Unit 4- The Legislative Branch Flashcards
What’s the role of Congress in a Democracy?
National Government
How many members is Congress made up of and what do they do?
535 Elected Officials- Make laws and respond to the constituents’ demands. 535LD
What are the 5 roles of members of Congress?
Legislators-Representatives of their Constituents- Committee Members- Servants- Politicians. LRCSP
What are the 4 voting options of a lawmaker?
Delegate-Trustee-Partisan-Politico DTPP
Define Delegate
People with authority to represent others at a conference or convention.
Define Trustee
Lawmakers who vote based on their conscience and judgement, not the views of their constituents.
Define Partisan
Lawmakers who owe their first allegiance to their political party and vote according to their party line.
Define Politico
Lawmakers who attempt to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles.
What is the most popular voting model today?
The delegate model
Define Bills
A proposed law presented to a legislative body for consideration.
Define Floor Consideration
The process by which proposed laws are considered and acted upon by the full membership of the House and Senate.
Define Oversight Function
Review by legislative committees of the policies and programs of the executive branch. OE
Which Congress included the most women and minorities in history?
115th
Who is the elected Minority Leader?
Nancy Pelosi
Define Term
Two year period of time during which Congress meets.
Define Session
Period of time each year during which Congress assembles and conducts business.
Define Convene
To begin a new session of Congress
Define Adjourn
Suspend, as in a session of Congress
Define Recess
A time when both houses of Congress temporarily suspend business.
Define Prorogue
Adjourn, as in a legislative session.
When can a President prorogue a session?
Only when the two houses cannot agree on a date for adjournment.
Define Special Session
An extraordinary session of a legislative body, called to deal with an emergency situation.
Who is able to call Congress into a Special Session?
The President
Define Franking Privilege
Benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free.
How many members are in the House and how many are in the Senate?
435 in the House- 100 in Senate
Define Apportioned
Distributed, as in seats in a legislative body.
Define Reapportion
Redistribute, as in seats in a legislative body.
How long is Congress forced to reapportion the seats in the House?
Every 10 years
Define single-member district
Electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office.
Define At-Large
Election of an office-holder by the voters of an entire governmental unit rather than by the voters of a district or subdivision.
Define Redistricting
The process of creating congressional districts in each State after the census.
Define Gerrymandering
The drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group.
Define Off-Year Elections
Congressional elections that occurs between presidential election years.
What are the two requirements to become a member of the House?
Formal Qualifications- Informal Qualifications FI
What are the formal requirements to be a member of the House?
25 years old- Been a citizen for at least 7 years- Be an inhabitant of the State from which you intend to be elected. 25C7I
Define Incumbent
The current officeholder.
How long do Senators serve?
6 years
Define Continuous Body
Governing unit whose seats are never all up for election at the same time.
Define Constituencies
The people and interests that an elected official represents.
What are the requirements to become a Senate?
30 Years- Citizen for 9 years- Inhabitant of elected State 30C9I
Define Delegated Powers
Congress has only those powers delegated (granted, given) to it by the Constitution.
What are the 3 powers that Congress has?
Expressed-Implied-Inherent
Define Expressed Powers
Those delegated powers of the National Government that are spelled out, expressly, in the Constitution; also called the “enumerated powers”.
Define Implied Powers
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.
Define Inherent Powers
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.
Define Commerce Power
Exclusive Power of Congress to regulate interstate and foreign trade.
Define Tax
A charge levied by government on persons or property to raise money to meet public needs.
Define Public Debt
All of the money borrowed by the government and not yet repaid, plus the accrued interest on that money; also called the national debt or federal debt.
Define Deficit Financing
The practice of funding government by borrowing to make up the difference between government spending and revenue.
Define Bankruptcy
The legal proceeding by which a bankrupt person’s assets are distributed among those to whom he or she owes debt.
Define Legal Tender
Any kind of money that a creditor must, by law, accept in payment for debts.
