Ch 11 Flashcards

1
Q

Incumbents

A

those individuals who already hold office. In congressional elections, incumbents usually win

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2
Q

Casework

A

Congress members help individual constituents by cutting through bureaucratic barriers to get them what they need (i.e. social security checks)

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3
Q

Speaker of the House

A
  • comes from House of Reps
  • the only office position mandated by the Constitution
  • Chosen by the majority party in the House, and is usually a senior party member.
  • Second in line after the vice president to take the place of the President if they die, resign, are impeached
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4
Q

Standing committees

A
  • committees in each house of Congress that handle different bills in different policy areas.
  • Reps average 2 committees and 4 subcommittees.
  • Senators average 3 committees and 7 subcommittees.
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5
Q

Committee chairs

A

most important influencers of committee agendas. Dominate in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills

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6
Q

Majority leader

A
  • in the House, the majority leader is main partisan ally of the Speaker, and second in line to the Speaker
  • the manager of the majority party in the Senate.
  • Seen as a stepping stone to becoming a Speaker. In each house, they schedule bills, influence committee assignments, and round up votes on behalf of the party
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7
Q

Conference committee

A

when the Senate and House pass different forms of the same bill, members from each house (appointed by party leaders) will come together to discuss and make one singular bill

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8
Q

Filibuster

A
  • a strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation will use their right to unlimited debate to prevent the legislation from being voted on in the Senate. They essentially talk a bill to death and tire their opponent out.
  • 60 members present and ready to vote can halt a filibuster by voting on cloture (ending a debate and taking a vote)
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9
Q

Pork barrel

A

federal projects, grants, and contracts that are for state and local projects, governments, businesses, schools, etc. Often a way that legislators secure the vote from their constituents

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10
Q

Whips

A
  • party leaders in Congress who ensure party discipline and coordinate votes
  • there is a Majority Whip and Minority Whip for each chamber of Congress
  • They work with either the majority or minority party leader(s) to round up votes and lean on members whose votes are crucial to the passing of legislation. - Also report issues that “rank and file” party members have, back to party leaders
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11
Q

Bill

A

a proposed law, drafted in legal language. Can be drafted by anyone, but is formally submitted by a Congress member

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12
Q

Bicameral legislature

A
  • a legislature divided into two houses. The US’s legislative branch has the House and the Senate.
  • All state legislatures are bicameral except for Nebraska
  • The result of the Connecticut Compromise, which created proportional representation (House) and equal representation (Senate)
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13
Q

Congressional caucus

A
  • an informal group of Congress members who share a common interest or characteristic. Can cross party lines or house/chamber lines. Like congressional interest groups, but more powerful than regular interest groups
  • Examples: Hispanic Caucus, Caucus for Women’s Issues, Sunbelt Caucus, Congressional Bourbon Caucus
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14
Q

Legislative oversight

A

Congress’s monitoring the executive branch’s bureaucracy and its administration of policy, performed by the committee after legislation passes at their hearings

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