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U.S. Government
Congress, President, Gerrymandering
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Congress | national legislature (legislative branch), Congress makes laws - article I of constitution |
| Congress (Article I Section 4 Clause 1) Elections Clause | "...but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of choosing Senators." |
| Bicameral | two-houses (Senate and House of Representatives) - history: English Parliament (House of Commons/Lords) - practical (great compromise, federalism) - theoretical (checks and balances, creation of Senate) |
| checks and balances | a system in which the different parts of an organization (such as a government) have powers that affect and control the other parts/branches so that none can become too powerful |
| convening (january 3rd) | beginning of congressional session - Congress can decide on a different day |
| adjourning | ending of congressional session - agreed upon by Congress (most of the year) |
| recess | temporary break (several throughout the year) |
| President in congressional session... | has the power to adjourn session of Congress if no agreement - has never been used |
| House of Representatives | 435 members, - qualifications: must be 25 years of age, a citizen of the United States for 7 years, and an inhabitant of the state in which they are representing |
| apportionment | number of seats in the house of representatives a state receives is based on population - each state is guaranteed at least 1 |
| non-voting member | represent their territory in the house of representatives, but cannot vote on legislation - Washington D.C., Virgin Islands, America Samoa, Puerto Rico |
| reapportionment | the number is seats that a state receives in the house of representatives is examined every 10 years (census) |
| reapportionment act of 1929 | "permanent" size of house of representatives capped at 435 members - each member/representative represents around 700,000 people |
| U.S. Census Bureau | determines the number of seats each state will have in the house of representatives |
| at large district | representative elected from the state as a whole (one representative) - banned in multi-district states (single-member district) |
| single-member district | elected by voters from that district only - more than one representative for the state |
| district requirements (leads to gerrymandering) | contiguous (one piece), compact (comparatively small), and similar in populations |
| gerrymandering | districts being drawn oddly to gain favor in district (grouping of individuals, political beliefs, etc...) |
| attempts to regulate gerrymandering | mixed rulings on partisan gerrymandering - wesberry v. sanders - shaw v. reno |
| wesberry v sanders (1964) | districts must be substantially equal in population |
| shaw v. reno (1993) | found it unlawful to gerrymander on the basis of race - not be based "solely" on race |
| Elbridge Gerry (gerrymandering) | drew districts to favor his party - resembled a salamander - made districts safe for a certain political party, and limited voting power of a certain group |
| Congress and President | "love-hate" relationship - war, law making, appointments, investigation/impeachment, budget, other items... |
| war | president is commander and chief, congress is war-making power - war powers act passed after Vietnam failed to limit the power of the President |
| War Powers Act | congressional resolution designed to limit the presidents ability to initiate or escalate military actions |
| law-making | "all legislative power vest in congress" - the presidents rolls in law-making is approving or vetoing |
| State of Union Address | the presidents way of brining attention to issues - message from president to congress (usually given once a year) |
| appointments | president appoints a variety of positions (judges, ambassadors, department heads...) - senate has approval power of appointees - politics are a large factor in this process |
| POTUS | president of the united states |
| investigation/impeachment | congress has the power of both - president can be removed with 2/3 vote of the senate |
| budget | set by congress, president is able to have "certain wishes" - mandatory spending, discretionary |
| mandatory spending | by law must be funded every year - social security, interest on federal debt |
| discretionary | everything not require by law (i.e. military) |
| other items | executive order, pardon/reprieve/commutation, executive agreements - these could get under the skin of congress |
| executive order | when the president feels strongly about something - acts as a law but does not have to pass through congress |
| pardon | executive power that exempts an individual from their punishment - expression fo presidents forginveness |
| rep | temporary suspension or delay in the implementation of a criminal sentence ordered by the court - common with death penalty in states who may be against it |
| commutation | to reduce a sentence imposed upon conviction of a federal offense, including authority to reduce amount of a fine - i.e. 10 year sentence reduced to 5 years, death penalty reduced to life sentence |
Created by:
jaynahiwen
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