Congress Vocab Flashcards
A bill that is ignored by its committee; to sit the bill aside
Pigeon hole
An oddly shaped election district designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group
Gerrymander
Legislation earmaking funds for certain purposes
Appropriations bill
A population count taken by the census bureau
Census
Gov’t program that provides health care for the aged
Medicare
Refusal to sign a bill or resolution
Veto
To accuse govt officials of misconduct in office
Impeach
A person from a legislator’s district
Constituents
Years of service, which is used as a consideration for assigning committee members
Seniority system
Recognized officer over a legislative body who presides over the chamber in absence of the normal presiding officer
President pro tempore
Legislature consistint of two houses
Bicameral
A plan for making and spending money
Budget
Allows a person to be punished for an action that was not against a law when it was committed
Ex post facto
Spending for federal programs that must receive annual approval
Discretionary spending
Federal spending required by law that continues w/out the need for annual approvals by Congress
Mandatory spending
A procedure used in the senate to limit debate on a bill
Cloture
A voting method in which those in favor say yea and those against say no
Voice vote
Voting method in the senate in which members voice their votes in turn
Roll calll vote
Annual report filled local, state federal govt detailing income earned and taxes owed
Tax return
The presiding officer of the United States House of representatives
Speaker of the house
The right of senators and representatives to send job related mail w/out paying postage
Franking privilege
President’s power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for 10 days
Pocket veto
An amendment attached to a bill that has little or no relation to the subject of the bill
Riders
Representative of an interest group who contacts law makers or other gov’t officials directly to influence their policy making
Lobbyist
The work that lawmaker does to help constituents with a problem
Casework
Clause in article i, section 8 of the constitution that gives Congress the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out its expressed powers
Elastic clause
A law that punishes a person accused of a crime w/out a trial or a fair hearing in court
Bill of attainder
The assistant to the floor leader in each house of of Congress who tries to persuade party members to vote for bills the party supports
Party whip
The political party that has more members in Congress or in a state legislature
Majority party
A court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why they are holding the person
Writ of habeas corpus
In both the house of rep and the senate, the political party to which fewer than half the members belong
Minority party
A resolution that is passed by both houses of Congress
Joint resolution
An organization of people with some common interest who try to influence gov’t decisions
Special interest group
Gov’t project grant that primarily benefits the home district or state
Pork barrel projects
Permanent committee that continues work from session to session in its Congress
Standing committee
A tactic for defeating a bill in the Senate by talking until the bill’s sponsor withdraws it
Filibuster
