CL Unit 4 Congress

Comprehensive vocabulary list of legislative terms, congressional procedures, and constitutional powers based on the lecture notes.

Census

The official count of a population.

Constituents

The residents of a congressional district or state.

Electorate

All the people in an area who are entitled to vote in an election.

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

Majority Party

The party that holds the majority of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate.

Minority Party

The party that holds a minority of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate.

standing committee

A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area.

expressed powers

Powers directly stated in the constitution.

implied powers

Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution.

impeach

To formally charge a public official with misconduct in office.

writ of habeas corpus

A court order requiring jailers to explain to a judge why they are holding a prisoner in custody.

bill of attainder

A law that punishes a person accused of a crime without a trial or a fair hearing in court.

ex post facto law

A law that would allow a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committed.

franking privilege

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

Lobbyists

People hired by private groups to influence government decision makers.

Casework

The work that a lawmaker does to help constituents with a problem.

pork-barrel legislation

Legislation giving benefits to constituents through sometimes unnecessary of unwise projects within a state or district, to enhance a member's chance of reelection.

origination clause

Bills raising revenues (taxes) must originate in the House of Representatives.

Joint Resolution

A proposal for action that has the force of law when passed; usually deals with special circumstances or temporary matters.

Special Interest Group

An organization of people with some common interest who try to influence government decisions.

bill

A proposed law.

pigeonholing

Occurs when a committee ignores a bill and doesn't report it out. Also known as "tabling" or "death by committee." Major cause of bill death.

Filibuster

A lengthy speech designed to delay or kill the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate.

Cloture

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate. $\frac{3}{5}$ of votes needed!

veto

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature.

pocket veto

A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within $10$ days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

veto override

Reversal of a presidential veto by a $\frac{2}{3}$ vote in both houses of Congress.