How Congress Works and the Impeachment Power

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to how Congress works and the impeachment power.

Majority Rule

The principle that the majority of the members make decisions; however, in the context of Congress, it is often not representative of how decisions are made.

Minority Consent

The concept that suggests that throughout the legislative process in Congress, a fragmented power allows different minorities to block or advance proposals.

Speaker of the House

The leader of the House of Representatives, selected by the majority party, who controls the legislative agenda.

Standing Committee

A permanent committee in Congress that generally focuses on a specific area of policy, and most legislation dies in committee through inaction.

Discharge Petition

A procedure in the House that allows members to bring a bill out of committee for consideration by obtaining 218 signatures; rarely successful.

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate whereby senators speak for an extended period to delay or block a vote on a bill or nomination.

Cloture

A procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote in the Senate, requiring a three-fifths majority (60 votes) to invoke.

Unanimous Consent Agreement

An agreement in the Senate that sets the terms for debate, amendment, and voting on a bill; any senator can block this agreement.

Impeachment

The process by which a legislative body brings charges against a public official, which can lead to their removal from office.

Sole Power to Impeach

The authority granted to the House of Representatives to bring charges against an official, as specified in Article I, Section 2 of the Constitution.

Senate Trial

The procedure in which the Senate tries impeachments, where senators act as jurors, requiring a two-thirds vote to convict and remove.

Emoluments Clause

A clause in the Constitution that prohibits federal officers from receiving gifts or benefits from foreign states without the consent of Congress.

High Crimes and Misdemeanors

The standard for impeachment that refers to serious abuses of power, including but not limited to treason and bribery.

Political Process

A process that involves the governmental system's handling of power, particularly regarding impeachment, as opposed to purely legal statutes.

Judgment Upon Conviction

The consequence of impeachment in the Senate, resulting in removal from office and potential disqualification from holding future office.