flashcard
1 / 35
Front
term
❮ prev
next ❯
1 / 35
Back
two-year period of time during which Congress meets.
❮ prev
next ❯
terms list
term
two-year period of time during which Congress meets.
session
Period of time during which, each year, Congress assembles and conducts business.
apportionment
process of distributing seats in a legislative body.
gerrymander
The drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group.
continuous body
Governing unit whose seats are never all up for election at the same time.
constituency
The people and interests that an elected official represents.
partisan
Lawmaker who owes their allegiance to their political party and votes according to the party line.
oversight function
Review by legislative committees of the policies and programs of the executive branch.
consensus
General agreement among various groups on fundamental matters.
commerce power
Exclusive power of Congress to regulate interstate and foreign trade.
bankruptcy
The legal proceedings by which a bankrupt person's assets are distributed among those to whom he or she owes debts.
naturalization
The legal process by which citizens of one country become citizens of another.
eminent domain
Power of a government to take private property for public use.
impeach
To bring formal charges against a public official.
perjury
The act of lying under oath.
censure
Issue a formal condemnation.
electoral college
Group of persons chosen in each state and the District of Columbia every four years who make a formal selection of the President and Vice President.
platform
A political party's formal statement of basic principles, stands on major issues, and objectives.
electorate
All the people entitled to vote in a given election.
jurisdiction
The authority of a court to hear a case.
plaintiff
In civil law, the party who brings a suit or some other legal action against another in court.
defendant
In a civil suit, the person against whom a court action is brought by the plaintiff or, in a criminal case, the person charged with the crime.
precedent
Court decision that stands as an example to be followed in future, similar cases.
initiative
A process in which a certain number of qualified voters sign petitions in favor of a proposed statute or constitutional amentment, which then goes directly to the ballot.
police power
The authority of each state to act to protect and promote the public health, safety, morals and general welfare of its people.
referendum
A process by which a legislative measure is referred to the state's voters for final approval or rejection.
recall
A petition procedure by which voters may remove an elected official from office before the completion of his or her regular term.
item veto
A governor may veto one or more items in a bill without rejecting the entire measure.
clemency
Mercy or leniency granted to an offender by a chief executive.
pardon
release from the punishment or legal consequences of a crime by the President (in a federal case) or governor (in a state case).
commutation
The power to reduce the length of a sentence or fine for a crime.
parole
The release of a prisoner short of the complete term of the original sentence.
felony
A serious crime which may be punished by a heavy fine and/or imprisonment or even death.
misdemeanor
A lesser offense, pubishable by a small fine and/or short jail term.
magistrate
A justice who handles minor civil complaints and misdemeanor cases that arise in an urban setting.
more from user
List #1: Public Opinion
15 items
en en
Supreme Court Cases
22 items
en en
Unit 1: Vocabulary
11 items
en en
Zahn: Unit 4 Vocabulary
30 items
en en
List #2: The Constitution
18 items
en en
Unit 1: Introduction to Government
14 items
en en
Chapter 12: Congress
22 items
en en
Unit 3 Government Vocabulary
18 items
en en
List #3: Federalism
20 items
en en
Constitutional Amendments
37 items
en en
Unit 1 Vocabulary
25 items
en en
Unit 5 Vocabulary
25 items
en en
similars
Semester 2: Government
39 items
en en
Dual Government Test #2
64 items
en en
History: Vocab #2
25 items
en en
Cal Poly POLS 112 Mulholland Final
95 items
en en
likely
mcdb 1b- chp 48
32 items
en en
Family Centered Care
13 items
en en
Ruthie Spry NPTI Final Exam B
11 items
en en
Microbio Chapter 17
20 items
en en