Government Exam: Vocab Flashcards
Term
Two year period where congress meets
Bicameral
Having Two houses
Session
Time period during which, each year, congress conducts business.
Convene
To officially call everyone together for a meeting.
Congress starts January 3rd every year
Adjourn
To suspend business until NEXT session
Recess
To suspend business temporarily DURING session
Prorogue
Presidents power to adjourn a session when the 2 houses can’t agree.
Sine Die
When neither houses can adjourn until they have the consent of the other house
Special session
When the president calls congress in for an emergency meeting.
Gerrymandering
The drawing of district lines in favor of the party in power
Apportion
Distributing seats in congress
Reapportion
Seats are redistributed after 10 years
Off-year Election
Non presidential years
Single-Member district
Geographic district that only has one representative
District
A voting block of mostly 700,000 people
Incumbent
The holding of an office or post
Continuous body
All seats of congress are never up for election at same time
Constituency
The people the members of congress represent
Delegate
Agent of the people
Trustee
Person who holds property, authority, and a position of trust or responsibility.
Partisan
All in favor of their own party. Strong supporters
Politicos
A combination of delegate, trustee, and partisan
Oversight function
Gives congress power to oversee all federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementations.
Speech and Debate Clause
Protects representatives from law suits for slander arising from a speech they give in congress.
