Expressed Powers
Powers of government specifically stated in the Constitution.
Implied Powers
Powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution but drawn from the expressed powers.
House of Reps: job requirements and term of office
25 years old, US citizen for 7 years, must live in district that elects him/her, 2-year term, no term limit
Senate: job requirements and term of office
30 years old, US citizen for 9 years, must live in state that elects him/her, 6-year term, no term limit
Veto
The power of a president or governor to reject a bill proposed by a legislature by refusing to sign it into law.
Override a veto
Requires at least a 2/3 majority in both houses to become a law without the approval of the president. This is one way that the legislative branch checks the executive branch.
Speaker of the House
Presiding officer in the House of Representatives -- assigns members to committees, schedules debates, breaks ties.
President of the Senate
Vice President of the U.S. Only role in Senate is to break a tie.
President Pro Tempore of the Senate
Longest-serving member of the majority party. Presiding officer of the Senate. Mostly ceremonial position.
Majority/Minority Leaders
In both House and Senate, these are the party leaders. They maintain party discipline on the floor. In the Senate, the majority leader has powers similar to Speaker of the House.
Whip
A member of Congress who is responsible for gathering votes and checking party attendance.
Bicameral
Two-houses in a legislature. (In the US Congress, the two house are the House of Representatives and the Senate.)
Caucus
Meeting. Can be used as a noun or a verb.
Conference Committee
A conference committee is a joint committee (members from both the House and Senate) that convenes to work out the differences in bills that have passed through both houses, but in different forms.
Constituents
People represented by an elected official. (Not on exam)
Impeach
The House of Representatives impeaches (accuses) a government official of a crime, and the Senate holds the trial to determine whether or not to remove the official from office.
Filibuster
A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor in order to delay proceedings and prevent a vote on a controversial issue. (Not on exam)
Incumbent
Elected official already in office, running for re-election. (Not on exam)
Standing Committee
Permanent committee of Congress. Part of the law-making process. Also conducts oversight of the other branches and investigates issues of concern. (Ex. Committee on Homeland Security or Committee on Education and Labor.)
Joint Committee
Any committee that includes members of both the House and the Senate
Markup
When committee members change a bill before it goes to the Full House or Full Senate for a vote
Subcommittee
Subunit of a committee established for the purpose of dividing the committee's workload. (Not on exam)
Article One, Section 9
Part of the Constitution that outlines what Congress can do (enumerated powers).
Proper and Necessary" Clause
Implied Powers (elastic clause) - powers needed in order to carry out the enumerated powers of Congress.