LBR - Legislative Branch Module Overview

 

Legislative Branch Module Overview

Article I of the United States Constitution outlines the role of the legislative branch of government. The legislative branch is bicameral, meaning it consists of two houses. The two houses are the Senate and the House of Representatives. Membership in the House of Representatives is based upon population of each state, and membership in the Senate is based upon equal representation, or two members, from each state. Within both houses, there are various committees, roles, and powers that allow the houses to function properly in the best interest of the legislative course of action. One of the basic functions of our legislative branch is to guide bills through the process of becoming a law. These laws have a direct impact on American citizens. In the "Legislative Branch" module, you will learn about the roles and powers of both the House of Representatives and the Senate. You will learn about the legislative process. One of the unique features of the legislative process is the influence of special interest groups, or lobbyists. In this module, we will also learn about the role of lobbyists and special interest groups and their impact on the legislative process.

 

Essential Questions

• What is the difference between the House of Representatives and the Senate (office, powers, organization, leadership, and representation)?
• What are the steps in the legislative process?
• What roles are the roles of various leadership positions within the legislature?
• What is the function of lobbyists?
• What are the functions of special interest groups?

 

Key Terms

1. Appropriations Bill - a legislative act authorizing the expenditure of a designated amount of public funds for a specific purpose
2. Bicameral Legislature - a legislative body that is divided into separate assemblies; houses or chambers
3. Bill - a statute or proposed law before it becomes official
4. Censure - an expression of disapproval or criticism
5. Cloture - A motion in a procedure aimed to bring debate to a quick end (also called closure)
6. Conference Committee - a joint committee that is appointed to hold a conference for creating a compromise version of a bill
7. Constituents - members having the power to elect or appoint within an organization or community
8. Entitlement - a government program that guarantees and provides benefits to a particular group
9. Express Powers - the government has specific powers outlined in the U.S. Constitution
10. Filibuster - an obstructive tactic to delay or prevent a piece of legislation from passing; employed by an individual Senator or group of Senators who oppose a bill
11. Gerrymander - the process of manipulating a geographic area into voting districts so as to give unfair advantage to one party in elections
12. Impeachment - to charge (a public official) with improper conduct in office, criminal or civil
13. Implied Powers - powers not specifically outlined in the Constitution but given to Federal Government
14. Impoundment - the decision not to spend money appropriated by Congress rather than spend as prescribed
15. Incumbent -a person who currently holds an official position or political office
16. Interstate Commerce - Congress has the power to regulate commerce, traffic, transportation, and exchange between states of the U.S.
17. Joint Committee - a committee made up of members from both chambers of Congress
18. Line Item Veto - authority, of a government executive, to reject sections of a bill
19. Lobbying - the act of influencing the thinking of government officials for or against a specific cause
20. Logrolling - the exchange of political favors, especially the trading of influence or votes among legislators to achieve passage of projects that are of interest to one another
21. Majority Leader - the leader who represents the majority political party in a legislature
22. Necessary and Proper Clause - the clause in Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution that empowers the Congress to make all laws necessary for executing its other powers and those of the Federal Government
23. Pocket Veto - the indirect veto of a bill received by the President within ten days of the adjournment of Congress, effected by retaining the bill unsigned until Congress adjourns
24. Porkbarrel Legislation - government money used to support a local or representative district
25. President Pro Tempore - a recognized officer who presides over the chamber in the absence of the presiding officer
26. Public-Works Bill - a bill proposed in order to fund Construction projects, such as highways or dams, for the benefit or use of the general public
27. Quorum - the minimal number of officers and members of a committee or organization, usually a majority, who must be present for valid transaction of business
28. Reapportionment - the process of dividing the number of state representatives and senators based on population in order to ensure districts of equal size
29. Rider - a clause, usually having little connection to the subject matter, added to a legislative bill
30. Select Committee - a temporary congressional committee appointed to deal with a special purpose or issue
31. Session - transacting business during a meeting of the legislative or judicial body
32. Standing Committees - a permanent committee in the house or senate with jurisdiction over legislation in a particular area
33. Tax - a monetary charge or other levy imposed upon a taxpayer by the state
34. Veto - the power of a chief executive to reject a bill passed by the legislature and thus prevent or delay its enactment into law
35. Whips - a member of a legislative body who is in charge of ensuring discipline in a legislature

 

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