Chapter 1 Terms

Question 1

Constituency

Answer 1

The residents in the area from which an official is elected

Question 2

Bicameral

Answer 2

Having a legislative assembly composed of 2 chambers or houses, distinguished from unicameral

Question 3

Delegate

Answer 3

A representative who votes according to the preferences of his or her constituency

Question 4

Trustee

Answer 4

A representative who votes based on what he or she thinks is best for his or her constituency

Question 5

Sociological representation

Answer 5

A type of representation in which representatives have the same racial, gender, ethnic, religious, or educational backgrounds as their constituents; it is based on the principle that if 2 individuals are similar in background, character, interests, and perspectives, than one can correctly represent the others views

Question 6

Agency representation

Answer 6

A type of representation in which a representative is held accountable to a constituency if he or she fails to represent that constituency properly; this is incentive for the representative to provide good representation when his or her personal backgrounds, views, or interests, differ from those of his or her constituency

Question 7

Incumbency

Answer 7

Holding the political office for which one is running

Question 8

Term limits

Answer 8

Legally prescribed limits on on the number of terms an elected official can serve

Question 9

Apportionment

Answer 9

The process occurring after every decennial census that allocates congressional seats among the 59 states

Question 10

Redistricting

Answer 10

The process of redrawing election districts and distributing legislative representatives; this happens every 10 years to reflect shifts in population or in response to legal challenges to existing districts.

Question 11

Gerrymandering

Answer 11

The apportionment of voters in districts in such a way as to give unfair advantage to one racial or ethnic group or political party

Question 12

Patronage

Answer 12

The resources available to higher officials, usually opportunities to make partisans appointments to offices and to confer grants, licenses or special favors to supporters

Question 13

Pork barrel

Answer 13

Apportionments made by legislative bodies for local projects that are often not needed but that are created so that local representatives can win re-election in their home districts

Question 14

Private bill

Answer 14

A proposal in congress to provide a specific person with some kind of relief, such as a special exemption immigration quotas

Question 15

Conference

Answer 15

A gathering of House Republicans every 2 years to elect their house leaders. Democrats call their gathering the caucus

Question 16

Caucus

Answer 16

A normally closed political party business meeting of citizens or lawmakers to select candidates, elect officers, plan strategy, or make decisions regarding legislative matters

Question 17

Speaker of the house

Answer 17

The chief presiding officer of the House of Representatives; the speaker is the most important party and house leader and can influence the legislative agenda, the fate of individual pieces of legislation, and members positions within the house

Question 18

Majority leader

Answer 18

The elected leader of the majority party in the House of Representatives or in the senate; in the house the majority leader is subordinate in the party hierarchy to the speaker of the house

Question 19

Minority leader

Answer 19

The elected leader of the minority party in the house or senate

Question 20

Whip

Answer 20

A party member in the house or senate responsible for coordinating the party’s legislative strategy building support for key issues, and counting votes

Question 21

Standing committee

Answer 21

A permanent committee with the power to propose and write legislation that covers a particular subject such as finance or agriculture

Question 22

Select committees

Answer 22

Temporary legislative committees set up to highlight or investigate a particular issue or address an issue not within the jurisdiction of existing committees

Question 23

Joint committees

Answer 23

Legislative committees formed of members of both the house and senate

Question 24

Conference committees

Answer 24

Joint committees created to work out a compromise on house and senate versions of a piece of legislation

Question 25

Seniority

Answer 25

The ranking given to an individual on the