Chapter 5 Vocab 2
Terms
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- pocket veto
- a way in which the President can reject a bill when Congress is not in session by not signing it
- Gerrymandering
- The process of drawing Congressional District Lines to favor one political party over another.
- writ of habeas corpus
- a court order reassuring that an accused person be brought to court to determine if there is enough evidence to hold the person for trial
- elastic clause
- Artcl 1 Sectn 8 of the Constitution, known also as the necessary and proper clause: allows Congress to extend its delegated powers
- filibuster
- a method of delaying action on a bill in the Senate by making long speeches
- Floor leader
- a political party leader in Congress who works for the passage of bills the party favors
- roll-call vote
- a vote in Congress in which a record is made of how each member votes
- appropriation bill
- a bill approving the spending of public money
- cloture
- a limit on the debate of a bill in the Senate
- Committee
- a small group in Congress formed to consider bills
- Seniority System
- The custom of giving leadership of committees to members of congress with the most years of service.
- Caucus
- A meeting of party leaders to determine party policy or to choose the party's candidates for public office
- Immunity
- legal protection, can't be prosecuted
- Conference Committee
- a temporary congressional committee made up of Senators and Representatives who try to reach an agreement on different versions of a bill
- Constituent
- A person represented by members of a law making body.
- A joint committee
- committee made up of members of both houses of Congress to deal with matters of mutual concern
- Term limits
- laws that limit the number of terms an elected official can serve
- implied powers
- power not specifically granted to Congress by the Constitution; but which are necessary to carry out its delegated powers
- Party Whip
- The assistant to the Floor Leader who tries to persuade party members to vote for bills the party supports
- Censure
- a formal diapproval of the actions of a member of Congress (or the President) by the other members of Congress
- Expulsion
- the removal of a member of Congress for serious misconduct
- President Pre Tempore
- The official who presides over the Senate in the Vice President's absence
- Bill of Attainder
- law sentencing a person to jail without a trial
- impeachment
- a formal charge brought against a government official
- Minority Party
- the political party that has fewer members in Congress or in a State's Legislature
- Select committee
- a temporary House or Senate committee appointed to deal with an issue not handled by a standing committee
- Bill
- A proposed law being considered by a law making body
- treason
- an act that betrays and endangers one's country
- Standing committee
- a permanent House or Senate committee that considers bills in certain areas
- ex post facto law
- law that applies to an action that took place before the law was passed
- Apportion
- to distribute the seats of the House of Representatives (give # of seats per state)
- Franking Privilege
- the right of members of Congress to mail official letters free of charge
- act
- a law
- Session
- A meeting of Congress
- Speaker
- the presiding officer of the House of Representatives
- Majority Party
- The political party that has more members in Congress or in a State Legislature.
- quorum
- the minimum number of members who must be present before a legislative body can conduct business
- Subcommittee
- a division of a standing Congressional committee that deals with specific issues in the area handled by the committee as a whole