Legislative Branch Vocab

Question 1

Bicameral legislature

Answer 1

A lawmaking body made up of two chambers or houses.

Question 2

Quorum

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Franking privilege

Answer 3

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

Question 4

Majority leader

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Minority leader

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Whip

Answer 6

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

Question 7

Party polarization

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Congressional caucus

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Standing committees

Answer 9

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

Question 10

Select committees

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Joint Committees

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Conference committees

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Discharge petition

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Unanimous consent

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Political/policy agenda

Answer 15

Issues that people believe require governmental action.

Question 16

Logrolling

Answer 16

Practice of legislators trading mutual support for their legislative proposals.

Question 17

Divided government

Answer 17

Occurs when different parties control the White House and Congress.

Question 18

Unified government

Answer 18

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

Question 19

Hold

Answer 19

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.

Question 20

Earmarks

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Pork barrel legislation

Answer 21

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.

Question 22

Trustee

Answer 22

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

Question 23

Delegate

Answer 23

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

Question 24

Politico

Answer 24

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

Question 25

Cloture rule

Answer 25

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

Question 26

Filibuster

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Gerrymandering

Answer 27

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

Question 28

Reapportionment

Answer 28

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

Question 29

Malapportionment

Answer 29

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

Question 30

Redistricting

Answer 30

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

Question 31

Constituency

Answer 31

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