Unit 2

Question 1

Bicameral legislature

Answer 1

A lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts

Question 2

Filibuster

Answer 2

an attempt to defeat a bill in the senate by talking indefinitely, thus preventing the senate from taking action on the bill

Question 3

Marginal districts

Answer 3

Political districts in which candidates elected to the HOR win in close elections, typically by 55% of the vote

Question 4

safe districts

Answer 4

districts in which incumbents win by margins of 55% or more

Question 5

Party polarization-

Answer 5

A vote in which a majority of democratic legislators oppose a majority of republican legislators.

Question 6

caucus

Answer 6

An association of congress members created to advance a political ideology or a regional, ethnic, or economic interest.

Question 7

Standing committees

Answer 7

Permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area.

Question 8

Select committees -

Answer 8

Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose.

Question 9

Joint committees-

Answer 9

Committees on which both senators and representatives serve.

Question 10

Conference committees -

Answer 10

a joint committee appointed to resolve differences in the senate and house version of the same bill.

Question 11

Public bill -

Answer 11

A legislative bill that deals with matter of general concern

Question 12

Private bill-

Answer 12

A legislative bill that deals only with specific, private, personal, or local matters.

Question 13

Simple resolution-

Answer 13

an expression of opinion either in the house or senate to settle procedural matters in either body

Question 14

Concurrent resolution-

Answer 14

AN expression of opinion without the force of law that requires approval from both the house and senate but not the president.

Question 15

Joint resolution-

Answer 15

a formal expression of opinion that must be approved by both houses of congress and by the president; constitutional amendments need not be approved by the president.

Question 16

earmarks

Answer 16

“Hidden” congressional provisions that direct the federal government to fund specific projects or that exempt specific persons or groups from paying specific federal taxes or fees.

Question 17

Discharge petition-

Answer 17

A device by which any member of the house, after a committee has had the bill for 30 days, may petition to have it brought to the floor

Question 18

Closed rule -

Answer 18

an order from the house rules committee that sets a time limit on debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor.

Question 19

Open rule-

Answer 19

an order from the house rules committee that permits amendments on the floor.

Question 20

Restrictive rule-

Answer 20

an order from the house rules committee that permits certain kinds of amendments but not others to be made into a bill on the floor.

Question 21

Cloture rule-

Answer 21

a rule used by the senate to end or limit a debate.

Question 22

Double-tracking -

Answer 22

a procedure to keep the senate gion during a filibuster in which the disputed bill is shelved temporarily so that the senate can get on with other business.

Question 23

Roll-call vote-

Answer 23

a congressional voting procedure that consists of members answering yea or nay to their names.

Question 24

Pork-barrel legislation-

Answer 24

legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return.