Civics Legislative Branch Vocab

Created by not me, imported from quizlet

enumerated powers

The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution.

implied powers

Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.

Filibuster

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

Impeach

To formally charge a public official with misconduct in office

Bill

a proposed law presented to a legislative body for consideration

interest group

An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy

Lobbyist

A person who is employed by and acts for an organized interest group or corporation to try to influence policy decisions and positions in the executive and legislative branches.

incumbent

An officeholder who is seeking reelection.

constituent

a person whom a member of Congress has been elected to represent

Requirements for Senators

(1) they must be at least 30 years old, (2) they must have been citizens of the United States for at least the past nine years, and (3) they must be inhabitants of the states they seek to represent at the time of their election.

Requirements for Representatives

(1) be at least twenty-five years old; (2) have been a citizen of the United States for the past seven years; and (3) be (at the time of the election) an inhabitant of the state they represent.

Term length for Senate

6 years

Term length for Representatives

2 years

ex post facto

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

bill of attainder

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

Habeas Corpus

a writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court, especially to secure the person's release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention.

standing committee

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

joint committee

A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.

select committee

A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.

conference committee

Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.

Veto

a constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body. applies only to president. can be overridden with a 2/3 vote

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.

pigeonhole

To set a bill aside by a committee without considering it

Cloture

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate.

Quorum

The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress

Senate

the upper house of the U.S. Congress, made up of 100 representatives

House of Representatives

the lower house of Congress, consisting of a different number of representatives from each state, depending on population. Total: 435

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

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

In both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the political party to which fewer than half the members belong

Rider

A provision attached to a bill - to which it may or may not be related - in order to secure its passage or defeat.

Pork Barrel

Unnecessary spending attached to a bill. A term often used by Republicans, whose platform is, in most cases, against government spending.