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Legislative Vocab
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Constituents | people from a legislators district |
Gerrymander | an oddly shaped election district designed to increase the voting strength of a particular group |
Seniority | years of service, which is used as a consideration for assigning committee members |
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 | laws that punish a person accused of a crime without a trial or a fair hearing in court |
ex post facto | a law that would allow a person to be punished for an action that was not against the law when it was committeed |
franking privilege | the right of senators and representatives to send job-related mail without paying postage |
pork barrel projects | government project grant that primarily benefits the home districts or state |
joint resolution | a resolution that is passed by both houses of congress |
filibuster | a tactic for defeating a bill in the senate by talking until the bills sponsors withdraws it |
cloture | a procedure used in the senate to limit debate on a bill |
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 |
standing committee | permanent committee that continues work from session, by not signing it for 10 days |
rider | an additional amendment to the bill that has little if anything to do with the subject of the overall bill |