Unit 3 vocab uiz Flashcards
What is the role of the Speaker of the House?
The presiding officer in the House of Representatives, formally elected by the House but actually selected by the majority party.
What is a filibuster?
A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator slows down the proceedings of the Senate and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.
What is a quorum?
The minimum number of members who must be present to permit a legislative body to take official action (half plus one).
What is a standing committee?
A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area.
What is a select committee?
A congressional committee created for a specific purpose, sometimes to conduct an investigation.
What is casework in the context of Congress?
The response or services that Members of Congress provide to constituents who request assistance such as help with bureaucratic paperwork or speeding up applications.
What is a conference committee?
Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.
What is the delegate model of representation?
Elected officials are expected to represent the views of his or her constituents, even when personally holding different views.
What is the trustee model of representation?
Elected officials are expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances.
What is proportional representation?
An election system in which each party running receives the proportion of legislative seats corresponding to its proportion of the vote.
What is the plurality (Winner Take All) system?
Election system in which the candidate who wins the most votes wins the single district seat.
What is Duverger’s Law?
The observation that in political systems with only one winner, two main parties tend to emerge with minor parties typically losing votes to the most similar major party.
What does realignment refer to in political parties?
When a party undergoes a major shift in its electoral base and political agenda.
What is an open primary?
Primary election in which any voter, regardless of party, may vote.
What is a closed primary?
Primary election in which only persons registered in the party holding the primary may vote.
What is an incumbent?
The current holder of the elected office.
What is a safe seat?
Elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other, so the success of the party’s candidate is almost taken for granted.
What is rational-choice voting?
When a voter supports a candidate who they believe will benefit their personal interests.
What is retrospective voting?
When a voter analyzes the track records of candidates in determining their vote.
What is prospective voting?
Voting decision based on promises made by candidates during the election cycle.
What is party-line voting?
Voting for candidates at various levels of government solely based on their party identification.
What is reapportionment?
The assigning by Congress of congressional seats after each census.
What is redistricting?
The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census.
What is gerrymandering?
The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent.
