Legislative Branch Vocabulary

Question 1

Bicameral Legislature

Answer 1

Senate + House of Representatives
They make/write laws
- Senate: represents the states equally
- HOR: represents the population

Question 1

Quorum

Answer 1

The minimum number of members that must be present in a meeting for the proceedings to be valid

Question 2

Franking Privilege

Answer 2

Government officials are to send mail without paying postage

Question 3

Majority leader

Answer 3

Dictates what’s happening:
- Plan party strategies
- Speaks with other party leaders
- Tries to keep their party in line

Question 4

Minority leader

Answer 4

Spokesperson for their party
- Represents their party’s interests
- Speaks with other parties
- Keeps their party in line

Question 5

Whip

Answer 5

Ensures that their party is organized and that they vote and act according to their party’s goals

Question 6

Party polarization

Answer 6

A (increasing) ideological division amongst parties

Question 7

Congressional caucus

Answer 7

A group of members from congress that share a common idea/goal

Question 8

Standing committees

Answer 8

Permanent committees that handle most of Congress’s work

Question 9

Joint Committees

Answer 9

Members of both houses that address a long term issue or program

Question 10

Select committees

Answer 10

Temporary committee that handles a specific issue or investigation

Question 11

Conference commitees

Answer 11

Members of both houses settle their differences about similar bills

Question 12

Discharge petition

Answer 12

A procedure that allows members to bring a bill to vote even if a committee disagrees with it

Question 13

Unanimous consent

Answer 13

Members agree to take specific action without voting

Question 14

Political/policy agenda

Answer 14

Goals/interests/issues that a political party or person wants to address and promote

Question 15

Logrolling

Answer 15

An exchange for support or favors usually from each other’s votes on legislation

Question 16

Divided Government

Answer 16

Different political parties control different parts of the government

Question 17

Unified government

Answer 17

One political party controls the legislative and executive branch

Question 18

Hold

Answer 18

A procedure that allows a senator to block consideration of the bill or nomination

Question 19

Earmarks

Answer 19

Funds provided by congress, that are often hidden within the legislation and have tax breaks, for projects/programs

Question 20

Pork Barrel Legislation

Answer 20

Politicians take money from the federal government for projects or causes usually for the people’s support in return

Question 21

Trustee

Answer 21

appointed or elected group of individuals that hold assets and make decisions for others based on the best judgment

Question 22

Delegate

Answer 22

A person appointed based on the judgment of the constituents to represent the people

Question 23

Politico

Answer 23

Someone involved in politics (combo of trustee and delegate)

Question 24

Cloture rule

Answer 24

2/3 majority to end a debate or filibuster

Question 25

Filibuster

Answer 25

A tactic used to delay or block a vote on legislation

Question 26

Gerrymandering

Answer 26

Process of manipulating electoral district boundaries for political parties

Question 27

Reapportionment

Answer 27

Redistribution in seats in the HOR based on changes in states’ population

Question 28

Malapportionment

Answer 28

When a legislative district is improperly divided (usually to manipulate the electoral district so the politician could have more voters)

Question 29

Redistricting

Answer 29

Redrawing the lines of districts from which voters elect public officials

Question 30

Constituency

Answer 30

An area or district where the voters of an elected official live