Define Copyright
The exclusive, legal right of a person to reproduce, publish, and sell his or her own literary, musical, or artistic creations.
Define Patent
A license issued to an inventor granting the exclusive right to manufacture, use, or sell his or her own invention for a limited period of time.
Define Territories
A part of the United States that is not a state and has its own system of government.
Define Eminent Domain
The power of a government to take private property for public use.
Define Naturalization
The legal process by which citizens of one country become citizens of another.
Define Necessary and Proper Clause
the final clause of Article 1 which gives Congress the power to make all laws necessary and proper for executing its powers.
In what instances does Congress use its implied powers?
Commerce Power- Power to tax and spend- War Powers CTW
Define Appropriates
To assign to a particular use.
Define Impeach
To bring formal charges against a public official.
Define Acquit
To not find guilty of charge
Define Perjury
The act of lying under oath.
Define Censure
To issue a formal condemnation
Define Subpeona
An order for a person to appear and to produce documents or other requested materials.
Define Successor
A person who inherits a title or office.
Define Speaker of the House
the presiding officer of the House of Representatives, chosen from and by the majority party in the House.
Define President of the Senate
The presiding officer of a Senate; in Congress, the Vice President of the United States; in a State’s legislature, either the lieutenant governor or a senator.
Define President Pro Tempore
the member of the United States Senate, or of the upper House of a Senate’s legislature, chosen to preside in the absence of the president of the Senate.
Define Party Caucus
A closed meeting of a party’s house or senate members; also called a party conference.
Define Floor Leaders
Members of the House and Senate picked by their parties to carry out party decisions and steer legislative action to meet party goals.
Define Majority Leader
The floor leader of the party that holds the majority of seats in each house of Congress.
Define Minority Leader
The floor leader of the party that holds the minority of seats in each house of Congress.
Define Whips
Assistants to the floor leaders in the House and Senate, responsible for monitoring and marshaling votes.
Define Committee Chairmen
Member who heads a standing committee in a legislative body.
Define Seniority Rule
Unwritten rule in both Houses of Congress reserving the top posts in each chamber, particularly committee chairmanships, for members with the longest records of service.
Define Standing Committees
Permanent committee in a legislative body to which bills in a specified subject area area are referred; see select committee.
Define Subcommittee
Division of existing committee that is formed to address specific issues.
Define Select Committee
Legislative committee created for a limited time and some specific purpose; also known as a special committee.
Define Joint Committee
Legislative committee composed of members of both houses.
Define Conference Committee
Temporary joint committee created to reconcile any difference between the two houses versions of a bill.
Define Joint Resolutions
A proposal for action that has the force of law when passed; usually deals with special circumstances or temporary matters.
Define Concurrent Resolution
A statement of position on an issue used by the House and Senate acting jointly; does not have the force of law and does not require President’s signature.
Define Resolution
A measure relating to the business of either house of Congress or expressing an opinion; does not have the force of law and does not require the President’s signature.
Define Rider
Unpopular provision added to an important bill certain to pass so it will ride through the legislative process.
Define Pigeonhold
Expression describing how most bills introduced in each session of Congress are buried, put away, or never acted upon.
Define Discharge Petition
Enables members to force a bill that has remained in committee for 30 days onto the floor for consideration.
Define Quorum
Fewest number of members who must be present for a legislative body to conduct business; majority.
Define Engrossed
A bill printed in its final form.
Define Filibuster
A stalling tactic in which senators monopolize the Senate floor with talk and other delays so a bill cannot be brought to a vote.
Define Cloture
A procedure to limit or end floor debate, especially during a filibuster.
Define Veto
Chief executive’s power to reject a bill passed by a legislature.
Define Pocket Veto
A type of veto a chief executive may use after a legislature has adjourned when the chief executive does not sign or reject a bill within the time allowed to do so.
Define Omnibus Measure
One bill that contains numerous issues and subjects.
