APGovCh.6.Jimmy.Dimas Flashcards
Apportionment
the process of allotting congressional seats to each state according to its population, following the decennial census
Sentence: The apportionment of congressional seats seem to be fair and not favorable to one state.
bicameral legislature
a two-house legislature
Sentence: The United States Congress is an example pf a bicameral legislature because it is made up of the Senate and House of Representatives.
bill
a proposed law
Sentence: There have been many bills passed over the years and some where even proposed by the interest pf people.
cloture
Mechanism requiring the vote of sixty senators to cut off debate
Sentence: To prevent a filibuster from occurring cloture was introduced to speed up to the final vote.
Committee of the Whole
A procedure that allows the House of Representatives to deliberate with a lower quorum and to expedite consideration and amendment of a bill
Sentence: If a Committee of the Whole is included on the day of debate of the bill, it can quicken the process with 100 members debating.
conference committee
Special joint committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate
Sentence: Conference committee are helpful because there have many instances were certain bills have been challenged.
Congressional Budget Act of 1974
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
Sentence: The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is necessary in order for Congress not to over spend on certain things.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
Created in 1974, the CBO provides Congress with evaluations of the potential economic effects of proposed spending policies and also analyzes the president’s budget and economic projections
Sentence: In order to predict how a economic plan will play out, the Congressional Budget Office was created.
Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Created in 1914, the non-partisan CRS provides information, studies, and research in support of the work of Congress, and prepares summaries and tracks the progress of all bill.
Sentence: The congressional research service is necessary to keep tract how a bill has been doing, either positively or negatively affecting the U.S.
congressional review
A process whereby Congress can nullify agency regulations by a joint resolution of legislative disapproval
Sentence: Congressional review is only valid if it is within the sixty days after the implementation of an administrative action.
delegate
Role played by an elected representative who votes the way his or her constituents would want, regardless of personal opinion
Sentence: A delegate is different from a trustee in that they don’t listen to their own personal opinion.
discharge petition
Petitions that gives majority of the House the authority to bring an issue to the floor in the face of committee inaction
Sentence: Discharge petitions are set with a majority vote of 218 votes from the House of Representatives.
divided government
The political condition in which different political parties control the presidency and Congress
Sentence: We are currently in a divided government that will affects the law making process this year.
Edmund Burke
Conservative British political philosopher of the eighteenth century who articulated the view that elected representatives should act as “trustees” and use their own best judgment when voting.
Sentence: Edmund Burke has convinced many elected officials in government to act in their best interest for them and the people.
filibuster
A formal way of halting Senate action on a bill by means of long speeches or unlimited debate
Sentence: There are several ways a filibuster can take place to delay the vote which include reciting poetry or reading from a phone book.
gerrymandering
The drawing of congressional districts to produce a particular electoral outcome without regard to the shape of the district
Sentence: When in the redistricting process gerrymandering may be a step chosen to make sure equal chance is given.
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
Established in 1921, the GAO is an independent regulatory agency for the purpose of auditing the financial expenditures of the executive branch and federal agencies; until 2004, the GOA was known as the General Accounting Office.
Sentence: The Government Accountability Office helps reassure the public that the executive branch is using their money wisely and benefiting the nation.
Hillary Clinton
First female major party candidate for president of the United States, a Democrat, who ran against President Donald J. Trump in 2016. Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013; New York senator from 2001 to 2009; former first lady.
Sentence: During the presidential election in 2016, Hillary Clinton started losing supporters after reports of scandalous emails from her have been released.
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
Sentence: A hold can be placed for several reasons which include reviewing, negotiating changes, or attempting to kill the bill.