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AP Government > Chapter 13 - Congress > Flashcards

Chapter 13 - Congress Flashcards

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0
Q

Bicameral legislature

A

A legislature such as the US Congress that has two chambers. We have the House of Representatives and the Senate

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1
Q

Attitudinal view of representation

A

There are so many members of Congress with so many varying beliefs and pressures so they ultimately cancel each other out and the Congress(wo)men are able to vote independently

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2
Q

Caucus (congressional)

A

A congressional caucus is an association of members created to advance a political ideology or a regional, ethnic, or economic interest. They are growing and beginning to rival political parties

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3
Q

Christmas tree bill

A

A bill that has many amendments attached all over it (hence Christmas tree). The amendments are usually unrelated and benefit singular groups

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4
Q

Closed rule

A

An order from the House Rules Committee that limits the time on a debate and also forbids a bill from being amended on the floor

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5
Q

Cloture rule

A

A regulation by the Senate that limits or ends a debate

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6
Q

Concurrent resolution

A

An expression of opinion that does not require approval by the president, only by the House and the Senate.

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7
Q

Conference committee

A

A joint committee (one with both senators and representatives) that helps to resolve differences and discrepancies between the Senate and House version of a bill

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8
Q

Congress

A

The legislative branch of the US that is made up of two chambers: the House and the Senate. Congress has to share power with both the executive and judicial branches

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9
Q

Congressional budget office

A

The CBO provides economic data, statistics, and information to the legislative branch

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10
Q

Congressional research service

A

The CRS works with the library of congress and provides background information to members of congress regarding legislative issues

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11
Q

Conservative coalition

A

An alliance between republicans and conservative democrats

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12
Q

Discharge petition

A

A device by which any member of the house can have the petition brought to the floor after a committee has had it for 30 days

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13
Q

Divided government

A

One party controls the White House and the other party controls one or both chambers of congress

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14
Q

Division vote

A

When a vote is taken and members of congress stand up to be counted

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15
Q

Double-tracking

A

A procedure used to keep the senate going during a filibuster that puts the bill “on the shelf” temporarily so the senate can address other business matters

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16
Q

Earmarks

A

Hidden provisions that direct federal government to find specific projects or exempt specific people from paying specific federal taxes or fees. Also used to give direct benefits to a client without the review of that benefit by congress

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17
Q

Filibuster

A

An attempt (in the senate) to defeat a bill by speaking indefinitely and you can’t eat, drink, use the bathroom, or sit down during this process.

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18
Q

Franking privilege

A

Using a facsimile signature in place of postage when a member wants to send letters to their constituents for free

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19
Q

Government accountability office

A

An agency that works for Congress. They investigate how the federal government is spending taxpayer’s dollars

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20
Q

Gerrymandering

A

Drawing legislative district boundaries in bizarre ways to favor one party over the other

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21
Q

Joint committee

A

A committee in which both senators and representatives serve

22
Q

Majority Leader

A

The legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the house or the Senate

23
Q

Malapportionment

A

The drawing of the boundaries of legislative districts so they are unequal in population

24
Q

Marginal district

A

Political districts in which candidates elected to the House of Representatives win in close elections, typically less than 55% of the vote

25
Q

Markup

A

The process by which a US Congressional committee or state legislative session debates and rewrites or amends proposed legislation

26
Q

Minority leader

A

The legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority of seats in the house or the Senate

27
Q

Open rule

A

An order from the house rules committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor

28
Q

Organizational view of representation

A

Most constituents don’t know how their legislator voted so it’s not essential to please them. They will respond based on cues from their colleagues

29
Q

Parliament

A

The British (as well as many other nations) version of the US Congress

30
Q

Party polarization

A

A vote in which a majority of Democratic legislators oppose a majority of republican legislators

31
Q

Pork-barrel legislation

A

Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hopes of winning their votes in return

32
Q

President pro tempore

A

The second highest ranking official in the United States Senate. It is stated in the constitution that the president and the vice president must choose a pro tempore of the Senate. The pro tempore of the Senate is the third in line to succession of the presidency behind the vice president and the speaker of the house

33
Q

Private bill

A

A legislative bill that deals only with specific, private, personal, or local matters

34
Q

Public bill

A

A legislative bill that deals with matters of general concern

35
Q

Quorum

A

The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress. For the US Congress this is half, or 218 representatives

36
Q

Quorum call

A

A roll call in either the House of Representatives or the Senate to see whether the minimum number of representatives is met

37
Q

Representational view of representation

A

Based on the reasonable and accurate assumption that members seek reelection and therefore vote to please their constituents

38
Q

Restrictive rule

A

Permits certain kinds of amendments but not others to become a bill on the floor

39
Q

Rider

A

Amendments on matters unrelated to bills that are added to important bills so they ride the passage through Congress. With lots of riders this can be called a Christmas tree bill

40
Q

Roll-call vote

A

A congressional voting procedure that consists of members answering “yea” or “nay” to their names

41
Q

Rules committee

A

A legislative committee responsible for expediting the passage of bills

42
Q

Safe district

A

Districts in which incumbents win by 55% or more

43
Q

Select committee

A

Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose

44
Q

Sequential referral

A

A congressional process by which a speaker may send a bill to a second committee after the first is finished acting

45
Q

17th amendment

A

This amendment to the Constitution requires popular election of Senators

46
Q

Simple resolution

A

An expression of opinion either in the house or the Senate to settle procedural matters in either body

47
Q

Sophomore surge

A

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

48
Q

Speaker of the house

A

Currently John Boehner. The presiding officer of the House of Representatives and the leader of his party in the house

49
Q

Standing committees

A

Permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area

50
Q

Teller vote

A

The voting procedure in which members passed between two tellers, the “yeas” first and the “nays” second

51
Q

Unified government

A

The same party controls the White House and both parties of Congress

52
Q

Voice vote

A

Members shout yeah or nay which allows for quick and anonymous voting

53
Q

Whip

A

A senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking

AP Government (4 decks)

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