Key Terms
Expressed powers
Powers directly stated in the Constitution.
Interstate Commerce
trade between the states
Perjury
Lying under oath
What are some causes of tension between Congress and the President.
-Different timetables
-Party Politics
-Organization and Scheduling
What is the difference between perjury and contempt?
Perjury is lying under oath.
Contempt is the willful obstruction of justice.
Implied powers
Powers given to congress to carry out its expressed powers.
Divided Government
When one party controls the house and the other controls the senate.
Contempt
Willful obstruction of justice.
Examples of legislative powers of Congress:
-spend money
-declare war
-borrow money
-make laws
What is the difference between expressed and implied powers.
Expressed powers are directly stated in the Constitution.
Implied powers are powers given to carry out the expressed powers.
Revenue Bill
A law for raising money
Impoundment
The President's refusal to spend money that Congress voted to fund a program.
Subpoena
A legal order that a person appear or present requested documents.
Examples of non-legislative powers of Congress
-impeach officials
-propose amendments
-ratify treaties
-confirm appointments
What is the difference between a copyright and a patent.
A copyright is the exclusive right to sell artistic work.
A patent is the exclusive right of an inventor to manufacture or use a product.
Necessary and Proper Clause
A clause in the Constitution which says Congress can make all laws necessary and proper to carry out its duties.
Impeachment
A formal accusation of misconduct in office.
Immunity
Freedom from prosecution.
What are checks and balances?
Provisions the government gives for the branches of government to "check" each other so one branch won't become too powerful.
What is the difference between the authorization bill and the appropriations bill.
The appropriations bill is a proposed law to authorize spending money.
The authorization bill establishes a program and determines how much can be spent on it.
Appropriations Bill
A proposed law authorized for spending money.
Authorization Bill
A bill that establishes a program and determines how much can be spent on it.
National Budget
Yearly financial plan for the government.
What is legislative oversight?
Power of the legislative branch to review the policies programs and activities of the executive branch on an ongoing basis
What is the difference between legislative veto and line-item veto?
Legislative veto is a provision that congress wrote into some laws that allowed it to review and cancel actions of executive agencies.
Line-item veto is the power of an executive to reject one or more items in a bill without vetoing the entire bill.