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.
What are hearings?
Sessions where committees gather information, question witnesses, or discuss proposed legislation.
What is the House of Representatives?
The lower chamber of Congress, with representation based on state population.
What are implied powers?
Powers not explicitly stated in the Constitution but derived from the Necessary and Proper Clause.
What are incumbents?
Current holders of elected office.
What is incumbency advantage?
The benefits enjoyed by current officeholders that increase their likelihood of reelection.
What are joint committees?
Committees with members from both the House and Senate.
What is a joint resolution?
A legislative measure requiring approval by both chambers and the president, often used for amendments or temporary measures.
What is Keynesian Economics?
An economic theory advocating for government intervention to stabilize the economy during recessions.
What is the majority party?
The political party with the most seats in a legislative chamber.
What are majority and minority leaders?
Leaders of the majority and minority parties who organize party strategy and legislative agendas.
What is mandatory spending?
Spending required by law for entitlement programs or other commitments, not subject to the annual budget process.
What is markup in legislation?
The process where congressional committees edit and revise proposed legislation.
What is the minority party?
The political party with fewer seats in a legislative chamber.
What is monetary policy?
Actions by the Federal Reserve to manage the economy through money supply and interest rates.
What is the Necessary and Proper Clause?
A constitutional clause granting Congress the power to pass laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers.
What is an open rule?
A House procedural rule allowing amendments to a bill during floor debate.
What is an override (veto)?
Congressional action to reverse a presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds vote in both chambers.
What is oversight in Congress?
Congress’s monitoring of the executive branch and federal agencies to ensure compliance with laws and efficient operations.
What is partisan voting?
When legislators vote strictly along party lines.
What is partisanship?
Strong loyalty to one’s political party.
What is polarization?
The growing ideological divide between political parties or groups.
What is a politico in the context of a member’s role?
A legislator who acts as a delegate on some issues and a trustee on others.
What is pork or pork barreling?
Funding for localized projects inserted into federal spending bills to benefit a legislator’s district.
What is the ‘power of the purse’?
Congress’s authority to control federal spending and taxation.
Who is the President Pro Tempore?
The senior-most member of the majority party in the Senate, acting as the presiding officer in the vice president’s absence.
What is a quorum?
The minimum number of members needed to conduct legislative business.
What is reapportionment?
Redistribution of House seats among states based on population changes from the census.
What is redistricting?
The redrawing of electoral district boundaries to reflect population shifts.
What is republicanism?
A political philosophy emphasizing representative government and the protection of individual rights.
What are revenue bills?
Tax-related legislation that must originate in the House of Representatives.
What are riders?
Unrelated amendments attached to a bill, often to secure its passage.
What is the Rules Committee in the House?
A powerful House committee that sets the terms of debate and amendments for bills.
What are select committees?
Temporary committees formed for specific investigations or issues.
What is the Senate?
The upper chamber of Congress, with equal representation for all states.
What did the Supreme Court case Shaw v Reno rule?
A Supreme Court case ruling that racial gerrymandering violates the Equal Protection Clause.
What is supply-side economics?
An economic theory emphasizing tax cuts and deregulation to stimulate production and economic growth.
Who is the Speaker of the House?
The presiding officer of the House, responsible for leading the majority party and managing House proceedings.
What are standing committees?
Permanent committees in Congress that handle specific areas of legislation.
What is a trustee in the context of a member’s role?
A legislator who votes based on their own judgment and expertise rather than constituent preferences.
What is unanimous consent?
A Senate procedure where all members agree to proceed without formal objections.
What is the Ways and Means Committee?
A House committee responsible for tax legislation and revenue-raising measures.
What are whips in Congress?
Party leaders who ensure members vote in line with party goals and maintain communication within the party.
Fiscal Policy
The use of government spending and taxation.
What is the liberal approach to fiscal policy.
Keyanesianism
What is the conservative approach to fiscal policy?
Supply side.
