Gov. Vocab Unit 3

Reapportionment

The gaining or losing of representatives after a census.

Redistrict

The redrawing of districts after a reapportionment occurs.

Gerrymandering

Arranging the districts in a way that favors one party over another.

Incumbent

In an election, the person who is currently in the office and running for it again.

Constituents

citizens whom a legislator has been elected to represent.

Majority Leader

The Speaker’s top assistant (House of Representatives); Floor leader for the Majority Party.

Whips

Assistant to the leader who tries to persuade members of their party to vote with their party.

Quorum

the minimum number of members of an assembly or society that must be present at any of its meetings to make the proceedings of that meeting valid. (House: 218)

President Pro Tempore

a high-ranking senator of the majority party who presides over the US Senate in the absence of the vice president.

Filibuster

an action such as a prolonged speech that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly while not technically contravening the required procedures; Typically in order to block a vote from occurring.

Cloture

A vote of 3/5ths of the Senate that limits the debate in the Senate to 1 hour.

Expressed Powers

Powers that are specifically stated in the Constitution.

Necessary and Proper Clause

says that in addition to everything else, Congress has the right to make all laws “necessary and proper” to carry out the rest of their duties

Implied Powers

Unstated powers that the constitution only suggests or implies

Revenue Bill

a proposal for a federal law that is used by the government to gain appropriations funds.

Appropriations

a proposed law that authorizes the government to spend money from the Treasury.

Subpoena

a writ ordering a person to attend a court.

Perjury

the offense of willfully telling an untruth in a court after having taken an oath or affirmation.

Contempt

an act that disobeys or disrespects a court or legislative body.

Elector

a person appointed by a state in the U.S. to vote for president and vice president in the electoral college.

Electoral College

a body of people representing the states of the US, who formally cast votes for the election of the president and vice president.

Cabinet

a group of people with the constitutional or legal task to rule a country or state, or advise a head of state, usually from the executive branch.

Executive Order

a formal, written directive issued by the President of the United States that directs the actions of the federal government and has the force of law.

Treaty

binding agreements between nations and become part of international law.

Executive Agreement

an international agreement, usually regarding routine administrative matters not warranting a formal treaty, made by the executive branch of the US government without ratification by the Senate.

Concurrent Jurisdiction

allows more than one court to have the authority to hear the same case.

Original Jurisdiction

a court's authority to hear and decide a case for the first time before any appellate review occurs.

Appellate Jurisdiction

the power of a higher court to hear appeals from a lower court.

Due Process

government actors must follow certain procedures before they may deprive a person of a protected life, liberty, or property interest.

Grand Jury

a group of citizens that determines whether there's enough evidence to formally accuse someone of a crime.

Indictment

a formal accusation, typically initiated by a grand jury, that a person has committed a crime, particularly a felony.

Petit Jury

a trial jury for both civil and criminal cases.

Writ of Certiorari

orders a lower court to deliver its record in a case so that the higher court may review it.

Majority Opinion

the decision of a court that is supported by more than half of the members who heard the case.

Dissenting Opinion

an appellate opinion of one or more judges which disagrees with the reasoning stated in the majority or plurality opinion and, consequently, with the result reached in a case.

Judicial Review

the power of a court to examine and potentially nullify actions of the legislative and executive branches of government that are deemed unconstitutional.

Stare Decisis

a legal principle that requires courts to adhere to precedent in making their decisions.; translates to "to stand by things decided" or "let the decision stand,"

Precedent

a court decision that is considered an authority for deciding subsequent cases involving identical or similar facts, or similar legal issues.

Judicial Activism

the practice of judges making rulings based on their policy views rather than their honest interpretation of the current law.

Judicial Restraint

the concept of a judge not injecting his or her own preferences into legal proceedings and rulings.