Congress vocabulary 2016

I can build background on key vocabulary words to gain a better understanding of

how the Legislative branch functions

LearningTarget

Bicameral

Census

Gerrymandering

SeniorityIf someone has served for 10 terms they have seniority over a new congressman.Its not age but years served.

Expressed Powers

• Article 1 says congress has the power to regulate thepost office

Implied Powers

• Nothing in the Constitutioncovers the internet, it was notInvented at the time. Elastic Clause

Elastic clause

• Meet today’sneeds

Impeach

• Does not mean you are fired• It’s a formal hearing

Writ of Habeas Corpus

• A court order that requires police to bring a prisoner to court and explain why they are holding them.

• THIS CAN’T BE SUSPENDED BY CONGRESS

Bill of Attainder

A law that would punish someone without a fair trial or time or trial at all

*THIS CAN’T BE SUSPENDED

Ex Post Facto Law

• If a law is passed saying that anyone who gets in a wreck while on the cell phone loses their license for a year

• They can’t go back andsay if you did it tenyears ago you lose yourLicencense if it wasn’t against theLaw at the time

Franking Privilege

• Job related mail for FRRRRREEEEEEEE

lobbyist

• Representative from an interest group who contacts lawmakers to influence their policy

Constituent

• A person from a legislators district

Pork Barrel Project

Pork Barrel Project

Filibuster

Veto

• President’s refusal to sign a bill or resolution.

Pocket Veto• President’s power to kill a bill, if Congress is

not in session, by not signing it for 10 day.

• Passive way of refusing a bill