APGovCh.6.JustinHall Flashcards
Apportionment
Distribution of representatives among the states based on the population of each state
The apportionment of California is very confusing due to the large population of the state
Bicameral
2 chambers; Congress has the Senate and the House of Representatives
Instead of everyone voting together, a Bicameral system is used.
Bill
a proposal for a law
A bill was passed that supported small busimesses.
Cloture
Prevents filibustering (16 signatures) and ends debate in the Senate, by a 3/5s vote of the Senate It was an ongoing argument until a Cloture settled things,
Committee of the Whole
A device used in the House of Representatives to expedite the passage of legislation. The quorum is reduced from 218 members to 100, and the Speaker appoints a member of the majority party as chair. Time allotted for debating the bill in question is split equally between its proponents and opponents. The committee cannot itself pass legislation but may debate and propose amendments
The bill was so splitting that a Committe of the Whole was called .
Conference committee
A temporary committee to work out a compromise version of a bill that has passed the House of Representatives &Senate in different forms
A conference committee helped reach an agreement between the house.
Congressional Budget Act of 1974
an act designed to reform the budgeting process by making Congress less dependent on the president’s budget; established a fixed budget calendar and a budget committee in each house
After the Congressional Budget Act, Congress was less attached to the President.
Congressional Budget Office
Created in 1974 to advise Congress on the economic effects of spending programs and to provide information on the cost of proposed policies
The Congressional Budget office is in charge of keeping the finances in order in Congress
Congressional Research Service
Created in 1914 to respond to congressional requests for information. It also keeps track of every major bill and produces summaries of legislation for members of Congress
The Congressional Research Service is a good means for members of Congress to learn about major bills.
congressional review
a process whereby congress can nullify agency regulations by a joint resolution of legislative disapproval
The proposal was under congressional review after problems were found
delegate
someone who speaks or acts on behalf of an organization at a meeting or conference between organizations of the same level
The group elected a delegate to speak during the conference.
discharge petition
Petition that gives a majority of the House Representatives the authority to bring an issue to the floor in the face of committee inaction
A discharge petition was made when no progress was made in the House of Reps.
divided government
the political condition in which different political parties control the White House and Congress
We are currently apart of a divided government due to different parties in control.
Edmund Burke
A conservative leader who was deeply troubled by the aroused spirit of reform. In 1790, he published Reforms on The Revolution in France
Edmund Burke’s work is still quoted to this day.
Filibuster
a formal way of halting action on a bill by means of long speeches or unlimited debate in the Senate.
A filibuster is used to delay decisions on a bill and some people find this delaying progress
Gerrymandering
Drawing of congressional districts to favor one pol. party/group over another
The members were Gerrymandering in an attempt to benefit their party
Government Accountability Office
A legislative branch government agency that provides auditing, evaluation, and investigative services for the United States Congress
The Government Accountability Office was assigned to investigate if other members of Congress were being lawful.
Hillary Clinton
American politician, diplomat, and lawyer. She served as the 67th United States Secretary of State
People were disappointed when Hillary Clinton because they realized Trump was going to be the President.
Hold
a tactic by which a senator asks to be informed before a particular bill is brought to the floor. This stops the bill from coming to the floor until the hold is removed.
The decision was delayed after a hold was called because the senator was ill-informed
House Committee on Rules
it is in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the floor
The House Committee on Rules decided that the next bill to be brought to the floor was one about education
Impeachment
the power delegated to the House of representatives 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 such government officials from office
Trump fears that he may be impeached.
incumbency
the fact that being in office helps a person stay in office because of a variety of benefits that go with the position
Incumbency was prevalent when looking at all of the individuals holding office for over a decade.
joint committee
includes members from both houses of Congress: conducts investigations or special studies
A joint committee was formed in response to the recent allegation against the president.
logrolling
vote trading, voting yea to support a colleague’s bill in return for a promise of future support
The man was logrolling in hopes that he would get a favor in return.
majority leader
the elected leader of the party controlling the most seats in the House of Representatives or the Senate; is second in authority to the Speaker of the House and in the Senate is regarded as its most powerful member
The Majority Leader of the house of reps is a very important person
majority party
the political party in each house of Congress with the most members
The Majority party often shifts over the years.
markup
a process in which committee members offer changes to a bill before it goes to the floor in either house for a vote
The members offered their opinions and markups on how the bill should be changed,
minority leader
the elected leader of the party with the second highest number of elected representatives in the House of reps or the Senate
The minority leader still holds a lot of power within the house.
minority party
the political party in each house of Congress with the second most members
The minority party has a tougher time getting things passed.
party caucus
a formal gathering of all party members
A party caucus was called to address a certain bill.
pocket veto
if congress adjourns during the ten days the president has to consider a bill passed by both houses of congress, without the president’s signature, the bill is considered vetoed
The bill wasn’t signed by the president and thus pocket vetoed and had to be changed,
politico
role played by elected representatives who act as trustees or as delegates, depending on the issue
A chosen politico was used as a delegate.
pork
Legislation that allows representatives to bring home the bacon to their districts in the form of public works programs, military bases, or other programs designed to benefit their districts directly
The pork provided by the reps basically means the funding for local projects
president pro tempore
the official chair of the Senate; usually the most senior member of the majority party
The president pro Tempore holds much influence over the party.
programmatic requests
guidance solicited by the House and Senate appropriations subcommittees from Members of Congress
A programmatic request was made for guidance from congress.
reconciliation
A congressional process through which program authorizations are revised
The program was under reconciliation before being authorized.
redistricting
The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census
After a new large town formed, redistricting was needed.
Richard M. Nixon
served as president of the United States from 1969 to 1974. Nixon resigned in disgrace in 1974 after revelations that he had directed the FBI to cover up an investigation of his supporters’ illegal activities at the Watergate office complex
Richard M. Nixon was unlawful and could have been impeached if he did not resign.
select committee
temporary committee appointed for specific purpose, such as conducting a special investigation or study
A select committee was formed to tackle the issue involving members of the house of reps.
senatorial courtesy
a process by which presidents, when selecting district court judges, defer to the senator in whose state the vacancy occurs.
A senatorial courtesy allows for an educated senator on the are to put in their knowledge on appointing court judges.
seniority
time of continuous service on a committee
Certain member of the Senate held seniority over other members.
Speaker of the House
the only officer of the House of Representatives specifically mentioned in the Constitution; elected at the beginning of each new Congress by the entire House; traditionally a member of the majority party
The Speaker of the House currently is Nancy Pelosi
standing committee
committee to which proposed bills are referred
The standing committee within the House of Reps makes decisions on bills.
trustee
role played by elected representatives who listen to constituents’ opinions and then use their best judgment to make final decisions
The trustees are all expected to make the best decision using the information they are given.
unified government
the same party controls the white house and both houses of congress
A unified government is able to pass and establish many new bills.
veto
formal constitutional authority of the president to reject bills passed by both houses of the legislative body, thus preventing their becoming law without further congressional activity.
The president vetoed a bill that he disliked.
war powers resolution
Passed by congress in 1973; the pres is limited in the deployment of troops overseas to a 60 day period in peacetime unless Congress explicitly gives its approval for a longer period
Even after the war powers resolution, congress usually approves a longer period of stay for the troops.
whip
Key representative who keeps close contact with all members and takes nose counts on key votes, prepares summaries of bills, and in general acts as communications link within the party
The whip pays close attention to what is going on and is able to provide key information.
