Vocab Flashcards
Bicameral
Having two branches or chambers
Bill
A draft of a proposed law represented to parliament for discussion
Lobbyist
Someone hired by a business or cause to persuade legislators to support that business or cause
Franking
Making a mark/signature that show the postage does not need to be paid
Gerrymandering
Manipulate the boundaries so as to favor one part or class
Logrolling
The practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics by reciprocal voting for each others legislation
Pigeonholing
Assigning to a particular category or class
Appropriations
A sum of money or total of assets devoted to a special purpose.
Interest group
A group that is determined to exchange or prevent changes in public policy without trying to be elected
Pork barrel
The use of government funds for projects designed to please voters
Seniority system
The custom in Congress providing for the assignment of a committee chairperson-ship to that member
Cloture
A motion or process in parliamentary procedure aimed at bringing a debate to a quick end
Whips
An official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature
Ex post facto law
A law that retroactively changes the legal consequence of the actions that were committed, or relationships that existed, before the enactment of the law
Quorum
The minimum number of members of an assembly or society that must be present at a meeting
Constituent
Being a voting member of a community or organization and having the power to point or elect
Special session
A period when the body convenes outside of the normal legislative session
Mark-up
The process by which a U.S. congressional committee/state legislative session debates, amends, and rewrites proposed legislation
Partisian
A member of an irregular military formed to oppose control of an area by foreign power
Safe seat
A legislative seat that is likely to be retained with a large majority in an election
Impeachment
A formal process in which an official is accused of unlawful activity- may include the removal from that office
District
An area of a county or city, especially one regarded as a distinct unit because of one particular characteristic
Session
A meeting of a deliberative or judicial body to conduct its business
