Chapter 6 - Congress

Question 1

Constituency

Answer 1

The district that voted in an official and controls his reelection.

Question 2

Delegates

Answer 2

A Representative that votes in favor of the preferences of his constituency

Question 3

Trustees

Answer 3

A Representative that votes based on what he thinks is best FOR his constituency.

Question 4

Agency Representation

Answer 4

Representation in which constituents can hire and fire representatives.

Question 5

Bicameral Legislature

Answer 5

A legislative body composed of two chambers

Question 6

Money Bill

Answer 6

Bills concerning taxation and spending.

Must always originate in the House of Representatives.

Question 7

Until what Amendment were Senators put in power for 6 year terms by state legislators.

Answer 7

The 17th amendment. It made it so that Senators are chosen via direct popular vote.

Question 8

Incumbency

Answer 8

The act of holding political office for which one is running for

Question 9

Caeswork

Answer 9

The act of providing personnel service to constituents in order to gain and maintain trust.

Question 10

Patronage

Answer 10

A variety of direct services and benefits that members provide for their districts.

Question 11

Pork-barrel Legislation

Answer 11

The capturing of federal projects and funds for their districts/states.

Bringing home the bacon.

Question 12

Earmarks

Answer 12

The act of adding in language to bills in order to provide special benefits for their districts/states.

Question 13

Gerrymandering

Answer 13

The rearrangement of districts in such way to make it more advantageous for a party.

Question 14

Party Caucus/Conference

Answer 14

A closed closed private Party meeting in which party decisions are made.

Question 15

Speaker of the House

Answer 15

The chief officer of the house of representatives.

Is determined by an election held at the beginning of every new Congress on a straight party vote.

Question 16

Majority Leader

Answer 16

The elected leader of the party holding a majority of the seats in the House or Senate.

Question 17

Minority Leader

Answer 17

The elected leader of party holding less than majority in Senate or House.

Question 18

Standing Committee

Answer 18

A specialized permanent legislative committee that considers legislation within its specialized category.

Question 19

Gatekeeping authority:

Answer 19

The right and power to decide if a change in policy will be considered.

Question 20

Proposal Power

Answer 20

The capacity to bring a proposal before the full legislature

Question 21

After- the- fact authority

Answer 21

The authority to bring a proposal once it has been approved by the full chamber.

Question 22

Conference Committee

Answer 22

A joint committee created to work out a compromise for the house and senate’s version of a piece of legislation.

Question 23

Oversight

Answer 23

The effort by Congress through multiple means to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies.

Question 24

Seniority

Answer 24

The priority and status given to a congressional committee member paced on time served.

Question 25

Agency Loss

Answer 25

The difference between what a principal would like an agent to do and what the agent actually does.

Question 26

Staff Agencies

Answer 26

The agencies responsible for providing Congress with in information regarding policy.

Question 27

Congressional Caucus

Answer 27

A group of Congressmen paced on party, interests, and social characteristics.

Question 28

Closed Rule

Answer 28

A House Rule used to bill supporters to prohibit the introduction of amendments to a bill during debates.

Question 29

Open Rule

Answer 29

A House Rule in which the introduction of amendments to bill is allowed.

Question 30

Filibuster

Answer 30

The act of holding the floor, since Senators have unlimited time once they are given the floor, with continuous speaking until the opposition backs down.

Question 31

Cloture

Answer 31

A rule allowing a super majority of the members of a legislative body to set a time limit on bill debate.

Question 32

Distributive Tendency

Answer 32

The tendency of Congress to spread benefit over a wide range of members districts.

Question 33

Party Vote

Answer 33

A legislative vote tie between two parties.

Question 34

Roll-Call votes

Answer 34

A vote in which legislator’s yes or no vote is recorded.

Question 35

Whip System

Answer 35

The communication system of Congress and Senate. It allows the Leaders to communicate with legislators and collect information.

Question 36

Logrolling

Answer 36

The act of one legislator helping another legislator by voting on a bill in exchange for them doing the same on a different bill, “Vote for me and I’ll vote for you.”

Question 37

Executive Agreement

Answer 37

An agreement between the president and a foreign nation that has the power of a treaty but doe NOT require Congressional approval.

Question 38

Impeachment

Answer 38

The act of charging a government official with “Treason, Bribery, and other high crimes and misdemeanors, forcing them to brought forth to Congress to determine guilt.