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Chapter 6 Vocab
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Bicameral | A legislature with two houses or parts |
Census | A population count taken by the census bureau |
Constituents | A person from a legislator's district |
Gerrymander | An oddly shaped election district designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group |
Majority Party | In both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the political party to which more than half the members belong |
Minority Party | In both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the political party to which less than half the members belong |
Standing Committees | Permanent committee that continues work from session to session in it's Congress |
Seniority | The longer you're there the more power you have |
Expressed Powers | Powers Congress have that are specifically stated in the Constitution |
Implied Powers | Powers that congress has that are not specifically stated in the Constitution |
Elastic Clause | Clause in Article 1, Section 8 of the Constitution that gives Congress the right to make all laws "necessary and proper" to carry out it's expressed powers |
Impeach | To accuse government officials of misconduct in office |
Writ of Habeas Corpus | A court order that requires the police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why |
Bills of Attainder | A law that punishes a person accused of a crime without trial or a fair hearing in Court. |
Ex Post Facto Laws | A law that would not allow a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committed |
Franking Privelage | The rights of Senators and Representatives to send job related mail without paying postage |
Lobbyists | Representative of an interest group who contacts lawmakers or other government officials directly to influence their policy making |
Casework | The work that a lawmaker does to help constituents with a problem |
Pork-Barrel Projects | Government project grant that primarily benefits the home district or State |
Joint Resolutions | A resolution passed by both houses of congress |
Special Interest Groups | An organization of people with common interest who try to influence government decisions |
Filibuster | A tactic for defeating a bill in the Senate by talking until the sponsor withdraws the bill |
Cloture | A procedure used in the senate to limit debate on a bill |
Voice Vote | A voting method in which those in favor say "nay" or "yea" |
Standing Vote | In Congress, when members who stand will be counted as a vote on the bill |
Roll Call Vote | A voting method in which members use their voices to vote |
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 within 10 days |