SS.7.CG.3.7 Federal Legislative Branch Vocab

majority vote

• a vote in which a candidate or public policy issue receives more than half (50% +1) of the votes

• a vote that requires a simple plurality to win

• a vote that is conducted by secret ballot

• a vote that allows for multiple selections

Speaker of the House

• the leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, usually the highest ranking member of the majority party

• a member of the Senate who presides over sessions

• the president of the United States

• a representative from the minority party in the House

impeach

• to bring formal charges of wrongdoing against a public official (ex. the U.S. president)

• to formally approve a law or regulation

• to conduct a public inquiry into a matter

• to remove a public official from office without charges

minority leader

• a position within a legislative body that is filled by a member who is elected by the minority party to serve as the chief spokesperson for that party, in addition to managing and scheduling business

• a role that involves leading the majority party in legislative discussions

• a title given to the president of the legislative body

• a position responsible for drafting new legislation and proposing it to the assembly

U.S. Congress

• the national legislative body of the U.S., consisting of the Senate (upper house), and the House of Representatives (lower house)

• a federal agency responsible for national security

• the executive branch of the U.S. government

• the judicial system of the United States

legislative branch

• the branch of government that makes the laws

• the branch of government that enforces the laws

• the branch of government that interprets the laws

• the branch of government that oversees elections

majority leader

• a position within a legislative body that is filled by a member who is elected by the majority party to serve as the chief spokesperson for that party, in addition to managing and scheduling business

• a role that involves representing the minority party in legislative discussions

• a title given to the president of the legislative body

• a position responsible for drafting new legislation and proposing it to the body

U. S. Senate

• Upper house of Congress, 2 reps from each state.

• Lower house of Congress, 1 rep from each state.

• Judicial branch of the government, overseeing federal courts.

• Executive branch, led by the President.

U. S. House of Representatives

• Upper house of Congress, equal representation for each state

• Lower house of Congress, representation based on state's population

• A committee that oversees federal spending

• A group of state governors meeting annually

President Pro Tempore

• a high-ranking senator of the majority party who leads the U.S. Senate

• the president's chief advisor on foreign policy

• the head of the House of Representatives

• a member of the Supreme Court