Honors Civics Unit 3 Legislative Branch

Legislative Branch

the lawmaking branch of government

Bicameral

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

Congress

the legislature of the United States government

Senate

A council of representatives

House of Representatives

the lower house of Congress, consisting of a different number of representatives from each state, depending on population

President Pro Tempore

Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president

Speaker of the House

the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

Majority Leader

the legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or Senate

Minority Leader

The principal leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate.

Census

the official count of a population

Reapportionment

the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census

Redistricting

The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.

Gerrymandering

the drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent

Legislation (legislator/legislature)

the act of making or enacting laws

Reserved powers

Powers given to the state government alone

Partisan

Devoted to or biased in support of a party, group, or cause

Bipartisan

supported by two parties

Bill

a proposed law

Veto

a constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body.

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.

Filibuster

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

Cloture

A procedure used in the Senate to limit debate on a bill

Veto override

If the President vetoes a bill, the Congress may override the veto by a two-thirds majority vote in both houses. The bill would then become law, the President's objections notwithstanding.

Standing committees

permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area

Select committees

Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose.

Joint committees

committees on which both senators and representatives serve

Pigeonholing

Killing a bill in committee by taking no action

Alien & Sedition Acts (1798):

Authorized gov't to imprison or expel those writing against the gov't. Controversial b/c it violates Bill of Rights.

Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854):

created the territories of Kansas and Nebraska, opened new lands, repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, and allowed settlers in those territories to determine if they would allow slavery within their boundaries.

Civil Rights Act of 1866

law that established federal guarantees of civil rights for all citizens

Military Reconstruction Act 1867

1867; divided the South into five districts and placed them under military rule; required Southern States to ratify the 14th amendment; guaranteed freedmen the right to vote in convention to write new state constitutions

Espionage and Sedition Acts (1917)

Two laws, enacted in 1917 and 1918, that imposed harsh penalties on anyone interfering with or speaking against US partcipation in WWI

Selective Service Act (1940):

first peace-time draft in American history

Civil Rights Act (1964)

1964; banned discrimination in public acomodations, prohibited discrimination in any federally assisted program, outlawed discrimination in most employment; enlarged federal powers to protect voting rights and to speed school desegregation; this and the voting rights act helped to give African-Americans equality on paper, and more federally-protected power so that social equality was a more realistic goal

Voting Rights Act (1965):

a policy designed to reduce the barriers to voting for those suffering discrimination.

Patriot Act (2001):

Law responding to 9/11. Expands anti-terrorist powers (wiretapping, surveillance); 4th Amendment concern for civil liberties.

Federalism

A system in which power is divided between the national and state governments

North Carolina General Assembly (House, Senate)

State President Pro Tempore

presides over the majority party in the NC State Senate

State Speaker of the House

presides over the majority party in the NC State Senate