Chapter 11 Midterm Review

Question 1

Franking Privilege

Answer 1

The ability of members of congress to mail letters to their constituents free of charge by substituting their facsimile signature for postage

Question 2

Unicameral

Answer 2

having a single legislative chamber

Question 3

Bicameral

Answer 3

A lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts

Question 4

Speaker of the House

Answer 4

officer of the house of representative

Paul Ryan

Question 5

Rules Committee

Answer 5

In charge of what rules other bills will come to the floor (House)

Question 6

Filibuster

Answer 6

An attempt to defeat a bill in the senate by talking indefinitely thus preventing the senate from taking action on the bill

Question 7

17th Amendment

Answer 7

Senate gets popular vote from people of the state

Question 8

Rule 22

Answer 8

Debate can be cut off if 2/3 of the senate votes to use the cloture motion

Question 9

Cloture

Answer 9

A rule used by the senate to end or limit debate. Used to prevent “talking a bill to death” by filibuster

Question 10

Marginal districts

Answer 10

Political districts in which candidates elected to the house win in close elections. typically with less then 55% of the vote

Question 11

Safe Districts

Answer 11

Political districts in which candidate elected to house win in a landslide of over 55% of the vote

Question 12

Malapportionment

Answer 12

Drawing the boundaries of political districts so that districts are very unequal by population

Question 13

Gerrymandering

Answer 13

Drawing the boundaries of political districts in bizarre or unusual shapes to make it easy for candidates of the party in power to win election in these districts

Question 14

Sophomore Surge

Answer 14

An increase in the votes that congressional candidates usually get when they run for reelection

Question 15

Representation theory

Answer 15

When the members of congress vote in the favor of the opinions of their constituents

Question 16

Organizational Theory

Answer 16

Members of congress make votes to please their colleagues or other members

Question 17

Attitudinal theory

Answer 17

Members of congress vote on their own beliefs and feelings and not by the constituents or by other members

Question 18

President Pro Tempore

Answer 18

Person assigned in the constitution to “lead” the senate when the vice president isn’t there.
(Patrick Leahy)

Question 19

Party Whip

Answer 19

A senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking, rounds up members when important votes are to be taken, and attempts to keep a nose count on how the voting on controversial issues is likely to go.

Question 20

Steering Committee

Answer 20

Guides and oversees system development

Question 21

Committee on committees

Answer 21

Party committees that determine the assignment of party members to standing committees

Question 22

Policy committee

Answer 22

A group of people who provide ideas or plans that are used by an organization or government as a basis for making decisions

Question 23

Caucus

Answer 23

An association of members of congress created to advocate a political ideology or a regional, ethnic, or economic interest

Question 24

Congressional Black Caucus

Answer 24

An organization representing the black members of congress. exclusive to african americans

Question 25

Standing committee

Answer 25

The perminite committees of each house with the power to report bills

Question 26

Select Committees

Answer 26

Committees appointment for a limited time and specific purpose

Question 27

Joint committees

Answer 27

Committees on which both the house and senate are apart of

Question 28

Conference committees

Answer 28

a special type of joint committees appointed to solve differences between the house and the senate

Question 29

Congressional Research Service (CRS)

Answer 29

• Responds for request of information
• keeps track of every major bill
• produces a summary of legislation for members

Question 30

General Accounting Office (GAO)

Answer 30

• Performs routine audits of money spent by executive
• performs investigations on agencies
• makes recommendations of every aspect of government

Question 31

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

Answer 31

• advise congress of the economic effects of spending programs
• provide information on costs of proposed polices

Question 32

Public bill

Answer 32

Legislation the pertains to the public

Question 33

Private bill

Answer 33

Legislation the pertains to a specific person or group of people

Question 34

Joint Resolution

Answer 34

A resolution requiring approval by both houses and a signature of the president and having the same legal status of a law

Question 35

Closed Rule

Answer 35

Limited or no time to debate on the floor or to amend

Question 36

Open Rule

Answer 36

No rule on time to debate or of amendations

Question 37

Rider

Answer 37

An amendment not related to the bill but “rides” along and gets passed with the bill. When a bill has a lot of riders it is called a christmas tree bill.

Question 38

Pork Barrel Politics

Answer 38

a bill introduced by a member of congress that give tangible benefits like a highway or a bridge in hope to make the constituents happy and to get reelected

Question 39

Log Rolling

Answer 39

Mutual aid among politicians. Whereby one legislator supports another pet project in return for the letters support of his

Question 40

Appropriations

Answer 40

A legislative grant of money to finance a government program

Question 41

Mark-up session

Answer 41

Revisions and additions to legislation made by committees and subcommittees. these changes are not part of a bill unless approved by the house of which the committee is apart of

Question 42

Incumbent advantage

Answer 42

The person currently in office has an advantage to get reelected because they are already in. They also have the franking privilege making it cheaper to run.

Question 43

Ways and Means Committee

Answer 43

charged with reviewing and making recommendation for government budget.

Question 44

Parliament

Answer 44

the highest legislature, consisting of the sovereign, the House of Lords, and the House of Commons.
(UK)