Chapter 1
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Vocab Terms:
- Incumbents-the person curently holding office
- Connecticut Compromise-an agreement that large and small states reached during the constutional convention of 1787 that in part defined the legislative structure and representation that each state would have under the United States
- Pork Barrel-the use of government funds for projects desgined to please voters or legislators and win votes
- Senator(qualfications and terms)1.30 years old 2.Resident for 9 years 3.Live in the State they represent
- Bicameral Legislature-a legislature in which the legislators are divided into two separeate assemblies, chambers, or houses
- Representatives(qualifications and terms)-1.25 years old 2.Resident for 7 years 3.Live in the state they represent
House Rules Committee-a committee of the HOR in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the floor
- Implied Powers-powers authorized by the constution, that while not stated, seem to be implied by powers expressly stated
- Filibuster-an action such as a prolonged speach that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly while not technically contraventing the required procedure
- Enumerated Powers-a list fo items foudn in Article 1, Section 8 of the US Constution that set forth the authority of Congress
- Majority Leader-the head of the majority party in a legislative body, especially the US Senate or HOR
- Minority Leader-the head of teh miniority party in a legislative body, especially the US Senate or HOR
- Whips-appointed person who assists each floor leader and keeps track of how party members vote and persuades member's votes
- Standing Committee-permanetly established legislative committees that consider and are responsable for legislation with in a certain subject area
- Speaker fo the House-the presiding officer of the US HOR, the speaker is selected by a majority party caucus
- Joint Committee-a term that is used to refer to a committee made up of members of both chambers of a bicameral legislature
- The Elastic Clause-a statement in the US Constution(Article 1, Section 8) granting Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper for carrying out the enumerated list of powers
- Conference Committee-a committee of the Congress appointed by the HOR and Senate to resolve dissagrements on a particular bill
- Select Committee-a small legislative committee appointed for a special purpose
- Legislative Oversight-congresional oversight is oversight by the US Congress over the Executive Branch, including the numerous Federal agencies
- Seniority System-the costum in Congress providing for the assignment of a committee chair person to that member of the majority party who has served on the committee the longest
- Caucus(Congressional)-a group of members of the US Congress that meets to persue common legislative objectives
- Bills-a form or draft of a proposal statute presented to a legislature, but not yet enacted or passed and made law
- Inpeachment(process)-a formal process in which on official is accused of unlawful activity, the out come of which, depending on the country, may include the removal of that offical from office as well as criminal or civil punishment