Legislative Terms and Processes Quiz

Questions and Answers

What is a census?

A complete enumeration of a population. (correct)

A procedural practice in the Senate.

The area that a member of the House represents.

A process done every 10 years by Congress.

What is reappointment?

Redrawing legislative boundaries.

A veto when Congress adjourns.

A temporary legislative committee.

A process done every 10 years by Congress. (correct)

What does gerrymander mean?

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

What is a congressional district?

The area that a member of the House represents. Signup and view all the answers

What is oversight in Congress?

Congressional review of the activities of an agency, department, or office. Signup and view all the answers

What is the House Rules Committee?

An institution unique to the House of Representatives that reviews all bills before they go to the full House. Signup and view all the answers

What is a filibuster?

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor. Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by pork barrel?

A list of federal projects, grants, and contracts available to cities. Signup and view all the answers

What are earmarks?

"Hidden" congressional provisions that direct funding to specific projects. Signup and view all the answers

What is a conference committee?

A temporary committee consisting of members of both chambers that seeks to reach a compromise. Signup and view all the answers

What is a standing committee?

A permanent committee established in a legislature. Signup and view all the answers

What is a joint committee?

A committee of the House and the Senate that typically acts as a study group. Signup and view all the answers

What is a select committee?

A temporary legislative committee created for a specific purpose. Signup and view all the answers

What is a pocket veto?

A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days without action on a bill. Signup and view all the answers

What is a line-item veto?

Presidential power to strike specific items from a spending bill. Signup and view all the answers

What does it mean to pigeonhole a bill?

To set a bill aside by a committee without considering it. Signup and view all the answers

What is a discharge petition?

A petition signed by a majority of the House to force a bill from committee. Signup and view all the answers

Who is the Speaker of the House?

The office mandated by the Constitution, chosen by the majority party. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of the president pro tempore?

An officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president. Signup and view all the answers

What is the majority leader?

The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy. Signup and view all the answers

What is the minority leader?

The principal leader of the minority party in the House or Senate. Signup and view all the answers

What are bills of attainder?

Laws that punish a person accused of a crime without a trial. Signup and view all the answers

What are ex post facto laws?

Laws that could punish a person for actions that were legal when committed. Signup and view all the answers

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.