Chapter 11

Question 1

Reapportionment

Answer 1

The assigning by Congress of congressional seats after each census. State legislatures reapportion state legislative districts.

Question 2

Redistricting

Answer 2

The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.

Question 3

Gerrymandering

Answer 3

The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent.

Question 4

Safe seat

Answer 4

An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other, so the success of that party’s candidate is almost taken for granted.

Question 5

Incumbent

Answer 5

The current holder of elected office.

Question 6

Bicameralism

Answer 6

The principle of a two-house legislature.

Question 7

Speaker

Answer 7

The presiding officer in the House of Representatives, formally elected by the House but actually selected by the majority party.

Question 8

Party caucus

Answer 8

A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy. Called a conference by the Republicans.

Question 9

Majority leader

Answer 9

The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy, confers with other party leaders, and tries to keep members of the party in line.

Question 10

Minority leader

Answer 10

The legislative leader selected by the minority party as spokesperson for the opposition.

Question 11

Whip

Answer 11

Party leader who is the liaison between the leadership and the rank and file in the legislature.

Question 12

Closed rule

Answer 12

A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendments to bills or provides that only members of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments.

Question 13

Open rule

Answer 13

A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill.

Question 14

President pro tempore

Answer 14

Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president.

Question 15

Hold

Answer 15

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of a bill or nomination.

Question 16

Filibuster

Answer 16

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.

Question 17

Cloture

Answer 17

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate.

Question 18

Senatorial Courtesy

Answer 18

Presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work.

Question 19

Standing committee

Answer 19

A permanent committee established in a legislature, ussually focusing on a policy area.

Question 20

Special or select committee

Answer 20

A congressional committee created for a specific purpose, sometimes to conduct an investigation.

Question 21

Joint committee

Answer 21

A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.

Question 22

Earmarks

Answer 22

Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of congress for their constituents.

Question 23

Seniority rule

Answer 23

A legislative practice that assigns the chair of a committee or subcommittee to the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on the committee.

Question 24

Conference committee

Answer 24

Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.

Question 25

Delegate

Answer 25

An official who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of the legislator.

Question 26

Trustee

Answer 26

An official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances; one interpretation of the role of the legislator.,

Question 27

Logrolling

Answer 27

Mutual aid and vote trading among legislators.

Question 28

Attentive public

Answer 28

Those citizens who follow public affairs closely.

Question 29

Discharge petition

Answer 29

Petition that, if signed by a majority of the House of Representatives’ members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.

Question 30

Rider

Answer 30

A provision attached to a bill- to which it may or may not be related- in order to secure its passage or defeat.

Question 31

Pocket veto

Answer 31

A veto exercised by the president after Congress has adjourned; if the president takes no action for ten days, the bill does not become law and is not returned to congress for a possible override.

Question 32

Override

Answer 32

An action taken by Congress to reverse a presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds majority in each chamber.

Question 33

Parliamentary system

Answer 33

A system of government in which the legislature selects the prime minister or president.

Question 34

Presidential ticket

Answer 34

The joint listing of the presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ballot as required by the twelfth amendment.

Question 35

Treaty

Answer 35

A formal, public agreement between the United States and one or more nations that must be approved by two-thirds of the senate.

Question 36

Executive agreement

Answer 36

A formal agreement between the US president and the leaders of other nations that requires approval by both houses of congress.

Question 37

Veto

Answer 37

A formal decision to reject a bill passed by congress

Question 38

Constituents

Answer 38

The residents of a congressional district or state.