Unit 3 Main Topics GOV

What is the Legislative Branch?

The branch of government responsible for making laws, consisting of two houses: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

What is the judicial branch?

The court system that settles disagreements about the law and explains what the law means

What is the State of the Union Address?

An annual address delivered by the President of the United States to a joint session of Congress, outlining the administration's goals and priorities.

House of Representatives

based on population (435 in total), a 2-year term, Speaker of the House is leader (Mike Johnson), deals with money and government workers, has to be 25+ years old and have lived in the US for a minimum of 7 years

Senate

2 members represented per state (100 in total), a 6-year term with no limit on the amount of terms a person can have, Vice President is leader, can introduce and pass bills, you have to be 30+ years old and had lived in the united states for at least 9 years

What is a Committee in Congress?

A group of members of Congress assigned to review legislation, conduct hearings, and perform oversight on specific issues.

What is the Bill to Law Process?

The series of steps a proposed law (bill) goes through in Congress, including introduction, committee review, debate, voting, and presidential approval.

What is a Filibuster?

A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block legislative action, typically by extending debate on a bill.

What are Congressional Powers?

The authority granted to Congress, including Express (enumerated), Implied (not explicitly stated but necessary), Concurrent (shared with states), and Joint Resolutions (formal expressions of opinion).

What is a Presidential Veto?

The power of the President to reject a bill passed by Congress, preventing it from becoming law.

What is the Dual Court System?

The structure of the U.S. judicial system, which includes both federal and state courts.

What is Exclusive Jurisdiction?

The authority of a court to hear a case that is not subject to the jurisdiction of any other court.

What is Concurrent Jurisdiction?

The ability of more than one court to hear the same case.

What is Original Jurisdiction?

The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time, as opposed to appellate jurisdiction.

Civil case

involve disputes between individuals or entities

Criminal case

prosecution by the government for violations of law

What is Judicial Review?

The power of the courts to examine the actions of the legislative and executive branches and declare them unconstitutional if they violate the Constitution.

What was the significance of Marbury v. Madison?

A landmark Supreme Court case that established the principle of judicial review in the United States.

Restraint

advocates for limiting the powers of judges to strike down laws

Judicial Activism

judicial rulings that are suspected of being based on personal or political considerations rather than existing law

What is the Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court?

The authority of the Supreme Court to hear cases involving federal law, disputes between states, and cases involving ambassadors and public ministers.

How are cases heard by the Supreme Court?

Cases are heard through a process of petitions for writs of certiorari, where the Court decides which cases to review based on their significance and legal questions.

Inferior Courts

courts with less authority than the Supreme Court

Special Courts

federal courts which were created by Congress to hear specific types of cases

Standing Committees

Permanent committees in Congress that focus on specific areas of legislation, such as finance or foreign relations.

Subcommittees

Smaller divisions of standing committees that handle specific tasks or issues within the committee's jurisdiction.

Select Committee

A temporary committee established for a specific purpose, often to conduct investigations or studies.

Joint Committee

A committee composed of members from both the House of Representatives and the Senate, typically formed to address specific issues.

Conference Committee

A temporary committee formed to reconcile differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill.

Congressional Powers

The authority granted to Congress by the Constitution, including express powers (specifically listed) and implied powers (derived from the express powers).

Joint Resolutions

a resolution that is passed by both houses of Congress

Concurrent resolutions

a resolution that is passed by both houses of Congress but does not require the President's approval

Minority Party

has fewer seats in Congress and less influence

Majority Party

holds the most seats in Congress and typically controls the legislative agenda

Five Calendars

The various schedules used in Congress to organize and prioritize the consideration of legislation, including the Union Calendar, House Calendar, Private Calendar, Consent Calendar, and Discharge Calendar.