Chapter 12- The Legislative Branch

Question 1

Bicameral

Answer 1

A legislature divided into two chambers; Congress has the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Question 2

Apportionment

Answer 2

Distribution of representatives among the sages based on the population of each state.

Question 3

Reapportionment

Answer 3

Redistribution of the congressional seats among the stages after the census determines changed in population distribution.

Question 4

Congressional districting

Answer 4

State legislatures draw congressional districts for states with more than one representative.

Question 5

Gerrymandering

Answer 5

Drawing of congressional districts to favor one political party or group over another.

Question 6

Incumbency effect

Answer 6

Tendency of those already holding office to win reelection due to advantages because they already hold the office.

Question 7

Casework

Answer 7

Assistance given to constituents by congressional members, answering questions or doing favors.

Question 8

Constituent

Answer 8

All residents of the state for Senators, all residents of a district for House members.

Question 9

Speaker of the House

Answer 9

Leading officer in the House of Representatives, chosen by the majority party.

Question 10

Floor leaders

Answer 10

Direct party strategy and decisions in the House of Representatives and Senate.

Question 11

Majority leader

Answer 11

The elected leader of the party with the most seats in the House of Representatives or Senate.

Question 12

President pro tempore

Answer 12

Serves as president of the Senate in the absence of the vice president; chosen by the majority party.

Question 13

Seniority system

Answer 13

System in which the chairmanship of a committee is given to the member with the longest continuous service.

Question 14

Standing committee

Answer 14

Permanent committee.

Question 15

Joint committee

Answer 15

Committee made up of members of both houses of Congress.

Question 16

Caucus (congressional)

Answer 16

An association of congressional members who advocate a political ideology, regional, ethnic, or economic interest.

Question 17

Trustee

Answer 17

After listening to constituents, elected representatives vote based on their own opinions.

Question 18

Franking privilege

Answer 18

Privilege that allows members of Congress to mail letters and other materials to constituents postage-free.

Question 19

Oversight

Answer 19

Congress monitors policies of the executive branch.

Question 20

Bill

Answer 20

A law proposed by the legislature.

Question 21

Rules committee

Answer 21

Determines the rules of debate for bills in the House of Representatives.

Question 22

Filibuster

Answer 22

A lengthy speech designed to delay the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate.

Question 23

Cloture

Answer 23

Prevents filibustering and ends debate in the Senate, by a three-fifths vote of the Senate.

Question 24

Pork barrel legislation

Answer 24

Legislation giving benefits to constituents through sometimes unnecessary or unwise projects within a state or district, to enhance reelection.

Question 25

Logrolling

Answer 25

The exchange of political favors for support of a bill.

Question 26

Rider

Answer 26

An addition or amendment to a bill that often has no relation to the bill but that may not pass on its own merits.

Question 27

Amendments

Answer 27

A revision or change to a bill, law, or constitution.

Question 28

Lobbying

Answer 28

Attempting to influence policymakers through a variety of methods.

Question 29

Legislative veto

Answer 29

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.