AP Gov Vocab Chapter 4

Question 1

Pork Barrel Spending

Answer 1

Legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states.

Question 2

Logrolling

Answer 2

trading of votes on legislation by members of Congress to get their earmarks passed into legislation.

Question 3

Oversight

Answer 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.

Question 4

Constituency

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Apportionment

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Redristicing

Answer 6

State’s redrawing of boundaries of electoral districts following each census.

Question 7

Gerrymandering

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Partisan Gerrymandering

Answer 8

Drawing a district into strange shapes to benefit a political party.

Question 9

Majority-minority DIstricts

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Malapportionment

Answer 10

The uneven distribution of the population between legislative districts.

Question 11

Incumbency

Answer 11

A political official who is currently in office.

Question 12

Incumbency Advantage

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Speaker of the House

Answer 13

The leader of the House of Representatives, chosen by an election of it members.

Question 14

Whip

Answer 14

Collect info about how members will vote.

Question 15

House Minority leader

Answer 15

Coordinate, minority party activity.

Question 16

House Majority Leader

Answer 16

Assistant to House Speaker

Question 17

Senate Majority leader

Answer 17

Most power in the Senate, chosen from the majority party.

Question 18

Discharge Petition

Answer 18

A motion filled by a member of Congress to move a bill out of committee and onto the floor of the House of Representatives to vote.

Question 19

House Rules Committee

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Committee of the Whole

Answer 20

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.

Question 21

Cloture

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Filibuster

Answer 22

A tactic, through which an individual senator may use to right of unlimited debate to delay or mention or postpone acting on a piece of legislation.

Question 23

Unanimous Consent Agreements

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Committee Chair

Answer 24

Leader of a Congress committee who has authority over the committee’s agenda.

Question 25

Veto

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Delegate Role

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Politico Role

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Trustees Role

Answer 28

The idea that member if Congress should act as trustees, making decisions based on their knowledge and judgment.

Question 29

Bipartisanship

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Gridlock

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Lame Duck Period

Answer 31

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

Question 32

Office of Management and Budget

Answer 32

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

Question 33

Entitlement Programs

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Mandatory Spending

Answer 34

Spending required by existing laws that is “locked in” budget.

Question 35

Discretionary Spending

Answer 35

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

Question 36

Budget Surplus

Answer 36

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

Question 37

National Debt

Answer 37

The total amount of money owned by the federal gov.

Question 38

Budget Deficit

Answer 38

The difference when a gov takes in less money than it spends.