3 BRANCHES OF GOV. VOCAB
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25 terms
Terms | Definitions |
|---|---|
 ORIGINAL JURISDICTION | the power of a court to hear a case first, before any other court |
| EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION | power of the federal courts alone to hear certain cases |
| CONCURRENT JURISDICTION | authority for both state and federal courts to hear and decide cases |
| DEFENDANT | the party/person against whom a civil or criminal suit is brought in court |
| PLAINTIFF | the party/person that brings the charges against the accused |
| DOCKET | A court's list of cases to be heard |
| SESSION | period of time during which, each year, Congress assembles and conducts business |
| RECESS | In the practice of courts, a brief interval during which all business is suspended without an adjournment; usually time taken to review and study the court case. |
| WRIT OF CERTIORARI | Order by the Supreme Court directing a lower court to send up the records of a case for review |
| EXECUTIVE ORDER | a rule issued by the president that has the force of law |
| TREATY | a formal agreement between two or more nations |
| VETO | Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature |
| CABINET | persons appointed by the President to head executive departments of government and act as official advisers |
| EXECUTIVE AGREEMENT | A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval. Not binding from president to president. |
| REPRIEVE | a formal postponement of the execution of a sentence imposed by a court of law |
| PARDON | release from the punishment or legal consequences of a crime, by the President (in a federal case) or a governor (in a state case) |
| WHIP | A senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking, rounds up members when important votes are to be taken, and attempts to keep a nose count on how the voting on controversial issues is likely to go. |
| APPORTIONMENT | Distribution of representatives among the states based on the population of each state |
| CENSUS | official count of population (every 10yrs) |
| FILIBUSTER | a tactic for defeating a bill in the Senate by talking until the bill's sponsor withdraws it. "Talking a bill to death." |
| CONSTITUENTS | the people who are represented by elected officials; voters. |
| STANDING COMMITTEE | a permanent committee in Congress that oversees bills that deal with certain kinds of issues |
| JOINT COMMITTEE | a committee with members from both the Senate and the House of Representatives who join together and meet to discuss issues |
| SELECT COMMITTEE | A temporary committee formed to study one specific issue and report its findings to the Senate of the House |
| BICAMERAL | a legislature consisting of two parts, or houses |
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