Legislative Branch Vocab Flashcards

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1
Q

Bicameral legislature

A

A lawmaking body made up of two chambers or houses.

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2
Q

Quorum

A

The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress.

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3
Q

Franking privilege

A

The ability of congressional members to mail letters to their constituents free of charge by using their signature for postage.

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4
Q

Majority leader

A

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

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5
Q

Minority leader

A

The legislative leader elected by party members holding the minority of seats in the House or the Senate.

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6
Q

Whip

A

A senator or representative who assists the party leader by staying informed about the voting decisions of other members.

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7
Q

Party polarization

A

A strong division in the views of Republicans and Democrats on the legislative agenda.

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8
Q

Congressional caucus

A

A group of congressional members that meet to pursue a common legislative agenda.

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9
Q

Standing committees

A

Permanently established legislative committees that review and consider bills in both the House and Senate.

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10
Q

Select committees

A

Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and usually for an investigative purpose.

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11
Q

Joint Committees

A

A committee made up of members from both the House and the Senate.

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12
Q

Conference committees

A

A joint committee appointed to iron out the differences in the Senate and House versions of the same bill.

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13
Q

Discharge petition

A

A device used to force a bill that has been stuck in committee for over thirty days, out onto the floor.

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14
Q

Unanimous consent

A

A request or agreement setting the terms for the consideration or debate of a specified bill or other measure.

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15
Q

Political/policy agenda

A

Issues that people believe require governmental action.

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16
Q

Logrolling

A

Practice of legislators trading mutual support for their legislative proposals.

17
Q

Divided government

A

Occurs when different parties control the White House and Congress.

18
Q

Unified government

A

Occurs when the same party controls the White House and both houses of Congress.

19
Q

Hold

A

A stalling approach by which a senator asks to be informed before a particular bill is brought to the floor; tactic used to stop a bill from reaching the floor.

20
Q

Earmarks

A

“Hidden” congressional provisions that designate money for specific projects or programs.

21
Q

Pork barrel legislation

A

Legislation that provides benefits to constituents in a particular district or state in the hope of winning their votes in return. For example: providing funding to build a bridge in a particular city.

22
Q

Trustee

A

Descriptive of elected representatives who use their best judgment when making legislative voting decisions.

23
Q

Delegate

A

Descriptive of elected representatives who base their legislative voting decisions on the desires and opinions of their constituents.

24
Q

Politico

A

Descriptive of elected representatives who balance their constituents’ opinions with their best judgment when making legislative voting decisions.

25
Q

Cloture rule

A

A process used by the Senate to end or limit debate/filibusters.

26
Q

Filibuster

A

An attempt to stall or defeat a bill in the Senate by talking for an extended period of time.

27
Q

Gerrymandering

A

The practice of drawing districts in unusual shapes for the political advantage of one political party or group.

28
Q

Reapportionment

A

The practice of redistributing House seats every ten years according to census data.

29
Q

Malapportionment

A

The practice of distributing House seats into unequal districts, which diminishes certain district’s representative voice.

30
Q

Redistricting

A

The redrawing of legislative district lines after the census has been taken, to accommodate population shifts and ensure equal representation.

31
Q

Constituency

A

The individuals who live in the area an elected official is representing.