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Complicated Legislative Branch Terms

An overview of tricky terms in the Legislative Branch

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Seniority

Longer serving members in congress serve on preferential committees

Ex: Senator Menendez has served 11 years in Congress vs. Cory Booker who served 4 years in Congress.

Senator Menendez would have better committee options

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Pocket Veto

One way to kill a bill. The president does not act on a bill for 10 days while congress is NOT in session or the Congress session ends

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Elastic Clause

Gives congress its implied powers-it says that congress can create laws that are not specifically stated in the constitution but are necessary.

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Implied Powers

Powers that are not specifically mentioned in the Constitution

Examples include:

  • Power to Create a National Bank
  • The Creation of Armed Academies Army (West Point) and Naval (Annapolis)
  • Regulate and assist with Agriculture
  • Power to construct dams, power plants, and other forms of energy for the public

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Filibuster

  • Allows a senator to talk a bill to death
  • ONLY HAPPENS IN THE SENATE

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Cloture

  • Used in the senate to end a filibuster. It requires ⅗ or (60%) of the senators to vote yes in order to vote on the bill

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