Unit 7 Interest Groups & Legislative Branch

Question 1

Reapportionment

Answer 1

The assigning by congress of congressional seats after each censes

Question 2

Redistricting

Answer 2

The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the censes, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population

Question 3

Gerrymandering

Answer 3

The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party group or incumbent

Question 4

Safe seat

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Incumbents

Answer 5

The current holders of elected office

Question 6

Bicameral

Answer 6

Two house legislature

Question 7

Closed rule

Answer 7

A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendments to bills or provides that only members of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments

Question 8

Cloture

Answer 8

A procedure for terminating debate especially filibusters in the senate

Question 9

Enumerated powers

Answer 9

The powers explicitly givin to congress in the constitution

Question 10

Filibuster

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Hold

Answer 11

A procedural practice in the senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of a bill or nomination

Question 12

Joint committee

Answer 12

A committee composed of members of both the house and senate; such committees oversee the library of congress and conduct investigations

Question 13

Logrolling

Answer 13

Mutual aid and vote trading among legislators

Question 14

Majority leader

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Minority leader

Answer 15

The legislative leader selected by the minority party as spokesperson for the opposition

Question 16

Open rule

Answer 16

A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments whithin the overall time allocated to the bill

Question 17

Override

Answer 17

An action taken by congress to reverse a presidential veto requiring a 2/3 majority in each chamber

Question 18

Party caucus

Answer 18

A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy

Question 19

Pocket veto

Answer 19

A veto except used by the president after congress has adjourned if the president takes no action for ten days the bill does not become law and is not returned to congress for a possible override

Question 20

Pork

Answer 20

Attachment or amendment to a bill that bein fits one group of people or a district

Question 21

President pro tempore

Answer 21

Officer of the senate selected by the majority party to act as a chair in the absence of the Vice President

Question 22

Seniority rule

Answer 22

A legislative practice that assigns the chair of a committee or subcommittee to the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on the committee

Question 23

Speaker

Answer 23

The presiding officer in the House of Representatives formally elected by the house but actually selected by the majority party

Question 24

Special or select committee

Answer 24

A congressional committee created for a specific purpose sometimes to conduct an investigation

Question 25

Standing committee

Answer 25

A permanent committee established in a legislature usually focusing on a policy area

Question 26

Whip

Answer 26

Party leader who is the liaison between the leadership and the rank and file in the legislature

Question 27

Franking privilege

Answer 27

Incumbent can send mail to constituents for free