Legislative Branch

Question 0

Veto

Answer 0

Chief executives power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

Question 1

Whip

Answer 1

Assistants to the floor leaders in the House and Senate, responsible for monitoring and marshaling votes

Question 2

Trustee

Answer 2

Lawmaker who votes based on his or her conscience and judgement, not the views of his or her constituents

Question 3

Term

Answer 3

Two year period of time during which Congress meets.

Question 4

Strict Constructionist

Answer 4

One who argues a narrow interpretation of the Constitutions provisions, in particular those granting powers to the Federal Government

Question 5

Special Session

Answer 5

An extraordinary of a legislative body, called to deal with an emergency situation

Question 6

Speaker of the House

Answer 6

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, chosen by and and from the majority party in the House

Question 7

Reapportion

Answer 7

Redistribute, as in seats in a legislative body

Question 8

Politico

Answer 8

Lawmaker who attempts to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles

Question 9

Party Caucus

Answer 9

A closed meeting of a party’s House or Senate members; also called a party conference

Question 10

Partisan

Answer 10

Lawmaker who owes his/her first allegiance to his/her political party and votes according to the party line

Question 11

Off-year Election

Answer 11

Congressional election that occurs between Presidential election years

Question 12

Oversight Function

Answer 12

Review by legislative committees of the policies and programs of the Executive branch

Question 13

Liberal Constructionists

Answer 13

One who argues a broad interpretation of the provisions of the Constitution, particularly those granting powers to the Federal Government

Question 14

Joint Committee

Answer 14

Legislative committee composed of members of both houses

Question 15

Inherent Powers

Answer 15

Powers the Constitution is presumed to have delegated to the National Government because it is the government of a sovereign state within the world community

Question 16

Implied Powers

Answer 16

Those delegated powers of the National Government that are suggested by the expressed powers set out in the Constitution; those “necessary and proper” to carry out the expressed powers

Question 17

Gerrymandering

Answer 17

The drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group

Question 18

Franking Privilege

Answer 18

Benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free

Question 19

Floor Leaders

Answer 19

Members of the House and Senate picked by their parties to carry out party decisions and steer legislative action to meet party goals

Question 20

Filibuster

Answer 20

Various tactics (usually long speeches) aimed at defeating a bill in a legislative body by preventing a final vote; associated with the U.S Senate

Question 21

Expressed Powers

Answer 21

Those delegated powers of the National Government that are spelled out, expressly, in the Constitution; also called the “enumerated powers”

Question 22

Continuous Body

Answer 22

Governing unit( e.g the United States Senate) whose seats are never all up for election at the same time

Question 23

Constituency

Answer 23

The people and interests that an elected official represents

Question 24

Consensus

Answer 24

General agreement among various groups on fundamental matters; broad agreement on public questions

Question 25

Bill

Answer 25

A proposed law presented to a legislative body for consideration

Question 26

At-Large Election

Answer 26

Election of an officeholder by the voters of an entire governmental unit(e.g a State or country) rather then by the voters of a district or subdivision

Question 27

Apportion

Answer 27

Distribute, as in seats in a legislative body

Question 28

Committee Chairman

Answer 28

Member who heads a standing committee in a legislative body

Question 29

Adjourn

Answer 29

Suspend, as in a session of Congress

Question 30

Cloture

Answer 30

Procedure that may be used to limit or end floor debate in a legislative body

Question 31

Conference Committee

Answer 31

Temporary joint committee created to reconcile any differences between the two houses versions of a bill