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chapter 6
Term | Definition |
---|---|
bicameral | a legislature consisting of two parts,or houses. |
census | a population count taken by the census |
constituents | a person from legislators district |
gerrymander | an oddly shaped election district designed to increase |
majority party | in both the house of representatives and the senate,the political party to which more than half of the members belong. |
minority party | in both the house of representatives and the senate, the political party to which fewer than half the members belong. |
standing comittees | permanent committee that continues work from session to session in its congress |
seniority | years of service,which is used as a consideration for assigning committee members. |
expressed powers | powers that congress has that are specifically listed in the constitution. |
implied powers | powers of congress that are not stated explicitly in the constitution |
elastic clause | clause in article 1, section 8 of the constitution that gives congress the right to make laws "necessary and proper" to carry out expressed powers. |
impeach | to accuse government officials of misconduct in office. |
writ of habeas corpus | a court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why they are holding the person |
bills of attainder | a law that punishes a person accused of a crime without a trial or fair hearing in court |
ex post facto laws | a law that would allow a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committed. |
franking privilage | the right of senators and representatives to send job-related mail without paying postage. |
lobbyists | representatives of an interest group who contacts lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy making. |
casework | the work a lawmaker does to help constituents with a problem. |
pork-barrel projects | government project grant that primarily benefits the home distrirct or state |
joint resolution | a resolution that is passed by both houses of congress. |
special-interest groups | an organization of people with some common interest who try to influence government decisions. |
filibuster | a tactic for defeating a bill in the senate by talking until the bills sponsor withdraws it. |
cloture | a procedure used in the senate to limit debate on a bill. |
voice vote | a voting method in which those in favor say "yea" and those against say "no" |
standing vote | in congress,when members stand to be counted for a vote on a bill. |
roll-call vote | a voting method in the senate in which members voice their votes in turn |
veto | refusal to sign a bill or resolution |
pocket veto | presidents power to kill a bill, if congress is not in session,by not signing it for 10 days |