Ap Government Vocabulary Ii

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The Congressional Record

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a journal that each chamber must keep of its proceedings

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Congressional Oversight

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The right for the members of Congress to monitor Executive Branch activities

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Impeachment

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to bring charges against an official

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Pro Tem(pore)(as in president Pro Tem)

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(placeholder) in the absence of the president

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(Congressional) Whip

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a member of congress whose task is to ensure that members of the party attend and vote as the party leadership desires

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Caucus

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meeting of some special interest in congress

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The Frank

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members of congress can send all mail free of charge

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Quorum

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the minimum number of members of a deliberative body necessary to conduct the business of that group.

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Habeus Corpus

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A person held in custody or confinement can seek release from unlawful imprisonment

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Attainder

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an act of legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime, and punishing them, without benefit of a trial

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Ex post facto law

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law and legislation that applies retroactively (Influencing or applying to a period prior to enactment)

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Omnibus Bill

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a group of noncotraversial bills tied together for quick passage

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Gerrymander

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a controversial form of redistricting in which electoral district or constituency boundaries are manipulated for an electoral advantage

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Mal-apportionment

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Characterized by an inappropriate or unfair proportional distribution of representatives to a legislative body.

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Discharge Petition

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pulls a bill out of committee and brings it to the full House

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Filibuster

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the speech Senators speak endlessly to kill or delay a bill

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Cloture (closure)

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ends debate and brings a bill to a vote (requires a 3/5 vote)

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Double tracking

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to allow certain business to continue during a filibuster

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Multiple Referral

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the process of sending legislation to be considered by more than one committee

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Pigeonhole

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when a committee chair does not introduce a bill into his committe

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pork Barrel (Bill)

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a government appropriation bill, or policy that supplies funds for local improvements designed to ingratiate legislators with their constituents.

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Logrolling

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The exchanging of political favors, especially the trading of influence or votes among legislators to achieve passage of projects that are of interest to one another.

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Rider

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an additional provision annexed to a bill under the consideration of a legislature, having little connection with the subject matter of the bill.

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Conference Committee

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joint committee that reconciles the two bills, into one unified bill

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Standing committee

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permanent committees of Congress in which most of the work of Congress is done

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Census

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counts the polulation every 10 years

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Apportionment

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process of determining representation in politics within a legislative body

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Reapportionment (Redistricting)

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the redistribution of representation in a legislative body

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Censure

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an official reprimand, as by a legislative body of one of its members.

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Incumbent

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is the current holder of a political office.

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Constituent

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having power to frame or alter a political constitution or fundamental law

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Germane

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Being both pertinent and fitting.

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Gridlock

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any situation in which nothing can move or proceed in any direction

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Veto

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to reject (a proposed bill or enactment)

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Pocket Veto

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a veto of a bill brought about by the president's failure to sign it within ten days of the adjournment of Congress.

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Appropriation

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money set aside (as by a legislature) for a specific purpose

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Subpoena

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A writ requiring appearance under penalty of law (in court)

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Copyright

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the right to copy original work

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Patent

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the exclusive right granted by a government to an inventor to manufacture, use, or sell an invention for a certain number of years.

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Christmas Tree Bill

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Informal nomenclature for a bill on the Senate floor that attracts many, often unrelated, floor amendments