Glossary for Vocabulary Terms

Glossary for Vocabulary Terms
CE.7 - Making Public Policy and Laws

bicameral - a legislature that has two houses. Example: Congress has a House of Representatives and a Senate. Proposed laws (called bills) must pass both houses to actually become law.

Cabinet - the group of top-level officials that advises the president. They are the heads of the large federal agencies (such as the Department of Defense and the Department of the Treasury). They are appointed by the president, but must be approved by Congress.

Congress - it makes the laws at the national level. The Congress includes the House of Representatives and the Senate, and is the legislative branch of the national government. The Congress meets at the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

constituents - the people who live in an area or district served by an elected official.

expressed powers - powers that, in the Constitution, are specifically given to the national (federal) level of government. (They are also sometimes called enumerated powers.)

executive branch - the branch of government that executes (carries out) laws made by the legislative branch. At the national level, the executive branch is headed by the president. At the state level, the executive branch is headed by the governor.

implied powers - powers that are not specifically listed in the Constitution as powers of the federal government, but which are closely related to those that are listed. As a result, Congress may claim them as if they were listed. (Example: The power of Congress to create an Army is listed. The power to create an Air Force is not listed, but is treated as an implied power.)

interest groups - organizations created to press for laws and policies their members favor. Example: the American Automobile Association and the National Rifle Association are both interest groups.

judicial branch - the branch of government that includes the court system.

legislative branch - the lawmaking branch of government. (Example: Congress at the national level, the General Assembly at the state level in Virginia.)

legislature - an elected law making body. (Example: Congress and the Virginia General Assembly.)

lobby / lobbyist - a lobbyist is a person whose job is to contact elected officials and convince (or lobby) them to vote a particular way on proposed laws. Lobbyists are often employed by interest groups.

media - the term for any and all forms of communications, especially those involved in news and entertainment. The category includes newspapers, TV, radio, books, the Internet, etc.

State of the Union Address - a speech made by the president, usually in January of each year, that highlights issues and policies that the president would like Congress to deal with.

State of the Commonwealth Address - a speech made by the Virginia governor, usually in January of each year, that highlights issues and policies that the governor would like the General Assembly to deal with.

veto - the power of the president to block a proposed bill from becoming law. A veto can be overridden, however, with a 2/3 majority vote in both houses of Congress.

Virginia General Assembly - the legislature of Virginia, also called simply the General Assembly. It consists of the House of Delegates and the state Senate, and makes laws for the state. The Virginia General Assembly meets at the Capitol building in Richmond.