Unit 5: Chapter 12: Congress Flashcards
Franking
A policy that enables members of Congress to send material through the mail by substituting their facsimile signature (frank) for postage.
reapportionment
reallocation of seats in the house of representatives to each state based on changes in the state’s population since the last census
redistricting
redrawing of congressional district boundaries within each state, based on the reapportionment from the census
gerrymandering
the drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit an incumbent, a political party, or another group
majority-minority district
a legislative district composed of a majority of a given minority community-say, African Americans-the intent of which is to make it likely that a member of that minority will be elected to congress
trustee model
a model of rep in which a member of the house or senate follow his or her own conscience when deciding issue positions
delegate model
Legislators should adhere to the will of their constituents
partisan model
“party-affiliated”-votes the way a party wants them to vote
politico model
Legislators should follow their own judgment (that is, act like a trustee) until the public becomes vocal about a particular matter, at which point they should follow the dictates of constituents
enumerated (expressed) powers
Powers of the federal government that are specifically addressed in the Constitution
implied powers
Powers of the federal government that go beyond those enumerated in the constitution. The constitution states that congress has the power to “make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution” the powers enumerated in Article I.
pork barrel
legislators appropriations of funds for special projects located within their congressional district
earmark
a designation within a spending bill that provides for a specific expenditure
lettermarking
a request by a member of congress in the form of a written letter asking that an appropriation made to a govt agency be used for a project in the member’s district
phonemarking
a request by a member of congress in the form of a phone call asking that an appropriation made to a govt agency be used for a project in the members district
casework
personal work by a member of congress on behalf of a constituent or a group of constituents, typically aimed at getting the govt to do something the constituent wants done
ombudsperson
a role in which an elected or appointed leader acts as an advocate for citizens by listening to and investigating complaints against a govt agency
oversight
the process by which the legislative branch “checks” the executive branch to ensure that the laws congress has passed are being administered in keeping with legislators’ intent
agenda setting
determination by congress of which public issues the govt should consider for legislation
congressional budget office
staff agency that advises Congress on the likely economic effects of different spending programs and provides information on the costs of the proposed policies.
bill
a proposed piece of legislation
committee review
subgroups within the house and the senate, composed of legislators who have expertise in the bill’s subject matter, review the bill
conference committee
A joint committee appointed to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of the same bill.
ways and means committee
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.
hopper
a wooden box that sits on a desk at the front of the house of rep into which house members place bills they want to introduce
seniority system
the system in which the members with the longest continuous tenure on a standing committee is given preference when the committee chooses its chair
standing committee
permanent committee in congress with a defined legislative jurisdiction
select committee
congressional committee created to consider specific policy issues or address a specific concern
joint committee
bicameral committee composed of members of both chambers of congress
subcommittees
a subordinate committee in congress that typically handles specific areas of a standing committee’s jurisdiction
agency review
part of the committee or subcommittee process of considering a bill, in which committee members ask executive agencies that would administer the law for written comments on the measure
hearings
sessions held by committees or subcommittees to gather info and views from experts
markup
the process by which members of legislative committees “mark up” a bill with suggested language for changes and ammendments
report
a legislative committee’s explanation to the full chamber of a bill and its intent
discharge petition
a special tactic used to extract a bill from a committee to have it considered by the entire house
unanimous content
an agreement by every senator to the terms of debate on a given piece of legislation
filibuster
a procedural move by a member of the senate to attempt to halt passage of or change a bill, during which the senator can speak for an unlimited time on the senate floor
cloture
a procedural move in which a super majority of 60 senators agrees to end a filibuster
riders
unrelated amendments added to a bill
quorum
The minimum number of members who must be present to permit a legislative body to take official action
pocket veto
a special presidential veto of a bill passed at the conclusion of a legislative session, whereby the president waits ten days without signing the bill, and the bill dies
divided government
A government in which the presidency is controlled by one party and Congress is controlled by the other. This has become a common occurrence in recent decades as voters have begun to act more independent of parties and have voted split tickets.
gridlock
the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government
speaker of the house
s
seniority system
the system in which the members with the longest continuous tenure on a standing committee is given preference when the committee chooses its chair
standing committee
permanent committee in congress with a defined legislative jurisdiction
select committee
congressional committee created to consider specific policy issues or address a specific concern
joint committee
bicameral committee composed of members of both chambers of congress
subcommittees
a subordinate committee in congress that typically handles specific areas of a standing committee’s jurisdiction
agency review
part of the committee or subcommittee process of considering a bill, in which committee members ask executive agencies that would administer the law for written comments on the measure
hearings
sessions held by committees or subcommittees to gather info and views from experts
markup
the process by which members of legislative committees “mark up” a bill with suggested language for changes and ammendments
report
a legislative committee’s explanation to the full chamber of a bill and its intent
discharge petition
a special tactic used to extract a bill from a committee to have it considered by the entire house
unanimous content
an agreement by every senator to the terms of debate on a given piece of legislation
filibuster
a procedural move by a member of the senate to attempt to halt passage of or change a bill, during which the senator can speak for an unlimited time on the senate floor
cloture
a procedural move in which a super majority of 60 senators agrees to end a filibuster
riders
unrelated amendments added to a bill
quorum
The minimum number of members who must be present to permit a legislative body to take official action
pocket veto
a special presidential veto of a bill passed at the conclusion of a legislative session, whereby the president waits ten days without signing the bill, and the bill dies
divided government
A government in which the presidency is controlled by one party and Congress is controlled by the other. This has become a common occurrence in recent decades as voters have begun to act more independent of parties and have voted split tickets.
gridlock
the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government
speaker of the house
the leader of the house of representatives, chosen by the majority party
Majority leaders
The leader of the majority party who helps the speaker develop and implement strategy and works with other members of the house of representatives
Minority leaders
The leader of the minority party whose job mirrors that of the majority leader but without the powers that comes from holding a majority in the House of Representatives
Whips
A go-between with the majority leadership and party members in the house of representatives. These people make legislators vote the way the party wants them to vote
President pro tempore
Theoretically the chair of the Senate in the vice Presidents absence in reality an honorary title with the senator of the majority party having the longest record of continuous service being elected to the position
Logrolling
The practice in which members of Congress agree to vote for a bill in exchange for their colleagues vote on another bill
How does a bill become law
- First it is introduced.
- Then it goes to a committee
- Then the Senate and the House have to approve it
- Then the conference committee has to reconcile differences
- Lastly the president has to approve it
