Ch.4 Vocab

Question 1

legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states

Answer 1

pork barrel spending

Question 2

trading votes on legislation by members of Congress to get their earmarks passed into legislation

Answer 2

logrolling

Question 3

efforts by Congress to ensure that executive branch agencies, bureaus, and cabinet departments, as well as their officials, are acting legally and in accordance w/ congressional goals

Answer 3

oversight

Question 4

a body of voters in a specific area who elect a representative or senator

Answer 4

constituency

Question 5

the process of determining the number of representatives for each state using census data

Answer 5

apportionment

Question 6

states’ redrawing of boundaries of electoral districts following each census

Answer 6

redistricting

Question 7

the intentional use of redistricting to benefit a specific interest or group of voters

Answer 7

gerrymandering

Question 8

the drawing of district boundaries into strange shapes to benefit a political party

Answer 8

partisan gerrymandering

Question 9

a district in which voters of a minority ethnicity constitutes an electoral majority within that electoral district

Answer 9

majority-minority district

Question 10

the uneven distribution of population among legislative districts

Answer 10

malapportionment

Question 11

being already in office as opposed to running for the first time

Answer 11

incumbency

Question 12

the leader of the House of Representatives, chosen by an election of its members

Answer 12

Speaker of the House

Question 13

an organization that raises money for candidates and campaigns

Answer 13

political action committee (PAC)

Question 14

the person who is 2nd in command of the HOR

Answer 14

House majority leader

Question 15

a member of Congress, chosen by his/her party to ensure party unity and discipline

Answer 15

whip

Question 16

the head of the party with the 2nd highest number of seats in Congress, chosen by the party’s members

Answer 16

minority leader

Question 17

the person who has the most power in the Senate and is the head of the party with the most seats

Answer 17

Senate majority leader

Question 18

leaders of a congressional committee who has authority over the committee’s agenda

Answer 18

committee chair

Question 19

a motion filled by a member of Congress to move a bill out of committee and onto the floor of the HOR for a vote

Answer 19

discharge petition

Question 20

a power committee that determines when a bill will be subject to debate and vote on the House floor, how long the debate will last, and whether amendments will be allowed on the floor

Answer 20

House Rules Committee

Question 21

consists of all members of the House and meets in the House chamber but is governed by different rules, making it easier to consider complex & controversial legislation

Answer 21

Committee of the Whole

Question 22

a delay placed on legislation by a senator who objects the bill

Answer 22

hold

Question 23

an agreement in senate that sets the terms for consideration of a bill

Answer 23

unanimous consent agreement

Question 24

a tactic through which senators can use the right of unlimited debate to delay a motion or postpone action on a piece of legislation

Answer 24

filibuster

Question 25

a procedure through which senators can end debate on a bill and proceed to action, provided 60 senators agree to it

Answer 25

cloture

Question 26

the power of a president to reject a bill passed by Congress, sending it back to the originating branch with objections

Answer 26

veto

Question 27

a program that provides benefits for those who qualify under the law, regardless of income

Answer 27

entitlement program

Question 28

the exclusive branch office that assists the president setting national spending priorities

Answer 28

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

Question 29

spending required by existing laws that is “locked in” the budget

Answer 29

mandatory spending

Question 30

spending for programs and policies at the discretion of Congress and the president

Answer 30

discretionary spending

Question 31

the amount of money remaining when the government takes in more that it spends

Answer 31

Budget surplus

Question 32

the shortfall when a government takes less money than it spends

Answer 32

Budget deficit

Question 33

the total amount of money owed by the federal government

Answer 33

national debt

Question 34

the idea that the main idea of a member of Congress is to carry out constituents’ wishes

Answer 34

delegate role

Question 35

the idea that members of Congress should act as trustees, making decisions based on their knowledge and judgement

Answer 35

trustee role

Question 36

representation where members of Congress balance their choices with the interests of their constituents and parties in making decisions

Answer 36

politico role

Question 37

agreement between the parties to work together in Congress to pass legislation

Answer 37

bipartisanship

Question 38

a slowdown or halt in Congress’ ability to legislate and overcome divisions, especially those based on partisanship

Answer 38

gridlock

Question 39

control of the presidency and one or both chambers of Congress split between the two major parties

Answer 39

divided government

Question 40

period at the end of a presidential term, Congress may block presidential initiatives and nominees

Answer 40

lame duck period