click below
click below
Normal Size Small Size show me how
Unit 3
Civics
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Constituents | People in congressional districts |
| Redistricting | The process of redrawing the boundaries of districts |
| Joint Sessions | WHen senators and representatives meet together. Usually for the President's State of the Union Adress |
| Standing Committee | Permanent committee that specializes in a particular topic |
| Bill | A proposed law |
| President Pro-Tempore | President of the senate for the time being. This happens when the Vice President is absent |
| Speaker of the House | Leader of the House of Representatives |
| Conference Committee | A joint commitee that helps members in the Senate and the House of Representatives work together |
| Vice President | Leader of the Senate. This person votes in the Senate in case of a tie. |
| Majority Party | The party with the most members in Congress |
| Minority Party | The party with fewer members |
| Interest Groups | Groups of people who work together for similar interests or goals |
| Bicameral | -A two house legislature - House of Representatives (Population) +Senate (Equality) = Congress |
| Expressed powers | Powers listed in Article 1 of the Constitution |
| Expulsion | To force a member of Congress to leave because of wrong or dishonesty |
| Appropriations | Funds (Money) for specific use |
| Reapportionment | The redistribution of legislative seats (HR) according to population. (Occurs after the census) |
| Lobbyists | People who represent interest groups |
| Checks and Balances | A system in which each branch of government is able to limit the power of the other two branches |
| Filibuster | Freedom by Senators to kill a bill by continouously talking until the bill is withdrawn |
| Cloture | This limits a Senator to debate for no more that on hour. For it to be used, 60 senators must vote for it. It stops a Filibuter |
| Census | A process for counting a nation's population US census is completed every 10 years |
| Implied Powers | A power not expressly names in the Constitution |
| Legislative Branch | The Branch of government that makes the laws |
| Impeach | To accuse an official of wrong doing |