Chapter 7 Flashcards
bicameralism
the dvision of a legislative body into two chambers
demographic characteristics
Does Congress look likke the public? The answer is clearly no!
agency representation
Do members of Congress speak for their constitutents?
redistricting
how the boundaries are redrawn in terms of representation by Congress representatives
packing
this involves concentrating a group into as few districts as possible
gerrymandering
used to describe districts deliberately drawn to advantage one group of people over another
delegate theory of representation
Some say the legislator’s role as a “representative” is simply to relect constitutient’s wishes
trustee theory of representation
others say their role is to use theeir knowledge to do what is best for their constituents, regardless of what the constituents say
president pro-tempore
president for the time being
earmarks
the process generally involves inserting amendments–or “________”—into vital “must-pass”’ legislation like the annual federal budget
pork barrel legislation
defined as legislation or funding for projects of little to no benefit beyond a single district (the term is loosly related to the idea of “bringing home the bacon” to please local voters)
congressional caucuses
these are groups of legislators promoting particular interests withi Congress
standing committees
they are permanent and focus on legislating. they contain only members of one chamber
select committees (or Special, or Ad Hoc)
they are temporary and generally used to investigate issues taht do not fit neatly into any standing committees. They too contain only members of one chamber
joint committees
they may be permanent or temproary and are generally advisory. they exist to coordinate policy between the House andd Senate. As such, they contain members from both chambers
conference committees
the most temprary and specific of all committees. they are created as needed, solely to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a single bill. they contain members from both chambers (usually members from the standing committees that developed the bill).
seniority
the length of continuous service
unanimous consent agreements
there are agreements (negotiated between proponents and opponents) on debate and amendment limits that–as the term implies–require the consent of everyone in the chamber
filibuster
an attempt to talk a bill to death–or a hold (which is basically a threat to filibuster)
cloture vote
a petition among senators to formally limit debate on a bill
it is very difficult to invoke cloture because the vote is not deteremined by a simple majority
invoking cloture currently requires 60 votes, which is a very high standard
