My delightful padlet by Jonathon Calhoun

Congress

2878377869 — 2024-09-26 17:57:55 UTC

The U.S. Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. It holds the power to make laws, declare war, and oversee the executive and judicial branches.

House of representatives

2878377869 — 2024-09-26 18:01:17 UTC

The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Congress, where the number of representatives is based on state population. It has 435 members, who serve two-year terms, and is responsible for initiating revenue-related bills.

President Pro Tempore

2878377869 — 2024-09-26 18:04:00 UTC

The President Pro Tempore is a senior member of the majority party in the Senate, who presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President. This position is largely ceremonial but signifies high seniority.

Speaker Of the House

2878377869 — 2024-09-26 18:04:55 UTC

The Speaker of the House is the presiding officer of the House of Representatives and is elected by the House members. This individual controls legislative procedures and is second in the line of presidential succession.

Census

2878377869 — 2024-09-26 18:05:54 UTC

The U.S. Census is conducted every 10 years to count the population, which is used to apportion seats in the House of Representatives. The 2020 Census resulted in shifts in representation based on state population changes.

Reapportionment

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 12:53:11 UTC

Reapportionment is the process of redistributing seats in the House of Representatives based on population changes identified by the Census. States like New York have lost seats, while states like Texas have gained seats since 1910.

Redistricting

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 12:54:59 UTC

Redistricting is the redrawing of electoral district boundaries in response to population changes. States like North Carolina regularly redraw district lines to ensure equal representation, with significant changes after each Census.

Gerrymandering

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 12:58:16 UTC

Gerrymandering is the manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party over another. It often results in oddly shaped districts, like the infamous "gerrymandering dragon" seen in some U.S. states.

Legislation

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 12:59:17 UTC

Legislation refers to the laws proposed or enacted by a government body. The North Carolina General Assembly is the state's legislative body, with both the House of Representatives and the Senate making state laws.

Reserved powers

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 13:00:36 UTC

Reserved powers are those that the Constitution does not delegate to the federal government, thus are left to the states. An example is a state's power to regulate education or manage local police forces.

Delegated/Enumerated/ Expressed powers

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 13:02:45 UTC

Delegated powers are explicitly granted to the federal government by the Constitution, such as the power to coin money, regulate interstate commerce, and declare war.

Implied powers

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 13:04:41 UTC

Implied powers are not explicitly listed in the Constitution but are derived from the necessary and proper clause, allowing Congress to pass laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers.

Bill

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 13:06:03 UTC

A bill is a proposed law that must pass through both houses of Congress and be signed by the president to become law. The famous "Schoolhouse Rock" video explains how a bill becomes law.

Veto

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 13:06:54 UTC

A veto is the president’s constitutional power to reject a bill passed by Congress, preventing it from becoming law unless Congress overrides the veto with a two-thirds majority in both houses.

Pocket Veto

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 13:08:29 UTC

A pocket veto occurs when the president does not sign a bill within 10 days, and Congress adjourns during that period, preventing the bill from becoming law.

Filibuster

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 13:10:08 UTC

A filibuster is a tactic used by senators to delay or block a vote on a bill by extending debate. The record for the longest filibuster is held by Strom Thurmond, who spoke for 24 hours and 18 minutes.

Cloture

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 13:12:47 UTC

Cloture is a procedure used to end a filibuster in the Senate by a three-fifths vote. The first use of cloture was in 1919 to end debate on the Treaty of Versailles following World War I.

Veto overide

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 13:14:12 UTC

A veto override occurs when Congress votes with a two-thirds majority in both chambers to pass a bill despite a presidential veto. President John Tyler's attempt to fund a new ship without congressional approval led to the first override.

Standing committees

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 16:12:15 UTC

Select committees are temporary legislative committees set up for a specific purpose, such as investigating government actions or specific events.

Joint committees

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 16:13:09 UTC

Joint committees consist of members from both the House and the Senate and are formed to address specific issues, often related to policy or investigations.

Select Committees

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 16:14:03 UTC

Select committees are temporary legislative committees set up for a specific purpose, such as investigating government actions or specific events.

Pigeonholing

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 17:38:09 UTC

Pigeonholing refers to the process by which a committee ignores a bill, effectively killing it without a vote.

North Carolina general assembly

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 17:39:17 UTC

The North Carolina General Assembly is the state’s legislative body, consisting of a Senate and a House of Representatives, where laws are made for the state of North Carolina.

Mecklenburg County Commission

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 17:40:44 UTC

The Mecklenburg County Commission is the governing body of Mecklenburg County, responsible for overseeing local ordinances and budgets.

Charlotte City Council

2878377869 — 2024-10-01 17:41:37 UTC

The Charlotte City Council is the elected governing body of the city of Charlotte, responsible for passing city laws and managing local services.