ap gov chap 4 vocab

Question 1

Legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states

Answer 1

Pork barrel spending

Question 2

Trading votes on legislation by members of Congress to get their earmarks, passed into legislation

Answer 2

Logrolling

Question 3

Efforts by Congress to ensure that executive branch agencies, bureaus, and cabinet departments, as well as their officials, are acting legally and in accordance with congressional goals

Answer 3

Oversight

Question 4

A body of voters in a given area, who elect a representative or senator

Answer 4

Constituency

Question 5

The process of determining the number of representatives for each state using census data

Answer 5

Apportionment

Question 6

States’ redrawing of boundaries are electoral districts following each census

Answer 6

Redistricting

Question 7

The intentional use of redistricting to benefit a specific interest or group of voters

Answer 7

Gerrymandering

Question 8

Drawing of district boundaries into strange shapes to benefit political party

Answer 8

Partisan gerrymandering

Question 9

A district in which voters of a minority ethnicity constitute an electoral majority within that electoral district

Answer 9

Majority minority districts

Question 10

The uneven distribution of the population between legislative districts

Answer 10

Malapportionment

Question 11

Being already in office as opposed to running for the first time

Answer 11

Incumbency

Question 12

Institution advantages held by those already in office, who are trying to fend off challengers in an election

Answer 12

Incumbency advantage

Question 13

The leader of the house of representatives, chosen by an election of its members

Answer 13

Speaker of the house

Question 14

An organization, that raises money for candidates and campaigns

Answer 14

Political action committee (PAC)

Question 15

The person who is the second in command of the House of Representatives?

Answer 15

House Majority Leader

Question 16

A member of Congress, chosen by his or her party members whose job is to ensure party unity and discipline

Answer 16

Whip

Question 17

The head of the party with the second highest number of seats in congress, chosen by the party’s members

Answer 17

Minority leader

Question 18

The person who has the most power in the Senate, and is the head of the party with the most seats

Answer 18

Senate majority leader

Question 19

Leader of a congressional committee, who has authority over the committee’s agenda

Answer 19

Committee chair

Question 20

A motion filed by a member of Congress to move a bill out of committee and onto the floor of the house of representatives for a vote

Answer 20

Discharge petition

Question 21

A powerful committee that determines when a bill will be subject to debate and vote on the house floor, how long the debate will last, and whether amendments will be allowed on the floor

Answer 21

House rules committee

Question 22

Consists of all members of the house and meets in the house chamber but is governed by different rules, making it easier to consider complex and controversial legislation

Answer 22

Committee of the whole

Question 23

A delay placed on legislation by a senator who objects to a bill

Answer 23

Hold

Question 24

An agreement in the Senate that sets the terms for consideration of a bill

Answer 24

Unanimous consent agreement

Question 25

A tactic through which an individual senator may use the right of unlimited debate to delay a motion or postpone action on a piece of legislation

Answer 25

Filibuster

Question 26

A procedure through which senators can end debate on a bill and proceed to action, provided 3/5 of senators agreed to it

Answer 26

Cloture

Question 27

Formal rejection by the president of a bill that has passed both houses of Congress

Answer 27

Veto

Question 28

The executive branch office that assist the president in setting national spending priorities

Answer 28

Office of management and budget (OMB)

Question 29

A program that provides benefits for those who qualify under the law, regardless of income

Answer 29

Entitlement program

Question 30

Spending requires by existing laws that is “locked in” the budget

Answer 30

Mandatory spending

Question 31

Spending for programs and policies at the discretion of Congress and the president

Answer 31

Discretionary spending

Question 32

The amount of money remaining when the government takes in more money than it spends

Answer 32

Budget surplus

Question 33

The difference when the government takes in less money than it spends

Answer 33

Budget deficit

Question 34

The total amount of money owed by the federal government

Answer 34

National debt

Question 35

The idea that the main duty of a member of Congress is to carry out constituent wishes

Answer 35

Delegate role

Question 36

The idea that members of Congress should act as trustees, making decisions based on their knowledge and judgment

Answer 36

Trustee role

Question 37

Representation where members of Congress balance their choices with the interests of their constituents and parties in making decisions

Answer 37

Politico role

Question 38

Agreement between the parties to work together in Congress to pass legislation

Answer 38

Bipartisanship

Question 39

A slowdown or halt in Congress’s ability to legislate and overcome divisions, especially those based on partisanship

Answer 39

Gridlock

Question 40

A situation that occurs when control of the presidency, and one or both chambers of Congress is split between the two major parties

Answer 40

Divided government

Question 41

Period at the end of a presidential term when Congress may block presidential initiatives, and nominees.

Answer 41

Lame duck Period.