civics: vocab 4

Bicameral

A legislature divided into two separate chambers or houses. The U.S. Congress is bicameral, meaning it has two distinct bodies that must both approve legislation.

Senate

The upper chamber of Congress, where each state is represented by exactly two senators regardless of population size. Senators serve six-year terms.

House of Representatives

The lower chamber of Congress, where representation is based on state population. Representatives serve two-year terms and there are 435 voting members.

Apportionment

The process of dividing the 435 House seats among the states based on population. This is recalculated every 10 years after the census.

Census

An official count of the entire U.S. population conducted every 10 years. The results determine how House seats and federal funding are distributed among states.

Enumerated Powers

The specific powers that Article I explicitly grants to Congress, listed in Section 8. These include the power to tax, coin money, regulate interstate commerce, and declare war.

Great Compromise

The agreement made at the Constitutional Convention that created the bicameral Congress—combining a population-based House with an equal-representation Senate to satisfy both large and small states.

Enumerated Powers

The specific, listed powers that Article I, Section 8 grants to Congress. These are the powers the Constitution explicitly gives to the legislative branch.

Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause)

Article I, Section 8, Clause 18 allows Congress to make any laws that are "necessary and proper" to carry out its enumerated powers. This clause has been interpreted broadly to expand congressional authority

Commerce Clause

Article I, Section 8 gives Congress the power to "regulate commerce...among the several states." This clause has been interpreted very broadly to allow Congress to regulate many aspects of the economy.

Appropriations

The allocation of federal money for specific government purposes and programs. Congress must approve all federal spending through appropriations bills.

Naturalization

The legal process by which a non-citizen becomes a U.S. citizen. Article I gives Congress the power to establish uniform rules for naturalization.

Habeas Corpus

A fundamental legal right that protects people from unlawful imprisonment. Article I allows Congress to suspend this right only in cases of rebellion or invasion.

Bill of Attainder

A law that punishes a person without a trial. Article I prohibits Congress from passing bills of attainder, protecting citizens' right to due process.

Bill

A proposed law introduced in Congress. A bill must pass both chambers and be signed by the President (or have a veto overridden) to become law.

Committee

A smaller group of legislators within Congress that specializes in a particular area (such as education, health, or defense). Committees review bills in detail before they go to the full chamber for a vote.

Markup

The process where a committee reviews a bill line-by-line, makes changes, and prepares it for debate on the full chamber floor.

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate where a senator speaks for an extremely long time to delay or prevent a vote on a bill. The Senate allows unlimited debate time.

Cloture

A Senate procedure that ends debate and forces a vote on a bill. Cloture requires 60 senators to vote in favor and is the primary way to overcome a filibuster.

Floor Vote

A vote by all members of a chamber (House or Senate) on a bill. A bill passes if it receives a majority of votes (218 in the House, 51 in the Senate).

Conference Committee

A temporary committee made up of members from both the House and Senate that works to resolve differences between two versions of the same bill passed by each chamber.

Veto

The President's power to reject a bill passed by Congress, preventing it from becoming law. The President returns the bill to Congress with an explanation of objections.

Landmark Legislation

Laws that are historically significant because they create major changes in policy, expand rights, or address important national issues. These laws often become models for future legislation.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

A landmark federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funding. Title IX is famous for expanding athletic opportunities for girls and women.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Landmark legislation that outlaws discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in public accommodations, employment, and education. This law fundamentally changed American civil rights protections.

Equal Pay Act of 1963

Federal legislation that requires employers to pay men and women equally for substantially equal work. This was one of the first federal laws addressing gender discrimination in employment.

Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

Landmark legislation first passed in 1994 that provides federal resources and protections for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The law has been reauthorized multiple times to expand protections.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Federal legislation passed in 1993 that allows eligible employees to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid, job-protected leave per year for family and medical reasons, including childbirth and caring for sick family members.

Legislative Intent

The purpose and goals that lawmakers had in mind when they passed a law. Courts often look at legislative intent when interpreting what a law means and how it should be applied.