APGovCH.6 Flashcards
apportionment
the process of allotting congressional seats to each state according to its population, following the decennial census
bicameral legislature
a two-house legislature
bill
a proposed law
cloture
Mechanism requiring the vote of sixty senators to cut off debate
conference committee
A special joint committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate
Congressional Budget Act of 1974
The act that established the congressional budgetary process by laying out a plan for congressional action on the annual budget resolution, appropriations, reconciliation, and any other revenue bills
congressional review
A process whereby Congress can nullify agency regulations by a joint resolution of legislative disapproval
delegate
The role played by an elected representative who votes the way his or her constituents would want, regardless of personal opinion
discharge petition
Petitions that gives the majority of the House the authority to bring an issue to the floor in the face of committee inaction
divided government
The political condition in which different political parties control the presidency and Congress
filibuster
A formal way of halting Senate action on a bill by means of long speeches or unlimited debate
gerrymandering
The drawing of congressional districts to produce a particular electoral outcome without regard to the shape of the district
hold
A procedure by which a senator asks to be informed before a bill or nomination is brought to the floor. Signals to leadership that a member may have objections to the bill (or nomination) and should be consulted before further action is taken
impeachment
The power delegated to the House of Rep. in the Constitution to charge the president, vice president, or other “civil officers,” including federal judges, with “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors” This is the first step in the constitutional process of removing government officials from office
incumbency
already holding an office
joint committee
Standing committee that includes members from both houses of Congress set up to conduct investigations or special studies
logrolling
Vote trading; voting to support a colleague’s bill in return for a promise of future support
majority leader
The head of the party controlling the most seats in the House of the Senate; is second in authority to the Speaker of the House and the most powerful member of the Senate
majority party
The political party in each house of Congress with the most members
markup
A session in which committee members offer changes to a bill before it goes to the floor
minority leader
The head of the party with the second highest number of elected reps. in the House or Senate
minority party
The political party in each house of Congress with the second most members
party caucus (or conference)
A formal gathering of all party members
pocket veto
If Congress adjourns during the ten days the president has to consider a bill passed by Congress, the bill is considered vetoed without the president’s signature
politico
An elected representative who acts as a trustee or as a delegate, depending on the issue
pork
Legislation that allows reps. to bring money and jobs back to their districts in the form of public works programs
president pro tempore
The official chair of the Senate; usually the most senior member of the majority party
programmatic requests
Federal funds designated for special projects within a state or congressional district
reconciliation
A procedure that allows consideration of controversial issues affecting the budget by limiting debate to twenty hours, thereby ending the threat of a filibuster
redistricting
The process of redrawing congressional districts to reflect increases or decreases in seats allotted to the states, as well as population shifts within a state
select (or special) committee
Temporary committee appointed for a specific purpose
senatorial courtesy
A process by which presidents generally allow senators from the state to block a nomination by registering an objection
seniority
Time of continuous service on a committee
Speaker of the House
The only officer of the House of Reps. specifically mentioned in the Constitution; the chamber’s most powerful position; traditionally a member of the majority party
standing committee
Committee to which proposed bills are referred; continues from one Congress to the next
trustee
The role played by an elected representative who listens to constituents’ opinions and then uses his or her best judgment to make a final decision
unified government
The political condition in which the same political party controls the presidency and Congress
veto
The formal, constitutional authority of the president to reject bills passed by Congress
War Powers Resolution
Passed by Congress in 1973; the president is limited in the deployment of troops overseas to a 60 day period unless Congress explicitly gives its approval for a longer period
whip
Party leader who keeps close contact with all members of his or her party, takes vote counts on key legislation, prepares summaries of bills, and acts as a communications link within a party
