Questions and Answers
What is a census?
What is reappointment?
What does gerrymander mean?
Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.
What is a congressional district?
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What is oversight in Congress?
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What is the House Rules Committee?
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What is a filibuster?
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What is meant by pork barrel?
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What are earmarks?
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What is a conference committee?
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What is a standing committee?
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What is a joint committee?
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What is a select committee?
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What is a pocket veto?
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What is a line-item veto?
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What does it mean to pigeonhole a bill?
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What is a discharge petition?
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Who is the Speaker of the House?
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What is the role of the president pro tempore?
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What is the majority leader?
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What is the minority leader?
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What are bills of attainder?
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What are ex post facto laws?
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Study Notes
Key Legislative Terms
- Census: A complete count of the population conducted every ten years.
- Reappointment: A congressional process occurring every decade, redistributing House representatives among states to ensure equal district populations.
- Gerrymander: The practice of redrawing legislative district boundaries to favor the ruling party.
Congressional Structure
- Congressional District: The geographic area represented by a member of the House of Representatives.
- House Rules Committee: Unique to the House of Representatives; reviews bills (excluding revenue and budget) before full House consideration.
Legislative Processes
- Oversight: Review conducted by Congress on the activities of federal agencies and departments.
- Filibuster: Senate tactic that allows senators to delay proceedings and prevent votes on contentious issues by holding the floor.
- Pork Barrel: A list of federal projects and funds allocated to specific districts to benefit local constituents.
Funding and Committee Dynamics
- Earmarks: Provisions that direct federal funds to specific projects or exempt certain groups from federal taxes.
- Conference Committee: Temporary committee formed by members of both the House and Senate to reconcile differing versions of a bill.
Committees and Legislative Procedures
- Standing Committee: Permanent committees focused on specific policy areas within the legislature.
- Joint Committee: A committee composed of members from both chambers, typically functioning as a study group reporting findings.
- Select Committee: Temporary committees established for specific investigations or tasks, disbanded afterward.
Veto Power and Legislative Actions
- Pocket Veto: An indirect veto occurring when a president neither signs nor vetoes a bill within ten days while Congress is adjourned.
- Line-Item Veto: A presidential authority to remove certain parts of a spending bill; ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
Legislative Strategies
- Pigeonhole: The act of setting aside a bill by a committee, effectively allowing it to die without discussion.
- Discharge Petition: A tool allowing House members to forcibly bring a bill to the floor if signed by a majority, bypassing committee inaction.
Leadership Positions
- Speaker of the House: The constitutional leader of the House, chosen by the majority party, with significant powers and second in presidential succession.
- President Pro Tempore: A Senate officer, elected by the majority party, who presides in the absence of the vice president.
- Majority Leader: The leading figure from the majority party in the legislature, responsible for planning strategies and maintaining party unity.
- Minority Leader: The principal leader of the minority party in either the House or Senate, representing their interests.
Legal Restrictions
- Bills of Attainder: Legislative acts that punish individuals without a trial.
- Ex Post Facto Laws: Laws that retroactively punish actions that were legal at the time they were committed.
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Description
Test your knowledge on key legislative terms and the structure of Congress. This quiz covers important concepts like reappointment, gerrymandering, and congressional oversight. Challenge yourself to see how well you understand the mechanisms that shape federal governance.