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congress
house of representatives and senate
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legislative branch
has the power to make laws, consist of congress, meets at the US capital, normally in session for 130 - 190 days a year
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house of representatives
435 members, number of representatives based on state's population, serves 2 terms
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requirements to be a representative
25 years old, US citizen for at least 7 years, legal resident of the state where elected
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gerrymandering
party that has conrol in state legislature, draws district boundaries to gain advantage in elections
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requirements to be a senetor
30, US citizen of at least 9 years, legal resident of the state where elected
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characteristics of congressman
half are lawyers, white, middle-aged, man
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fillbuster
continuing to talk until a majority of the senate agrees to abandon or modify the bill
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cloture
3/5 of the senate vote and give only one hour for each senetor to speak
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standing committee
continue from session to session
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subcommittee
specialize in a subcategory of the standing committee
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select committee
study one specific issue
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joint committee
includes members from both the house and senate
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speaker of the house
leader of the majority party, decides who speaks, what committees bills go to, schedules bills
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majority leader
speakers top assistant
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whips
assistant floor leaders, assist in managing legislative programs
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vice president
head of the senate, has the deciding vote in the event of a tie
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debt ceiling
the legal limit on borrowing by the federal government
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steps to becoming a law
- 1. house / senate
- 2. committee
- 3. floor
- 4. house / senate
- 5.
- 6. president
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the presidents cabinet
the advisory board or group that helps the president make decisions and set government policy
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jurisdiction
the authority to hear certain kinds of cases
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concurrent jurisdiction
when both federal and state courts have jurisdiction
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trial courts
where cases are originally heard
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appellate courts
where cases are appealed
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civil law
disputes between 2 individuals
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criminal law
the US government charges someone with breaking a federal law
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constitutional law
relates to the meaning and application of the constitution
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equal justice under the law
everyone treaked alike
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adversary system
the courtroom in an arena where lawyers present their strongest case
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due process of law
apply law in a fair manner
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judicial review
power to examine laws and actions of government
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interpretation
determine the meaning of laws
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