U.S. Government Unit 2 Quiz Review

Vandegrift HS U.S. Government Unit 2 Quiz Vocab Study Guide (McGraw Hill United States Government and Civics Unit 2 Vocab Terms)

Reapportionment

The process of reassigning reps after every census (every 10 years)

Redistricting

Sets up new district lines after reapportionment; occurs after census but states are allowed to redraw earlier

Gerrymander

Drawing a district to gain an advantage in elections

At-Large

As a whole (i.e. statewide)

Censure

A vote of formal disapproval of a member's actions

Majority Leader

The speaker's top assistant who plans the majority party's legislative program and to send important bill through the HoR

Whip

An assistant to the party floor leader in the legislature

Bill

A proposed law

Calendar

The order that bills will be considered in Congress

Quorum

The minimum amount of members that have to be present for legislative action to take place (218)

Committee of the Whole

Debate without action on the bill (100 members)

President Pro Tempore

The senate member who stands in as president of the senate in place of the VP

Unanimous Consent

A motion by all members of the senate to move a bill to the front of the line

Hold

An alert to party leaders that they would object if unanimous consent was activated

Filibuster

A method of stalling the legislative process to defeat bills

Cloture Resolution

A procedure to stop filibustering by limiting each Senator to speak only 1 hour (2/3 of senate needs to agree to pass)

Standing Committee

A permanent committee in Congress that oversees bills that deal with certain kinds of issues

Select Committee

A temporary committee that studies one specific issue and reports its findings to the HoR or Senate

Joint Committee

A committee consisting of members from the HoR and Senate that study one topic or bill and report back to the HoR and Senate

Conference Committee

A temporary joint committee between the HoR and Senate when they both pass different versions of the same bill

Writ of Habeas Corpus

A legal process that allows people to challenge the legality of imprisonment before a court

Bill of Attainder

A declaration that someone is guilty and that they will be punished without a trial

Ex Post Facto Law

A law that defines crimes after the behavior it defines takes place

Revenue Bill

A proposed law to raise money for the government

Authorization Bill

Legislation that establishes or modifies a federal agency, program, or activity

Appropriations Bill

A proposal in Congress that allocates money for specific government agencies, programs, or activities

Copyright

The exclusive right to publish a piece of art (writing, music, drawing)

Patent

The exclusive right to manufacture and sell an invention

Impeachment

Formal accusation of misconduct in office

Subpoena

A legal order that a person appear or produce requested documents

Perjury

Lying under oath

Contempt

Willful obstruction of justice

Immunity

Freedom from prosecution if you testify something illegal

Legislative Oversight

The process of monitoring the actions and effectiveness of the executive branch

Private Bill

A bill dealing with individual people or places (less common)

Public Bill

A bill dealing with general matters and applying to the entire nation (more common)

Joint Resolution

A resolution passed in the same form by both houses

Simple Resolution

A statement adopted to cover matters affecting only one house of congress

Concurrent Resolution

A resolution that covers matters requiring the action of the House and Senate but on which a law is not needed

Riders

A provision included in a bill on a subject other than the one in the bill (often attached to bills that are likely to pass)