apgov: congress

Question 1

constituents

Answer 1

voters

Question 2

reapportionment

Answer 2

places people in districts, every 10 years

Question 3

redistricting

Answer 3

The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.

Question 4

gerrymandering

Answer 4

cut districts to favor a political party

Question 5

safe seat

Answer 5

An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other, so the success of that party’s candidate is almost taken for granted.

Question 6

incumbent

Answer 6

The current holders of elected office

Question 7

earmarks

Answer 7

a provision in Congressional legislation that allocates a specified amount of money for a specific project, program, or organization

Question 8

bicameralism

Answer 8

legislature divided into two houses

Question 9

enumerated powers

Answer 9

powers that are directly stated in the constitution

Question 10

speaker

Answer 10

The presiding officer in the House of Representatives, formally elected by the House but actually selected by the majority party.

Question 11

party caucus

Answer 11

A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy

Question 12

majority leader

Answer 12

The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy, confers with other party leaders, and tries to keep members of the party in line.

Question 13

minority leader

Answer 13

The legislative leader selected by the minority party as spokesperson for the opposition.

Question 14

whip

Answer 14

Party leader who is the liaison between the leadership and the rank-and-file in the legislature.

Question 15

closed rule

Answer 15

no amendments to the bills, only offer amendments

Question 16

open rule

Answer 16

permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill.

Question 17

president pro tempore

Answer 17

Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president.

Question 18

hold

Answer 18

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of a bill or nomination.

Question 19

fillibuster

Answer 19

delay the vote, talk forever for as long as they stand

Question 20

cloture

Answer 20

vote senate can take to shut you off (60)

Question 21

Standing Committee

Answer 21

A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area.

Question 22

select committee

Answer 22

A congressional committee created for a specific purpose

Question 23

joint committee

Answer 23

A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.

Question 24

seniority rule

Answer 24

A legislative practice that assigns the chair of a committee or subcommittee to the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on the committee.

Question 25

conference committee

Answer 25

Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.

Question 26

delegate

Answer 26

vote for the people

Question 27

trustee

Answer 27

vote for themselves

Question 28

logrolling

Answer 28

you vote for my bill I’ll vote for your bill (house and senate)

Question 29

attentive public

Answer 29

Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully.

Question 30

discharge petition

Answer 30

Petition that, if signed by a majority of the members of the House of Representatives, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.

Question 31

rider

Answer 31

A provision attached to a bill

Question 32

pocket veto

Answer 32

A veto exercised by the president after Congress has adjourned; if the president takes no action for ten days, the bill does not become law and is not returned to Congress for a possible override.

Question 33

override

Answer 33

An action taken by Congress to reverse a presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds majority in each chamber.