Civics - C.3.8

act

legislation which has passed both houses of Congress in identical form, been signed into law by the president, or passed over his veto, therefore becoming law

appointment

job or duty that is given to a person

appointment confirmation

the process of the Senate approving the president's choices for certain positions within the government

bicameral

having two chambers (e.g. the two houses of Congress, the Senate and the House of Representatives)

bill

an idea being suggested to become a law

Cabinet

persons appointed by a head of state to head executive departments of government and act as official advisers

Chief Justice

the head justice, the Chief Justice is "first among equals

city commissioner or council member

a member of the governing body of a city

committee selection

how representatives and senators are chosen for their assigned committees

conference committee

a temporary panel composed of House and Senate members, which is formed for the purpose of reconciling differences in legislation that has passed both chambers. Conference committees are usually convened to resolve differences on major and controversial l

constituents

people public officials are elected to represent

county commissioner or council member

a member of the governing body of a county

court order

a formal statement from a court that orders someone to do or stop doing something

executive order

an order that comes from the U.S. President or a government agency and must be obeyed like a law

home rule

self-government by citizens at the local level

how a bill becomes a law

the process of how a proposed law ("bill") moves through Congress and the president in order to become a law

impeach

to bring formal charges of wrongdoing against a public official (such as the U.S. President)

judgment

a formal decision given by a court

judicial review

the power of the U.S. courts to examine the laws or actions of the legislative and executive branches of the government and to determine whether such actions are consistent with the U.S. Constitution

jurisdiction

the right and power for courts to interpret and apply the law

law

a rule established by government or other source of authority to regulate people's conduct or activities

majority leader

a position where a Member of Congress is elected by the majority party to serve as the chief spokesperson for that party and to manage and schedule the business of either house

majority party

the political party with the most elected members

majority vote

the Senate may agree to any question by a majority of senators voting, if a quorum is present.

mayor

the head of government for a city, town or other municipality

minority leader

a position where a member of Congress is elected by the minority party to serve as the chief spokesperson for the party and to support the majority party in managing and scheduling the business of either house

minority party

the political party second in number of elected members to the majority party

nominate

to suggest a person for a position or office

ordinance

a law enacted by a city or county affecting local affairs such as traffic, noise, and animal control

pardon

the formal act of forgiving someone or excusing a mistake

President pro tempore of the Senate

the person who presides over the Senate when the Vice President is not present

presidential appointment

the power of the president to nominate persons to fill positions in the federal government

school board

the group of persons elected to manage local public schools

Speaker of the House

an office identified in Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution; the leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, usually the highest ranking member of the majority party

special committee

a permanent committee established under the standing rules of both houses of Congress that focuses specific subject areas (e.g. Special Committee on Aging)

special interest groups

people who are concerned with some particular issue or part of the government and who try to influence legislators to act in their favor

standing committee

permanent committee that focuses on specific subject areas (e.g. Education and the Workforce Committee)

state legislator

a member of the Florida House of Representatives (state representative) or Florida Senate (state senator)

state representative

a member of a state legislature (i.e. the Florida House of Representatives)

state senator

a member of a state legislature (i.e. the Florida Senate)

statute

a law enacted at the state level

summary judgment

a judgment decided by a trial court without that case going to trial; a summary judgment is an attempt to stop a case from going to trial

United States representative

a member of the U.S House of Representatives; representatives are elected in districts throughout each state

United States senator

a member of the U.S. Senate elected to represent an entire state, there are two senators per state

veto

a decision by an executive authority such as a president or governor to reject a proposed law or statue

writ of certiorari

the procedure to see if the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case; a writ of certiorari is issues when a higher level court agrees to hear an appeal of an inferior court's decision

committee

a group of House or Senate members gathered for a specific purpose, typically to discuss proposed legislation on specific topics

Congressman/woman

a member of the U.S. Congress, typically used to address members of the U.S. House of Representatives

federal courts

courts that decide arguments over how to interpret the Constitution, all laws passed by Congress, arguments involving states, and in agreements with other nations., the U.S. Supreme Court is the highest court in the land and is at the top of the federal c

state house of representatives

the lower house of a state legislature (i.e., Florida House of Representatives)

state senate

the upper house of a state legislature (i.e., Florida Senate)

state courts

courts that deal with issues of law relating to those matters that the U.S. Constitution did not give to the federal government and are outlined in a state's constitution