U.S. Government Chapter 5 Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What do constituents refer to?

A legislative act finding a person guilty without a trial

Money set aside by a legislature for a specific purpose

The distribution of representatives among the states

The people a member of Congress represents (correct)

What does apportionment mean?

A tax levied on goods or services

A writ ordering a prisoner to be brought before a judge

Distribution of representatives among the states based on population (correct)

A formal accusation of misconduct in office

What is an appropriation?

Money set aside for a specific purpose.

What is impeachment?

A formal accusation of misconduct in office against a public official. Signup and view all the answers

What is oversight in the context of Congress?

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

What is the necessary and proper clause?

A part of the Constitution that allows Congress to use implied powers reasonably related to expressed powers. Signup and view all the answers

What is an indirect tax?

A tax levied on goods or services rather than on persons or organizations. Signup and view all the answers

What is a direct tax?

A tax paid directly by the person or organization on whom it is levied. Signup and view all the answers

What is a deficit in government finance?

An excess of federal expenditures over federal revenues. Signup and view all the answers

What is the commerce clause?

The clause that gives Congress the power to regulate business activities that cross state lines. Signup and view all the answers

What is a subpoena?

A writ issued to compel the attendance of a witness. Signup and view all the answers

What does a writ of habeas corpus do?

It orders a prisoner to be brought before a judge. Signup and view all the answers

What is a bill of attainder?

A legislative act finding a person guilty without a trial. Signup and view all the answers

What is an ex post facto law?

A law that makes an act criminal even though it was legal when committed. Signup and view all the answers

What does reapportionment mean?

The process of reassigning representation based on population after a census. Signup and view all the answers

What is gerrymandering?

The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party or group. Signup and view all the answers

Who is the Speaker of the House?

The leader of the majority party and presiding officer of the House of Representatives. Signup and view all the answers

What are bills?

Proposed laws. Signup and view all the answers

What is a floor leader?

The legislator who organizes his party's strategy. Signup and view all the answers

What do whips do in Congress?

They work with the majority or minority leader to count votes and persuade members. Signup and view all the answers

What is a party caucus?

A meeting of party members in a legislative chamber to select leaders and develop policy. Signup and view all the answers

What is a standing committee?

A permanent committee established in a legislature focusing on a policy area. Signup and view all the answers

What is a select committee?

A temporary legislative committee established for a special purpose. Signup and view all the answers

What is a joint committee?

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

What is the President of the Senate?

The presiding officer of a senate, typically the Vice President. Signup and view all the answers

What is the president pro tempore?

Officer of the Senate selected to act as chair in the absence of the vice president. Signup and view all the answers

Who is the senate majority leader?

The chief spokesperson of the majority party in the Senate. Signup and view all the answers

What is the seniority rule?

Most important posts will be held by the most experienced members. Signup and view all the answers

What is a filibuster?

A tactic for delaying legislation by making long speeches. Signup and view all the answers

What is cloture?

A procedure used in the Senate to limit debate on a bill. Signup and view all the answers

What is a rider in legislative terms?

A completely unrelated amendment attached to a bill. Signup and view all the answers

What is a joint resolution?

A resolution passed by both houses of Congress which becomes legally binding. Signup and view all the answers

What is a concurrent resolution?

An expression of opinion that requires approval of both the House and Senate, but not the President. Signup and view all the answers

What is a discharge petition?

A petition to bring a bill to the floor for consideration if signed by the majority. Signup and view all the answers

What is a committee of the Whole?

An old parliamentary device for speeding business on the floor. Signup and view all the answers

What is a quorum?

The number of members necessary to conduct business in a legislature. Signup and view all the answers

What is a roll call vote?

A voting procedure where members answer 'yea' or 'nay' to their names. Signup and view all the answers

What is a conference committee?

A temporary joint committee set up to reconcile differences between House and Senate bills. Signup and view all the answers

What is a pocket veto?

When a president kills a bill by refusing to act on it during the last 10 days Congress is in session. Signup and view all the answers

What is a veto?

A formal rejection of a bill by the President. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Key Terms and Definitions

Constituents: Individuals represented by a member of Congress, crucial for democratic representation.
Apportionment: Distribution of congressional representatives based on state population, essential for equitable representation.
Appropriation: Specific funds allocated by the legislature for designated purposes, important for budget management.
Impeachment: Formal process of accusing public officials of misconduct, significant for maintaining checks and balances in government.
Oversight: Congressional review of agency activities, essential for accountability and transparency in government operations.

Constitutional Provisions

Necessary and Proper Clause: Grants Congress implied powers related to its expressed powers, allowing flexibility in legislation.
Commerce Clause: Empowers Congress to regulate interstate business activities, foundational for economic governance.

Taxation Types

Indirect Tax: Tax assessed on goods or services, influencing consumer behavior indirectly.
Direct Tax: Tax levied directly on individuals or organizations, impacting personal financial assessments.

Fiscal Concepts

Deficit: Occurs when federal spending exceeds revenues, indicating potential financial instability.
Reapportionment: Renegotiation of representation after each census, vital for reflecting demographic changes in Congress.

Legislative Processes

Gerrymandering: Manipulation of district boundaries for political gain, often undermining fair representation.
Bill of Attainder: Legislative act declaring an individual guilty without trial, prohibited as a violation of due process.
Ex Post Facto Law: Law criminalizing actions retroactively, which is unconstitutional due to fairness principles.

Legislative Leadership

Speaker of the House: Presiding officer of the House of Representatives and leader of the majority party, playing a crucial role in legislative agenda.
Floor Leader: Party strategist responsible for legislative organization and coalition building.
Whips: Party leaders who ensure party discipline and manage vote counts on key legislation.

Committees and Resolutions

Standing Committee: Permanent committee focusing on specific policy areas, integral for detailed legislative scrutiny.
Select Committee: Temporary committee for specific purposes, addressing unique issues in-depth.
Joint Committee: Comprises members from both houses to streamline investigation and reporting processes.

Voting and Debate Procedures

Filibuster: Tactical delay method, allowing prolonged debate to obstruct legislation, reflecting the importance of minority rights.
Cloture: Procedure to end filibuster and limit debate, facilitating legislative progress.
Roll Call Vote: Method of voting where members declare their votes openly, enhancing accountability.

Additional Legislative Tools

Rider: An unrelated amendment to secure a bill's passage, often controversial in legislative debates.
Discharge Petition: Tool enabling a majority of the House to bring a stalled bill to the floor, enhancing legislative efficiency.
Quorum: Minimum number of members required for legislative business, ensuring representation.

Final Legislative Actions

Pocket Veto: President's option to ignore a bill, effectively killing it if Congress adjourns.
Veto: Formal rejection of legislation by the president, which can be overturned by a two-thirds majority in Congress, showcasing executive power limits.

Resolution Types

Joint Resolution: A resolution with binding effect once signed by the president, often used for significant legislative decisions.
Concurrent Resolution: Expresses opinions of both houses without legal force, reflecting consensus on specific issues.

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Description

Test your knowledge of U.S. Government terminology with these flashcards from Chapter 5. Each card presents a key term along with its definition, helping you grasp essential concepts like constituents, apportionment, and appropriation. Ideal for students preparing for exams in government studies.