Gov topic 4

lesson 1 and 2

Delegates

Individuals chosen to represent a group, typically in a political or legislative context, and who are tasked with voting or making decisions on behalf of their constituents.

trustees

Individuals entrusted to make decisions for a group, acting in their best interest, using morals and conscience as their guide

Partisans

Individuals who strongly support a specific party or cause, often prioritizing party loyalty over compromise or consensus.

Politicos

Individuals who combine the roles of delegates, trustees, and partisans, balancing their constituents' needs, moral considerations, and party loyalty in decision-making.

bills

Proposals for new laws or amendments introduced in a legislative body for debate and approval.

floor consideration

The stage in the legislative process where a bill is debated and voted on by the full membership of a legislative chamber.

Oversight function

The process by which legislative bodies monitor and evaluate the implementation of laws and the executive branch's activities to ensure accountability and compliance.

Nancy Pelosi

A U.S. Representative from California who became the first woman to serve as Speaker

Term of Congress

Done every 2 years on odd numbered years on January 3rd at noon

Sessions of Congress

A period of time every year when Congress assembles and conducts business

Convenes

Goes to a different day

Adjourns

Court is suspended until next session

recess

temporarily suspends business (Smaller than adjourns)

Prorouge

No president can do so and it basically means to adjourn

Special Sessions

an extraordinary session of a legislative body called to deal with emergency situations

Franking Privilege

benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage free

Apportioned

distributed as in seats in the legislature

Reapportion

Redistribution as in seats in the legislature every census (10 years)

single member district

electoral district in which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office

at-large

election of an office holder by the voters of an entire governmental unit rather than by district or sub-division

Redistricting

The process of creating congressional districts in each state after the census

gerrymandering

the drawing of electoral district lines to favor one group or party more than the other

off year elections

congressional election that occurs between presidential election year

Incumbent

the current holder of the House seat

Constituencies

the people and interests that the elected office represents

continuous body

governing unit (Senate) who’s seats are never all up for election at the same time

National Powers

Coin money, regulate interstate commerce and foreign trade, raise and maintain armed forces, declare war, govern U.S territories and admit new states, conduct foreign relations

State Powers

Regulate intrastate commerce, establish public schools, pass license requirements for president, regulate alcoholic beverages, conduct elections, establish local governments

Concurrent Powers

Levy and collect taxes, borrow money, establish courts, define crimes and set punishments, claim private property for public use

Delegated Powers

Powers granted only to the national government

Expressed powers

Powers that are directly found in the Constitution

Implied Powers

Powers that are not expressly stated in the Constitution

Inherent Powers

Powers that do not depend on specific constitutional clauses or written grants. They belong to any sovereign national government or state simply because it is an independent political entity

Denied Powers

Powers expressly prohibited to the national government, state governments, or both by the Constitution such as passing bills or attainder, enacting ex post facto laws, or taxing exports.

Qualifications for House

Must be 25 years old

Must be a citizen for at least 7 years minimum

Must have been an inhabitant of the state from which he or she is elected

Qualifications for Senator

Must be 30 years old

Must be a citizen for at least 9 years

Must be an inhabitant of the state which is being represented by the time of the election