Vocabulary

Vocabulary for Constitution Overview (Review from last unit) Amendment Popular sovereignty Delegated powers Veto Preamble Concurrent Powers Reserved Powers Legislative Branch Executive Branch Separation of Powers Limited Government Checks and Balances Judicial Branch Cabinet Repeal Majority rule

New Vocabulary for Legislative Branch Bicameral legislature – a law making body of two houses. The Congress is a bicameral legislature made up of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

2. Apportioned – distributed. Seats in the House of Representatives are apportioned based on the state’s population. TEXAS – 32 REPRESENTATIVES Population (estimate)26.1MILLION MONTANA – 1 representative Population (estimate)1.01 MILLION

3. Gerrymandering – Drawing lines when making up the districts to favor one party over another. Gerrymandering creates districts that helps one party’s candidate get elected.

4. immunity – legal protection Members of Congress have legal immunity. 5. Expulsion –When a person must give up his or her seat in Congress. Expulsion because of a serious offense needs a two-thirds vote of the Senate 6. Censure – formal disapproval of the actions of a member of Congress. A censured member of Congress must stand alone in front of his/her peers and listen to their offenses. 7. Sessions – Meetings of Congress Each term of Congress is made of two sessions. 8. President Pro Tempore- President for the “time being” (When Vice President is absent) The president pro tempore presides over the Senate’s daily meetings

9. Whip – officer who persuades party members to vote for their party’s legislation. A party whip counts votes and encourages loyalty to the party. 10. Speaker of the House – The person who presides over the House of Representatives. The Speaker of the House presides over the House of Representatives. 11. Implied powers-authority that Congress has claimed over the Elastic Clause Implied powers are not specifically “spelled out” in the Constitution. 12. Elastic Clause – Constitution that gives Congress powers that it considers “necessary and proper”. The Elastic Clause allows Congress to have leeway in acting on matters not specifically mentioned in the Constitution. 13. Impeach – To accuse an office holder of misconduct Congress can impeach officials for treason. 14. Treason – Betray one’s country Congress can impeach someone for treason.

15. Bill –Proposed law Congress votes on a bill to make it a law. 16. filibuster-delaying votes in Senate by making lengthy speeches. The record for the longest filibuster goes to U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina, who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957. F.Y.I According to U.S. Senate records, Thurmond began speaking at 8:54 p.m. on Aug. 28 and continued until 9:12 p.m. the following evening, reciting the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights, President George Washington's farewell address and other historical documents along the way. 

Questions to Know What is the main job of the Legislative Branch? What is the main job of the Judicial Branch? What is the main job of the Executive Branch? How many houses make up Congress? What are the requirements for the House of Representatives? Can a person be punished for a crime before there was a law against it? Can a person be held in jail without being told why?

Facts to know: The Declaration and Constitution clearly reflect the ideas of John Locke. The President must be a native born citizen of the US. If a President dies or leaves office the new president nominates the new Vice President. One of the responsibilities of the Department of State is to handle foreign policy. The president has the power to grant pardons. The president cannot declare war or override a veto.

More facts to know: Supreme Court Justices are appointed for life. The three main levels of federal courts are District Courts, Court of Appeals and U.S. Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has the right to decide if Congress is interpreting laws correctly.

Main Concepts #1 What is the difference between the way a state is represented in the House of Representatives and the Senate? #2 Which part of Congress is more important? (opinion) #3What is the difference between Congress’s delegated and implied powers? #4 Which powers does each house have? #5 How do bills become laws?

Executive Branch Vocabulary Presidential succession- the order of who will take over if there is a presidential vacancy State of the Union Address- Every year the president sets forth his plans for laws for Congress to make. Foreign Policy- government’s plan for interacting with other countries of the world. Diplomacy-The art of interacting with other countries. Treaties-written agreements with other countries.

5. Reprieve- postponement of sentence. 6. Pardon- forgives and eliminates sentence. 7. Commutation- reducing a person’s sentence. 8. secretary- Title of cabinet members. attorney general- Head of the Department of Justice. ambassadors- highest ranking U.S. representatives in a foreign country. embassy-official residence of an ambassador in a foreign country.

Judicial Branch Vocabulary Crime- illegal behavior Criminal law - group of laws that defines what acts are crimes. Civil law- group of laws that refer to disputes between people. Common law - law that comes from a judge’s decision Precedent- earlier decision Constitutional law - Law based on the Constitution and Supreme Court decisions

Appeal-asking for a review of a court’s decision. Jurisdiction-courts authority to hear the case brought before it. district courts- Lowest level of federal courts courts of appeals – Second level of federal courts. Justices – Supreme Court judges 12. judicial review- Allows the courts to decide if a law or a presidential action is constitutional.