Unit 3: How the Federal Government Functions

Bill

Bill

a draft of a proposal for discussion

legislator

a lawmaker who debates and discusses

sponser

a legislator that presents a bill for consideration

Committee

a sub-group of members who are chosen to investigate, debate, and report on laws

table

to end a debate on a bill

Floor Debate

discussing ideas on the floor of a legislative body

party Whip

a role in the Legislative branch; keeps track of attendance

fillibuster

delaying tactics by using long speeches

cloture

to bring a debate on a bill to an end (usually done by the Senate)

veto

to reject the bill (usually done by the Executive Branch) 

federalism

an American system of government that splits power between the national, state, and local government

four levels of government

National/Federal, State, Country/Parish, and Local Municipal

three levels of government

Legislative, Executive, and Judicial

supremacy clause

states can't make laws that interfere with the Constitution and/or the laws made by the Congress 

separation of powers

the power of the government is split into legislative, executive, judicial 

checks and balances

checks and balances provide each branch of the government with individual powers to check the other branches and prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful

speaker of the house

mike johnson

senate majority leader

chuck shumer

restrictions on being a house of representative

minimum age: 35, term length: 2 years, unlimited terms, must be a citzen for 7 years

Senate

• Minimum age: 30

• Term length: 2 years

• Unlimited terms

• Must be a citizen for 8 years

• Live in the state you are representing

President

• Minimum age: 35

• Term length: 2 years

• Limited to 2 years

• Born in the U.S.

• Lived in the U.S. for 14 years

• A citizen

Standing committee

permanent panel with full legislative functions and oversight responsibilities

subcommittees

forms to tackle very specific tasks within the jurisdiction of the full committees

select/Special committees

groups appointed for a limited purpose and limited duration 

joint committees

includes members of both chambers to conduct studies are perform housekeeping tasks 

conference Committee

includes members of the House and Senate to work out differences between similar bills

Judicial Review

when the courts review the actions of the government to make sure they follow the law; it helps protect our rights and keeps the government in check

different aspects of a congressperson

Legislator, Representative, Partisan, Committee Member, and Politician