Key Terms Flashcards
Gerrymandering
Drawing the boundaries of electoral districts in a way that gives one party an unfair advantage over their rivals
Bicameral Legislature
~ 2 houses
~ The framers of the Constitution wanted to make sure both big and small states are fairly represented
Expulsion
Loss of seat/ membership
Censure
Formal disapproval
President pro tempore
Senate leader or Vice President
Speaker of the house
The presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives
Delegated powers
~powers given to the congress as written in the constitution
~ Financing the government
~ defending our country
~ regulate trade and industries
~creating lower courts (NOT SUPREME COURT
~ providing for growth
Implied powers
“Duh laws” not written in the constitution, just implied.
Elastic Cause
The ability for congress to pass all/any necessary in there power
Special powers
- If no Vice President candidate receives enough votes the snate may select VP
- Impeach
- All treaties with other countries
- Approve Supreme Court
Impeach
Accuse an office holder of misconduct
Bill
a draft of a proposed law presented for discussion
Filibuster
A long speech(they can talk about literally anything) that can’t be stopped except by a vote of 60 senators,
Cloture
A procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote
Veto
The president rejecting a bill
Senate qualifications
~30+ years old
~resident for nine years
~current legal resident
Senate benefits
~salary of 165,200 per year
~don’t have to pay to use postal service
~immunity-legal protection
Senate term
6 years
House qualifications
~25+ years old
~legal citizen for 7 years
~legal resident of state
House benefits
Same as senators
House term
2 years
Limits on power
~sentence people to prison without trial ~pass laws that violate Bill Of Rights ~grant trials nobility ~create schools ~create marriage laws ~conduct elections
What are the steps for a bill to become a law
- A member of congress proposes a bill
- Committee discusses bill, and makes necessary changes
- The committee in congress votes on the bill
- If the committee approves the bill it goes back to the full house and senate for a vote
- The bill is introduced to both houses of congress
- Both houses submit their version of the bill
- If they made different changes they discuss and compromise
- The bill with final changes goes back to house and senate for a vote
- If the bill passes both houses it goes to the president
- The president can then pass or veto the bill
11.
Explain the purpose of a bicameral legislature. Include what it is, and two reasons why it is important for our government- be specific
A bicameral legislature balances out the power between bigger and smaller states. It is important because each state is represented fairly no matter their size, any it makes checks and balances easier, making sure no branch has to much power
