Unit 4 Buzzwords

Question 1

Bicameral

Answer 1

A two-house legislature; consisting of the House and the Senate. The Virginia Plan had this, and so did the Great Compromise; however, the New Jersey Plan did not.

Question 2

Filibuster

Answer 2

A formal way of halting Senate action on a bill by means of long speeches or unlimited debate.

Question 3

Cloture

Answer 3

Mechanism requiring the vote of 60 senators to cut off debate or filibuster.

Question 4

Censure

Answer 4

A process by which a formal reprimand is issued to an individual by an authoritative body.

Question 5

Apportionment

Answer 5

The process of allotting congressional seats to each state according to its proportion of the population, following the decennial census.

Question 6

Redistricting

Answer 6

The process of redrawing congressional districts to reflect increases or decreases in seats allotted to the states, as well as population shifts in a state.

Question 7

Gerrymandering

Answer 7

The drawing of congressional districts to produce a particular electoral outcome without regard to the shape of the district.

Question 8

Incumbency

Answer 8

Already holding an office.

Question 9

Majority Leader

Answer 9

The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy, confers with other party leaders, and tries to keep members of the party in line. He/she is the 2nd most powerful member of the HOR and is the most powerful member of the Senate.

Question 10

Minority Leader

Answer 10

The head of the party with the second highest number of elected representatives in the House or Senate.

Question 11

Whip

Answer 11

A representative who serves under the majority or minority leader, and who keeps in close contact with all party members, takes nose counts, provides summaries of bills, and acts as a communication link within the legislative party.

Question 12

Logrolling

Answer 12

Vote trading; voting to support a colleague’s bill in return for a promise of future support.

Question 13

Caucus (congressional)

Answer 13

an asociation of Congressional members created to advance a political ideology or a regional, ethnic, or economic interest.

Question 14

Standing Committee

Answer 14

Committee to which proposed bills are referred; continues from one Congress to the next.

Question 15

Select (special) committee

Answer 15

Temporary committee appointed for a specific purpose.

Question 16

Joint committee

Answer 16

Standing committee that includes members of both houses of Congress set up to conduct investigations or special studies.

Question 17

Rules Committee

Answer 17

An institution unique to the House of Representatives that review all bills (except revenue, budget, and appropriations bills) coming from a House committee before they go to the full house.

Question 18

Ways and Means Committee

Answer 18

The House of Representatives committee that, along with the Senate Finance Committee, writes the tax codes, subject to the approval of Congress as a whole.

Question 19

Conference Committee

Answer 19

A special joint committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate.

Question 20

Public Bill

Answer 20

A legislative bill that deals with matters of general concern; includes defense expenditures.

Question 21

Private Bill

Answer 21

A legislative bill that deals with specific, private, personal or local matters, like a bill pertaining to an individual becoming a naturalized citizen.

Question 22

Simple Resolution

Answer 22

An expression of opinion, without the force of law, either in the House or the Senate, to settle housekeeping or procedural matters in either body.

Question 23

Joint Resolution

Answer 23

A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of Congress and by the president; however, joint resolutions proposing a constitutional amendment need not be signed by the president. Carries the power of law.

Question 24

Concurrent Resolution

Answer 24

An expression of opinion without the force of law the requires the approval of both the House and the Senate, but not the president.

Question 25

Discharge Petition

Answer 25

Petition that gives a majority of the House of Representatives the authority to bring an issue to the floor in the face of committee inaction.

Question 26

Open Rule

Answer 26

An order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor.

Question 27

Closed Rule

Answer 27

An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate and forbids a particular bill from being amended.

Question 28

Restrictive Rule

Answer 28

An order from the House Rules Committee that permits certain kinds of amendments.

Question 29

Quorum

Answer 29

The minimum number of members who must be present to permit a legislative body to take official action. Must be the majority (51).

Question 30

Rider

Answer 30

Unrelated amendments added to a bill.

Question 31

Christmas Tree Bill

Answer 31

A bill that has many riders.

Question 32

Pork

Answer 32

Legislation that allows representatives to bring money and jobs to their districts in the form of public works programs, military bases, or other programs.

Question 33

Impeachment

Answer 33

The power delegated to the House to charge the President, Vice President, or other “civil officers”, including federal judges, with “Treason, bribery, or other high high crimes and misdemeanors.” This is the first step in removing government officials from office.

Question 34

Pocket Veto

Answer 34

If Congress adjourns during the 10 days the president has to consider a bill passed by both houses, then the bill is considered vetoed without the president’s signature.

Question 35

Filibuster

Answer 35

A formal way of halting Senate action on a bill by means of long speeches or unlimited debate.

Question 36

Cloture

Answer 36

Mechanism requiring the vote of 60 senators to cut off debate. Also requires 16 senators to call for cloture before voting.

Question 37

Franking Privilege

Answer 37

The ability of members of Congress to mail letters to their constituents free of charge by substituting their facsimile signature (frank) for postage.

Question 38

Census

Answer 38

An official count or survey of a population, typically recording various details of individuals. Happens every 10 years.

Question 39

Pigeonholing

Answer 39

To set a congressional bill aside in committee without considering it.

Question 40

Legislative oversight

Answer 40

One of Congress’s most importat tasks, the investigation and evaluation of the performance of corresponding executive agencies and departments to check the power of the executive branch.