4A Vocab Flashcards
Constituents
The residents of a congressional district or state
Reapportionment
The assigning by Congress of congressional seats after each census. State legislatures reapportion state legislative districts.
Redistricting
The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population
Gerrymandering
The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent
Safe seat
An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other, so the success of that party’s candidate is almost taken for granted
Incumbent
The current holder of the elected office
Earmarks
Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents
Pork barrel legislation
Metaphor for the appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative’s district
Enumerated powers
The powers expressly given to Congress in the Constitution
Speaker
The presiding officer in the House of Representatives, formally elected by the House but actually selected by the majority party
Coalition
An alliance of political groups pursuing a common goal
Majority leader
The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy, confers with other party leaders, and tries to keep members of the party in line
Minority leader
The legislative leader selected by the minority party as spokesperson for the opposition
Logrolling
Mutual aid and vote trading among legislators
Closed rule
A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendments to bills or provides that only members of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments
Open rule
A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill
President pro tempore
Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the Vice President
Filibuster
A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue
Cloture
A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate
Standing committee
A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area
Select committee
A congressional committee created for a specific purpose, sometimes to conduct an investigation
Joint committee
A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations
Seniority rule
A legislative practice that assigns the chair of the committee or subcommittee to the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on the committee
Conference committee
Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form
Discharge petition
Petition that, if signed by majority of the House of Representatives’ members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration
Rider
A provision attached to a bill- to which it may or may not be related- in order to secure its passage or defeat
House Rules Committee
The committee responsible for scheduling and managing the flow of legislation on the floor of the House of Representatives in order to make the process more efficient and manageable
Override
An action taken by Congress to reverse the presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds majority in each chamber
Delegate
An official who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of legislator
Trustee
An official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances; one interpretation of the role of the legislator
Committee of the Whole
A committee of the House on which all representatives serve in order to consider the details of a proposal
Holds
Informal practice by which a senator informs his or her floor leader that he or she does not wish a particular bill or other measure to reach the floor for consideration
Unanimous consent
A senator may request unanimous consent on the floor to set aside a specified rule of procedure so as to expedite proceedings
Politico
Hybrid of delegate and trustee models of representation
