Unit 4 Flashcards
The residents of a congressional district or state
Constituents
the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census
Reapportionment
redrawing of congressional district boundaries by the party in power of the state legislature
Redistricting
the drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent
Gerrymandering
An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other, so the success of that party’s candidate is almost taken for granted
Safe seat
the person already holding an elective office
Incumbant
Federally funded local projects attached to bills passed through Congress
Earmarks
The principle of a two-house legislature
Bicameralism
The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution
Enumerated powers
the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives
Speaker of the House
A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy
Party Caucus
the legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or Senate
Majority leader
The principal leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate
Minority leader
a senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking
Whip
An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor
Closed rule
an order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor
Open rule
Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president
President pro tempore
A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue
Filibuster
A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate
Cloture
A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area
Standing committee
A congressional committee created for a specific purpose, sometimes to conduct an investigation
Special/select committee
A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate
Joint committee
unwritten rule in both houses of Congress reserving the top posts in each chamber, particularly committee chairmanships, for members with the longest records of service
Seniority rule
special joint committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate
Conference committee
a motion to force a bill to the House floor that has been bottled up in committee
Discharge petition
A provision attached to a bill - to which it may or may not be related - in order to secure its passage or defeat
Rider
president’s power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for 10 days
Pocket veto
An action taken by Congress to reverse a presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds majority in each chamber
Override
a congressman who votes based on what their constituents want
delegate
A legislator who acts according to her or his conscience and the broad interests of the entire society
Trustee
vote trading; voting to support a colleague’s bill in return for a promise of future support
Logrolling
those who follow politics and public affairs carefully
Attentive public
legislation that allows representatives to bring money and jobs to their districts
Pork
policy that results in government control over individuals and businesses
Regulatory policy
Determine the basic operations of their chamber; in the House, has the responsibility of issuing rules to bills
Rules and Administration committee
House & Senate standing committees that begins budget process in Congress by setting overall budget size and amounts that will be spent on different topics
Budget committee
House and Senate committees that develop or authorize particular policies or programs through legislation
Authorizing committee
deal with raising the money appropriating committees spend
Revenue committees
broad powers to investigate the performance of government and to authorize programs for fixing government-wide management problems
General Oversight committees
90% re-election rate (franking, name recognition, sponsors, ect.)
Incumbant advantage
Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals
Caseworking
An institution unique to the House of Representatives that reviews all bills (except revenue, budget, and appropriations bills) coming from a House committee before they go to the full House
House rules committee
The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress
Quorum
Benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free
Franking privilege
Constitutional power given to Congress to raise and spend money
“power of the purse”
House committee that handles tax bills
Ways and Means committee
congressional committee that deals with federal spending
Appropriation committee
Presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work
Senatorial courtesy
A committee that consists of an entire legislative body
Committee of the whole
constitutional provision that gives congress the power to collect taxes to provide for the general welfare
Spending clause
One person, one vote
Baker v. Carr
No racial gerrymandering
Shaw v. Reno
