Chapter 12- The Legislative Branch Flashcards
Bicameral
A legislature divided into two chambers; Congress has the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Apportionment
Distribution of representatives among the sages based on the population of each state.
Reapportionment
Redistribution of the congressional seats among the stages after the census determines changed in population distribution.
Congressional districting
State legislatures draw congressional districts for states with more than one representative.
Gerrymandering
Drawing of congressional districts to favor one political party or group over another.
Incumbency effect
Tendency of those already holding office to win reelection due to advantages because they already hold the office.
Casework
Assistance given to constituents by congressional members, answering questions or doing favors.
Constituent
All residents of the state for Senators, all residents of a district for House members.
Speaker of the House
Leading officer in the House of Representatives, chosen by the majority party.
Floor leaders
Direct party strategy and decisions in the House of Representatives and Senate.
Majority leader
The elected leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Representatives or Senate.
President pro tempore
Serves as president of the Senate in the absence of the vice president; chosen by the majority party.
Seniority system
System in which the chairmanship of a committee is given to the member with the longest continuous service.
Standing committee
Permanent committee.
Joint committee
Committee made up of members of both houses of Congress.
Caucus (congressional)
An association of congressional members who advocate a political ideology, regional, ethnic, or economic interest.
Trustee
After listening to constituents, elected representatives vote based on their own opinions.
Franking privilege
Privilege that allows members of Congress to mail letters and other materials to constituents postage-free.
Oversight
Congress monitors policies of the executive branch.
Bill
A law proposed by the legislature.
Rules committee
Determines the rules of debate for bills in the House of Representatives.
Filibuster
A lengthy speech designed to delay the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate.
Cloture
Prevents filibustering and ends debate in the Senate, by a three-fifths vote of the Senate.
Pork barrel legislation
Legislation giving benefits to constituents through sometimes unnecessary or unwise projects within a state or district, to enhance reelection.
Logrolling
The exchange of political favors for support of a bill.
Rider
An addition or amendment to a bill that often has no relation to the bill but that may not pass on its own merits.
Amendments
A revision or change to a bill, law, or constitution.
Lobbying
Attempting to influence policymakers through a variety of methods.
Legislative veto
To reject the actions of the president or executive agency by a vote of one or both houses of Congress without the consent of the president; ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Immigration and Naturalization Service v. Chadha.
