Congress - Key Terms

Question 1

Filibuster

Answer 1

Action such as a prolonged speech that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly

Question 2

Concurrent powers

Answer 2

Powers which are shared by both the federal government and state governments. This includes the power to tax, build roads, and create lower courts.

Question 3

Bicameral

Answer 3

Means two chambers. In practice refers to a government structure involving two houses, or two legislative bodies

Question 4

Midterm elections

Answer 4

Type of election where people elect their representatives and other subnational officeholders (e.g. governor, members of local council) in the middle of the term of the executive

Question 5

Incumbency

Answer 5

Government official who currently holds office

Question 6

Gerrymandering

Answer 6

Manipulating the boundaries of an electoral district to favour one party or class

Question 7

Pocket veto

Answer 7

A pocket veto is a slightly sneaky way for a president or governor to veto a bill. If Congress gives the president a bill and the president doesn’t sign or reject it, the bill isn’t passed.

Question 8

Impeachment

Answer 8

Legislative body or tribunal initiates charges against a public official for misconduct

Question 9

Pigeon-holed bills

Answer 9

The Committee Chair has the right to “pigeonhole” (not assign or hear debate on the bill) thus killing it.

Question 10

House rules committee

Answer 10

Considers all bills reported from policy and fiscal committees and determines whether, and in what order, to schedule their consideration on the floor of the House

Question 11

Cloture motion

Answer 11

To close the debate on any measure, motion or other matter pending before the Senate must be signed by at least sixteen senators may be presented at any time

Question 12

Ping pong

Answer 12

Bill goes back and forth until there is an agreement

Question 13

Conference committee

Answer 13

Committee made up of members from both houses whose task is to eliminate any differences between versions of legislation on the same subject passed in the different chambers

Question 14

Partisanship

Answer 14

Tendency to support a particular group or party

Question 15

Supermajority

Answer 15

More than half in support or votes

Question 16

Pork-barrel politics

Answer 16

Spending a lot of government money on a local project in order to win the votes of the people who live in that area.

Question 17

Gridlock

Answer 17

Inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government

Question 18

Caucus

Answer 18

Local members of a political party register their preference among candidates running for office