Congress Flashcards
Constituents
The residents of a Congressional district or state
Reapportionment
The assigning by Congress of Congressional seats after each census. State legislatures reapportion state legislative districts
Redistricting
The redrawing of Congressional and other legislative districts lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population
Gerrymandering
The drawing of legislative districts boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent
Safe Seat
An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other so the success of that party’s candidate is almost taken for granted
Incumbent
The current holder of the elected office
Bicameralism
The principle of a two-house legislature
Enumerated Powers
The powers expressly given to Congress in the Constitution
Speaker
The presiding officer in the House of Representatives, formally elected by the House but actually selected by the majority party
Party Caucus
A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy. Called a conference by the Republicans
Majority Leader
The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy, congers with other party leaders, and tries to keep members of the party in line
Minority Leader
The legislative leader selected by the minority party as spokesperson for the oppositon
Whip
Party leader who is the liaison between the leadership and the rank-and-file in the legislature
Closed Rule
A procedural rule in the HoR that prohibits and amendments to bills or provides that only members of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments
Open Rule
A procedural rule in the HoR that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill
President Pro Tempore
Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president
Hold
A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of the bill or nomination
Filibuster
A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue
Cloture
A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate
Senatorial Courtesy
Presidential custom of submitting the names of perspective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work
Standing Committee
A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area
Special or Select Committee
A Congressional committee created for a specific purpose, sometimes to conduct an investigation
Joint Committee
A committee composed of members of both the HoR and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations
Earmarks
Special spending projects that are seta side on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents
Seniority Rule
A legislative practice that assigns the chair of the committee or subcommittee to the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on the committee
Conference Committee
Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular passed by each in different form
Delegate
An official who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different viewsl one interpretation of the role of legislator
Trustee
An official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgement of the circumstances one interpretation of the role of the legislator
Logrolling
mutual aid and vote trading among legislators
Attentive Public
Those citizens who follow public affairs closely
Discharge Petition
Petition that, if signed by majority of the HoR’ members, will pray a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration
Rider
A provision attached to a bill - to which it may or may not be related - in order to secure its passage or defeat
Pocket Veto
A veto exercised by the president after Congress has adjourned; if the president takes no action for 10 days, the bill does not become law and does not return to Congress for possible override
Override
An action taken by Congress to reverse the presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds majority in each chamber
