Sign into law, veto, leave bill on desk, or pocket veto
Filibuster
Device by which senators can attempt to ‘talk a bill to death’ due to their power of unlimited debate. Can be broken by 3/5ths majority
Regular veto
President can veto any bill passed by Congress. Veto can be overriden by 2/3 majority in both houses
Pocket veto
President takes no action on bill in last 9 days of legislative session and the bill does not become law
Congressional oversight
Review, monitoring and supervision of federal agencies and activities
Gridlock
Failure to get action on policy proposals and legislation in congress due to friction between two parties
