Apportionment
Powers of Congress
Committees
Lawmaking
Vocabulary
100
The practice of redrawing congressional districts (often in a weird shape) to benefit one political party.
What is gerrymandering?
100
These powers are definite - written in the Constitution
What are expressed powers?
100
A permanent committee in the House or Senate
What is a Standing Committee?
100
What is the lawmaking process?
100
A proposed piece of legislation
What is a bill?
200
Entity that typically is responsible for creating new districts in a state
What is the state legislature?
200
These powers are not written specifically in the Constitution
What are implied powers?
200
A temporary committee, usually used for investigative purposes
What is a Select Committee?
200
Vote needed to override a presidential veto
What is 2/3 majority?
200
The process of redrawing electoral districts in the United States.
What is redistricting?
300
Count of people done every 10 years - used to redistrict
What is the census?
300
Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution
Where are the listed powers of Congress found in the Constitution?
300
This committee figures out how to pay for stuff - tax bills
What is the House Ways and Means Committee?
300
People who often try to influence congressmen to support or reject a bill by providing information on it. They typically work for an interest group.
Who is a lobbyist?
300
Federal benefit payments to which recipients have a legal right, e.g., Social Security
What are entitlements?
400
Supreme Court case that established the principle of one man, one vote
What is Baker v. Carr?
400
This constitutional clause broadened the powers of Congress
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
400
This committee is used to solve differences in a bill if it differs between the House and the Senate. It needs to be done prior to going to the President.
What is a Conference Committee?
400
When a president does not sign a bill after 10 days and Congress is not in session
What is a pocket veto?
400
A petition signed by members of the House of Representatives to bring a bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote.
What is a discharge petition?
500
Supreme Court case where the ruling stated gerrymandering can't be done based on race
What is Shaw v. Reno?
500
This directly stated power of Congress often leads to controversy and court cases
What is the Commerce Clause?
500
This committee is involved with the federal budget and how money is allocated
What is the Appropriations Committee?
500
Ends the filibuster and debate time in the Senate
What is a cloture vote?
500
Drawing districts of unequal sizes and populations
What is malapportionment?