AP gov unit 4 | Legislative Flashcards
What is accountability in the context of members of Congress?
Government officials have to answer to the public for their actions.
What is the role of the Appropriation Committee?
Congressional committee responsible for allocating federal funds to government programs.
What did the Supreme Court case Baker v Carr establish?
Established ‘one person, one vote,’ making courts to review redistricting cases.
What is a budget?
Financial plan detailing government revenue and expenditures typically in a fiscal year.
Define caucus in the context of Congress.
A group of legislators who meet to talk about common legislative objectives
What is casework or constituent service?
Members of Congress help constituents resolve issues with federal agencies.
Who is the chair in a congressional committee?
Leader of a congressional committee that sets the agenda and guide committee work
What is a closed rule?
Rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits amendments to a bill during floor debate.
What is cloture?
Senate procedure used to end a filibuster, requiring a three-fifths majority (usually 60 votes).
What is the commerce clause?
Clause in the Constitution granting Congress the power to regulate interstate and international commerce.
What is the Committee of the Whole?
All House members meet as one large committee to discuss decisions on a bill before it goes back to the full House for a final vote.
What are concurrent resolutions?
Measures Congress uses to address matters that affect House and Senate, like setting rules or expressing opinions.
What are conference committees?
Temporary committees formed to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.
Define constituent.
A person represented by an elected official in their district or state.
What is a delegate in the context of a member’s role?
A legislator who votes based on the preferences of their constituents.
What is a discharge petition?
A mechanism in the House to bring a bill to the floor for a vote without committee approval, requiring a majority of members’ signatures.
What is discretionary spending?
Federal spending is controlled through the annual appropriations process, as opposed to mandatory spending.
What is divided government?
The presidency is controlled by one party, and one or both houses of Congress are controlled by the opposing party.
What are entitlements?
Government programs guaranteeing specific benefits to individuals who meet eligibility requirements.
What are enumerated powers?
Powers explicitly granted to Congress in the Constitution, such as the power to tax and regulate commerce.
What is a filibuster?
A Senate tactic where a senator speaks for an extended period to delay or block legislative action.
What is franking privilege?
The ability of members of Congress to send mail to constituents free of charge for official business.
What is gerrymandering?
The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party or group.
What is gridlock?
A political stalemate where little to no legislative progress occurs due to partisan conflict.