AP Gov Buzzwords - Unit Four

Question 1

bicameral

Answer 1

a legislative body with two houses

Question 2

filibuster

Answer 2

a formal way of halting Senate action on a bill by means of long speeches

Question 3

cloture

Answer 3

A mechanism to end debate/filibuster, requires vote of 60 senators

Question 4

censure

Answer 4

A punishment of a Congressman or other official. Members express harsh criticism to the subject, who cannot retaliate

Question 5

apportionment

Answer 5

the process of allotting congressional seats to each state according to its porpotion of the population

Question 6

redistricting

Answer 6

the process of redrawing congressional districts to reflect increases or decreases in seats allotted to the states

Question 7

gerrymandering

Answer 7

the process of drawing congressional districts to favor a particular party without regard to the shape of the district

Question 8

congressional oversight

Answer 8

The powers of the legislative branch to keep the other branches in check. Committees can hold hearings to justify agency actions

Question 9

incumbency

Answer 9

the state of already holding office

Question 10

majority leader

Answer 10

the elected leader of the majority party of each body of the legislature. House- Kevin McCarthy. Senate- Harry Reid

Question 11

minority leader

Answer 11

the elected leader of the minority party of each body of the legislature. House-Nancy Pelosi. Senate- Mitch McConnell

Question 12

majority whip

Answer 12

House- Steve Scalise Senate- Richard Durbin

Question 13

minority whip

Answer 13

House- Steny Hoyer Senate - Comyn John

Question 14

logrolling

Answer 14

Vote trading; voting to support a colleague’s bill in return for future support

Question 15

senatorial courtesy

Answer 15

The practice of letting senators from the state in which a judicial vacancy occurs to block a nomination by simply registering their objection

Question 16

caucus

Answer 16

Meeting of party members

Question 17

standing committee

Answer 17

A permenant committee of one of the houses of the legislature. Bills are first referred here

Question 18

select committee

Answer 18

A temporary committee created for a specific purpose

Question 19

joint committee

Answer 19

A standing committe comprised of members from both houses

Question 20

comference committee

Answer 20

a special joint committee created to iron out the differences in bills passed by the House and Senate

Question 21

public bill

Answer 21

A bill which is widely applicable throughout it’s jurisdiction thereby affecting many

Question 22

private bill

Answer 22

A bill affecting a single entity

Question 23

simple resolution

Answer 23

A resolution passed only by the senate or house. For rules only, does not carry the force of law

Question 24

joint resolution

Answer 24

A resolution passed only by both houses, carries the force of law.

Question 25

concurrent resolution

Answer 25

A resolution passed by both houeses which does not carry the force of law

Question 26

discharge petition

Answer 26

A vote to kick a bill out of committee. 218 memebrs must vote yes

Question 27

open and closed rule

Answer 27

Open: No time limit on debate and amendments are allowed. Closed: Gag rule sets time limits and forbids amendments

Question 28

restrictive rule

Answer 28

an order from the House Rules Committee that permits certain kinds of amendments but not others to be made to a bill on the floor

Question 29

quorum

Answer 29

a majority of the body of legislature

Question 30

rider

Answer 30

A congressman who attaches their name to a bill. Not the main author

Question 31

Christmas tree bill

Answer 31

A bill with nongermane(nontopical) items attached to it .

Question 32

pork barrel

Answer 32

Spending added to a bill for the benifit of their constituents. Why we have 18 trillion in debt

Question 33

impeachment

Answer 33

House impeachs. Senate trys those impeached. 50% to call for impeachment. 2/3 to convict

Question 34

pocket veto

Answer 34

when the president lets a bill sits on his desk and Congress goes out of session

Question 35

franking priviledge

Answer 35

A priveledge of congressmen that allows them to send mail to constituents without cost

Question 36

Baker v. Carr

Answer 36

apportionment is a justiceable issue

Question 37

Wesberry v. Sanders

Answer 37

Congressional districts must be roughly equal in population distrubution (gerrymandering)

Question 38

Shaw v. Reno

Answer 38

No racial based gerrymandering