American Gov. study guide

Question 1

bicameral legislature

Answer 1

made of two houses or chambers

Question 2

reapportionment

Answer 2

the population of each state determines the new # of representatives.

Question 3

census

Answer 3

National population count, taken every ten years

Question 4

redistricting

Answer 4

the process of drawing new district lines after a reapportionment change.

Question 5

gerrymandering

Answer 5

if you draw the lines to gain political advantage

Question 6

incumbents

Answer 6

90% reelection rate
already seated in
can be reelected
incumbents often find it easier to raise campaign funds.

Question 7

constituents

Answer 7

citizens that can vote for congress
voters for congress

Question 8

caucus

Answer 8

where leaders are chosen in a meeting of party members

Question 9

majority leader

Answer 9

has an advantage of having input on a bill’s priority

Question 10

minority leader

Answer 10

lacks input
is far less influential

Question 11

party whip

Answer 11

pushes and defines the party line/agenda
persuades members to vote “correctly”
makes sure members are present

Question 12

president of the senate

Answer 12

is also the vice president
cannot debate
only votes to break a tie

Question 13

pres. pro tempore

Answer 13

leader “for the time being”
usually is the senior most member of the majority party

Question 14

speaker of the House

Answer 14

calls on people to speak during debate
schedule bills for action
follows the VP in line of succession.

Question 15

House rules committee

Answer 15

decided what bills get priority
can speed up, slow down or stop bills (traffic cop)

Question 16

Hopper

Answer 16

where bills are introduced
(suggestion box)

Question 17

calendar

Answer 17

decides when a bill will be debated, and shows the amount of priority of the bill

Question 18

Quorum

Answer 18

the minimum # of members of a group necessary to conduct business

Question 19

filibuster

Answer 19

purposefully stalls a vote
Attempts to change or demolish the bill

Question 20

cloture

Answer 20

this ends a filibuster
3/5ths votes
limits debate time

Question 21

censure

Answer 21

self discipline within congress is the issuing of a censure

Question 22

Exlusion

Answer 22

“temporary suspension”
you are temporarily kicked out for a bit
also called expulsion

Question 23

gridlock

Answer 23

difficult passing a law
A slow down of bills passing through congress
(also a traffic term)

Question 24

interest groups

Answer 24

Group has a common political cause and trying to influence political causes
(prolife/prochoice)

Question 25

lobbyists

Answer 25

people who try to influence votes and policies for an interest group

Question 26

pigeonholing

Answer 26

lack of priority bill is killed

Question 27

PAC’s

Answer 27

money to reelect the way they want, usually support imcumbents

Question 28

logrolling

Answer 28

voting for a bill to get them to vote on your bill. an exchange of votes

Question 29

riders (earmarks)

Answer 29

they ride with legislation. unrelated bills passing with the original bill.

Question 30

Pork barrel legislation

Answer 30

Federal money that goes to the state or local needs political pork ex measure 95

Question 31

expressed powers

Answer 31

specifically stated powers also called enumerated powers, these are clearly spelled out

Question 32

implied powers

Answer 32

Doesn’t specifically spell out this power, but it is implied or suggested by context that Congress has it

Question 33

elastic clause

Answer 33

necessary and proper clauses, constitution gives Congress the power to…put limits on congressional power

Question 34

Ex post facto law

Answer 34

after the fact, you can’t say you just didn’t know it was a law, you must educate yourself

Question 35

power of the purse

Answer 35

decided who gets what money $$

Question 36

commerce power

Answer 36

regulating business between states

Question 37

confirmation power

Answer 37

(person) congress approves presidential nominations

Question 38

ratification power

Answer 38

paper/policy approval of agreements w/ foreign nations

Question 39

impeachment

Answer 39

congress can kick out president

Question 40

leg. oversight

Answer 40

congress checks up on executive branch to make sure the new laws are being upheld

Question 41

standing committee

Answer 41

perminant & repeats year to year

Question 42

select committee

Answer 42

formed for certain issues (is temporary)

Question 43

joint committee

Answer 43

House & Senate working together

Question 44

conference committee

Answer 44

a joint committee that works out the differences in two similar bills

Question 45

number of members in the house of representatives,

Answer 45

435

Question 46

House of reps terms in office (years)

Answer 46

two years

Question 47

House of representatives leader title is ….?

Answer 47

Speaker of the House

Question 48

# of members in the Senate

Answer 48

100

Question 49

Senates terms in office (years)

Answer 49

six years

Question 50

Senate leader/title name

Answer 50

President of the Senate VP of usa

Question 51

which house has more rules?

Answer 51

The House

Question 52

which house can filibuster?

Answer 52

senate

Question 53

which house is voted at large?

Answer 53

The senate

Question 54

what part of the vote is needed in congress to pass a bill into a law

Answer 54

2/3 override

Question 55

Bills need five victories before going to the president true or false

Answer 55

TRUE