Unit 2 Test (vocab) Flashcards
constitutes
citizens from state or office that an elected official represents
Congressional budget office
Non-partisan agency created by government to assist in the budget process
safe districts
Electoral district in which the candidate from that party usually wins by 55 percent or more
franking privilege
Free postage so the members of congress can send their constitutes mail about what is going on
casework
process of finding solutions to the constituents problems
redistricting
drawing congressional district boundaries to accord with population changes
reapporitantment
periodic changes of the 435 house seats based on population
gerrymander
drawing congressional boundaries to the advantage of one party
racial gerrymandering
Redistricting that affects the racial and ethnic groups of people in that region. (is not alllowed)
majority-minority district
a district in which there are a lot of minorities
descriptive representation
The idea that a representative should have the same demographics as the people
delegate representation
representation that mirrors the daily issues that the people have
trustee representation
trusting the lawmakers own judgment
politico style of representation
lawmaker tries to balance the opinions of the constituents and their own beliefs
earmarks
funding for specific projects that are added by members of congress to appropriations bills.
speaker of the house
most powerful leader of the house of representatives
majority leader
leader of the majority party in each house. responsible for marshaling support for the parties agenda
whips
assistant party leaders in each house whose jobs include ensuring that party members are present for floor votes and prepared to vote as the party prefers
logrolling
trading votes for the mutual advantage of each member in the senate (done by whips)
president pro-tempore
The second highest ranking in the US Senate
committee chairs
The leaders of congressional committees. They usually have the most power in a majority committee
Ranking minority member
the highest position on the minority committee. (usually the most senior of anyone on that committee.)
discharge position
Method for freeing legislation from a committee in the house that requires 218 signatures
filibuster
senate practice of continuous debate often employed to stop pending legislative action
oversight
congressional authority to monitor the actions and budgets of executive agencies it creates
Reconciliation
Process of amending spending bills to meet budget targets
omnibus bill
A bill that folds spending for all executive agencies into one legislative package
caucus
voter gathering used to select who to run in the general election
nominating convection
meeting of delegates from all states and territories to elect who will run for president
battleground state
a state where neither party holds much of an edge
express powers
powers given to the president by the constitution
delegated powers
powers ceded to president by congress
discretionary powers
power that the president assumes, giving him greater authority and flexibility in performing duties in office
recess appointment
Political appointment made by president when congress is out of session
rescission
cutback of funds for particular programs that requires congressional approval
line item veto
Executive power to reject a portion of a bill
extraordinary rendition
The practice of secretely abducting terriorist suspects and taking them to undisclosed locations
executive agreement
a pact made between the president and foreign leader of government that does not require senate approval
coattails
This has to do with the success of the president that could potentially help the candidates of the same party that are running for something lower
honeymood period
This is the time when congress and the people give the president the most latitude in decision making (right after he is elected president)
Chief of staff
the official in charge of coordinating between president and other staffers
