Chapter 6: Legislative Branch

Question 1

Bicameral

Answer 1

Great compromise established Congress as 2-part system

Question 2

Occurs

Answer 2

Takes place

Question 3

Census

Answer 3

Population count taken by Census Bureau (every 10 years)

Question 4

Constituents

Answer 4

People represented

Question 5

Gerrymander

Answer 5

Oddly shaped district designed to increase voting strength of a particular group

Question 6

Adjust

Answer 6

change

Question 7

Majority party

Answer 7

In both houses, the political party to which half of the members belong to

Question 8

Minority party

Answer 8

Political party that plays a smaller role in government

Question 9

Standing committees

Answer 9

Permanent committees (eg. agriculture, commerce)

Question 10

Seniority

Answer 10

Years of service

Question 11

Expressed powers

Answer 11

Most powers are delegated to the Congress (A1, S8)

Question 12

Implied powers

Answer 12

(Clause 18) powers not explicitly stated in Constitution

Question 13

Elastic Clause

Answer 13

Clause 18 called “elastic” because they are allowing Congress to stretch its power to meet new needs

Question 14

Regulating

Answer 14

managing

Question 15

Impeach

Answer 15

House has sole authority to impeach, or accuse officials of MISCONDUCT in office

Question 16

Writ of Habeas Corpus

Answer 16

Congress cannot suspend: a court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court to explain why they are holding the person.

Question 17

Bills of Attainder

Answer 17

Congress cannot suspend: a law that would punish an person without jury trial

Question 18

Ex post facto laws

Answer 18

Congress cannot suspend: laws that make an act a crime AFTER the act has been committed

Question 19

Franking privilege

Answer 19

Ability to send job related mail without paying postage

Question 20

Lobbyists

Answer 20

People hired by private groups to influence government decision-makers

Question 21

Draft

Answer 21

outline

Question 22

Complex

Answer 22

difficult

Question 23

Estimates

Answer 23

guesses

Question 24

Casework

Answer 24

The help that congressional offices provide to constituents

Question 25

Pork-barrel projects

Answer 25

Government projects and grants that primarily benefits home district/state

Question 26

Elements

Answer 26

factors

Question 27

Joint resolutions

Answer 27

Formal statements that are passed by both houses of Congress, become laws if signed by President - used to propose constitutional amendments/delegate $$$ for special purposes

Question 28

Special-interest groups

Answer 28

Organizations made up of people with common interests

Question 29

Filibuster

Answer 29

To talk a bill to death, basically stalling

Question 30

Cloture

Answer 30

Under this, no one can speak for more than one hour

Question 31

Categories

Answer 31

types

Question 32

Voice vote

Answer 32

Members say "Yea" or "No", speaker determines result

Question 33

Standing vote

Answer 33

Members stand to be counted for/against bill

Question 34

RECORDED VOTE

Answer 34

Votes are recorded electoronically

Question 35

Roll-call vote

Answer 35

As names are called, members say "Aye" or "No"

Question 36

Veto

Answer 36

President refuses to sign bill into law

Question 37

Pocket veto

Answer 37

When president does nothing for ten days, bill dies (as long as Congress is not in session)