| A | B |
|---|
| term | 2 year period of time during which Congress meets |
| session | period of time during which, each year, Congress assembles and conducts business |
| gerrymander | the drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group |
| constituency | the people and interests that an elected official represents |
| partisan | lawmaker who owes their allegiance to his/her political party + votes according to the party line |
| franking privilege | benefits allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage free |
| expressed powers | those delegated powers of the National Govt. that are spelled out expresly in the Constitution |
| implied powers | powers delegated to the National Govt. that are suggested by the expressed powers |
| inherent powers | powers delegated to the National Govt. because it is the government of a sovereign state within the world community |
| consensus | general agreement among various groups on fundamental matters |
| tax | charge levied by govt. on persons to meet public need |
| bankruptcy | legal proceeding by which a bankrupt person's assets are distributed among those to whom he/she owes debts |
| naturalization | legal process by which citizens of one country become citizens of another country |
| copyright | exclusive, legal right of a person to reproduce, publish, and sell his/her own literary, musical, or artistic creations |
| patent | license issued to an inventor granting exclusive right to manufacture, use or sell his/her invention for a limited period of time |
| eminent domain | power of govt. to take private property for public use |
| successor | person who inherits a title or office |
| impeach | to bring formal charges against a public official |
| acquit | to find not guilty of a crime |
| perjury | the act of lying under oath |
| subpoena | an order for a person to appear and to produce documents or other requested materials |
| speaker of the house | presiding officer of the House of Representatives |
| committee chairman | member who heads a standing committee in a legislative body |
| bill | proprosed law presented to a legislative body for consideration |
| resolution | a measure relating to the business of either house, or expressing an opinion |
| fillibuster | various tactics (usually long speeches) aimed at defeating a bill in legislative body by preventing a final vote |
| veto | Chief Executive's power to reject a bill passed by legislature |
