unit 4 - executive / legislative Flashcards
bicameral
two house legislature
expressed powers
powers clearly given to congress in the constitution
implied powers
powers not clearly given to congress in the constitution
gerrymandering
drawing district boundaries to benefit a specific candidate
incumbent
person currently holding position
franking privilege
congress persons ability to send work related mail for free
habeas corpus
right of prisoners to know what they’re being accused of
when can habeas corpus be overruled?
during times of invasion or rebellion
bill of attainder
a law that allows a person to be held without habeas corpus (THESE LAWS ARENT ALLOWED)
ex post facto law
law passed ‘after the fact’
committee
groups within each house that discuss investigate major issues and laws
filibuster
act of talking a bill to death
cloture
call to limit or end a filibuster
veto
the ability of the president or governor to reject a law
pocket veto
ability of the president to set aside a bill in hopes that it won’t pass (if congress isn’t in session, it dies)
pigeon hole
committee’s attempts to ignore a bill
speaker of the house
leader of the house of representatives
president pro tempore
leader of the senate when vice president isn’t there
whip
members of each political party that encourage people to vote a certain way
censure
the act of reprimanding a member of congress
what article of the constitution establishes the legislative branch
article 1
when do terms of congress start
january 3rd (odd-numbered years)
what are the qualifications for house of representative members?
25 years of age, citizen for 7 years, live in the district you represent
what are the qualifications for senators?
30 years of age, citizen for 9 years
what are the benefits of congressman?
$174,000 yearly salary, free parking, franking privilege, travel allowance, free treatments in va hospitals, recreation activites
what’s the definiton of monetary power
deals with how money should be spent
what’s the definition of commerce powers
regulation of trade and government services
what’s the definition of war powers?
provides protection of the united states
what’s the defintion of governing powers?
oversees states, territories, and government property
what’s the definition of judicial powers?
assists conducting judicial functions of government
examples of expressed powers
collect taxes, borrow money, regulate foreign commerce, maintain armed forces, declare war, regulate immigration
grants
gift of money given by the government to a lower level of government or non-profit organization / charity
what are private bills
bills concerning individual people or places
what are public bills
apply to the entire nation
what are joint resolution bills
used to promote amendments, designate money for a special purpose, and to correct errors in bills already passed
1st step of making a law
think of an idea for a bill
2nd step of making a law
get congressman sponsor / promote a bill
3rd step of making a law
introduce the bill
4th step of making a law
committee action
what can committees do to a bill
pass it without changes, add changes, replace original bill with an alternative, pigeonhole, vote it out
5th step of making a law
report bill
6th step of making a law
consider bill on house floor
7th step of making a law
house votes on bill
8th step of making a law
senate considers bill on floor
9th step of making a law
senate votes on bill
10th step of making a law
bill is sent to president
what does article 2 do?
establishes executive branch: lists the president’s duties, limits, and requirements
what are the qualifications of presidents? (listed in article 3)
35 years old, native born citizen, resident for past 14 years
how many votes are needed to become president
270
when is inauguration day?
january 20th
first four people in line of succestion
1) vice president
2) speaker of the house
3) president pro-tempore
4) cabinet heads
what does the chief executive do
carry out nations laws, in charge of 15 cabinet departments, appoints the heads of cabinet departments
what does the chief diplomat do
direct foreign policy, makes key decisions about how the united states acts towards other countries
what does the commander in chief do
in charge of all military branches
what does the legislative leader do
propose legislation that they want to be enacted, make speeches to support bills
what does the head of state do
living symbol of the us, greets visiting foreign leaders, goes to ceremonial functions
what does the economic leader do
deal with unemployment, inflation, taxes, plans government budget
what does the party leader do
gives speeches to help fellow party members who are running for office, help fundraising within party
what does the party leader do
gives speeches to help fellow party members who are running for office, help fundraising within party
what is foreign policy
a nation’s plan for dealing with other nations
treaties
formal agreements between the governments of two or more countries (senate must approve treaties)
executive agreements
agreement between the president and the leader of another country
ambassador
an official representative of a countries government
foreign aid
assistance of another country
embargo
an agreement among a group of nations who agree to not trade with another country
