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Civics > Congress Vocab > Flashcards

Congress Vocab Flashcards

1
Q

A bill that is ignored by its committee; to sit the bill aside

A

Pigeon hole

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2
Q

An oddly shaped election district designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group

A

Gerrymander

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3
Q

Legislation earmaking funds for certain purposes

A

Appropriations bill

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4
Q

A population count taken by the census bureau

A

Census

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5
Q

Gov’t program that provides health care for the aged

A

Medicare

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6
Q

Refusal to sign a bill or resolution

A

Veto

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7
Q

To accuse govt officials of misconduct in office

A

Impeach

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8
Q

A person from a legislator’s district

A

Constituents

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9
Q

Years of service, which is used as a consideration for assigning committee members

A

Seniority system

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10
Q

Recognized officer over a legislative body who presides over the chamber in absence of the normal presiding officer

A

President pro tempore

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11
Q

Legislature consistint of two houses

A

Bicameral

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12
Q

A plan for making and spending money

A

Budget

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13
Q

Allows a person to be punished for an action that was not against a law when it was committed

A

Ex post facto

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14
Q

Spending for federal programs that must receive annual approval

A

Discretionary spending

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15
Q

Federal spending required by law that continues w/out the need for annual approvals by Congress

A

Mandatory spending

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16
Q

A procedure used in the senate to limit debate on a bill

A

Cloture

17
Q

A voting method in which those in favor say yea and those against say no

A

Voice vote

18
Q

Voting method in the senate in which members voice their votes in turn

A

Roll calll vote

19
Q

Annual report filled local, state federal govt detailing income earned and taxes owed

A

Tax return

20
Q

The presiding officer of the United States House of representatives

A

Speaker of the house

21
Q

The right of senators and representatives to send job related mail w/out paying postage

A

Franking privilege

22
Q

President’s power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for 10 days

A

Pocket veto

23
Q

An amendment attached to a bill that has little or no relation to the subject of the bill

A

Riders

24
Q

Representative of an interest group who contacts law makers or other gov’t officials directly to influence their policy making

A

Lobbyist

25
Q

The work that lawmaker does to help constituents with a problem

A

Casework

26
Q

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

A

Elastic clause

27
Q

A law that punishes a person accused of a crime w/out a trial or a fair hearing in court

A

Bill of attainder

28
Q

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

A

Party whip

29
Q

The political party that has more members in Congress or in a state legislature

A

Majority party

30
Q

A court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why they are holding the person

A

Writ of habeas corpus

31
Q

In both the house of rep and the senate, the political party to which fewer than half the members belong

A

Minority party

32
Q

A resolution that is passed by both houses of Congress

A

Joint resolution

33
Q

An organization of people with some common interest who try to influence gov’t decisions

A

Special interest group

34
Q

Gov’t project grant that primarily benefits the home district or state

A

Pork barrel projects

35
Q

Permanent committee that continues work from session to session in its Congress

A

Standing committee

36
Q

A tactic for defeating a bill in the Senate by talking until the bill’s sponsor withdraws it

A

Filibuster

Civics (11 decks)

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