Unit 2 Study Guide - Branches of Government: Topic 2.1 Congress

Vocabulary flashcards defining key congressional concepts, procedures, types of committees, spending categories, representation models, landmark Supreme Court cases, and legislative dynamics from Unit 2.

House of Representatives

The house of Congress consisting of $435$ members who each represent a district and serve $2$-year terms; it is more formal and operates under more rules.

Senate

The house of Congress consisting of $100$ members who each represent an entire state and serve $6$-year terms; it is less formal and operates under fewer rules.

Enumerated Powers of Congress

Powers explicitly granted to Congress by the Constitution, including passing a federal budget, laying and collecting taxes, borrowing money, coining money, declaring war, funding armed forces, determining naturalization/citizenship processes, regulating interstate commerce, creating federal courts, and establishing court jurisdiction.

House Rules Committee

A legislative committee exclusive to the House of Representatives that establishes rules and procedures for floor debate and legislation.

Discharge Petition

A mechanism in the House of Representatives used to force a bill out of committee and onto the floor for consideration, speeding up the legislative process.

Committee of the Whole

A parliamentary mechanism used by the House of Representatives to expedite and speed up the legislative process.

Filibuster

A Senate tactic used to delay or block action on a bill by prolonging debate, which slows down the legislative process.

Senate Holds

An informal practice in the Senate where a senator informs leadership that a bill or nomination should not reach the floor, slowing down the legislative process.

Unanimous Consent Agreements

Agreements setting terms for considering legislation in the Senate that serve to speed up the legislative process.

Cloture

A procedure in the Senate requiring $60$ votes to end a filibuster and bring a matter to a vote.

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives who schedules bills for debate and votes and promotes the majority party's legislative agenda.

Conference Committees

Temporary congressional committees formed to create a single compromise bill when the House and Senate pass different versions of the same bill.

Standing Committees

Permanent congressional committees that hold hearings, mark up legislation, and conduct oversight, performing most of the legislative work in Congress.

Select Committees

Temporary congressional committees formed to conduct specific investigations that are disbanded once their investigation is complete.

Joint Committees

Congressional committees that contain members from both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Discretionary Spending

Federal spending that must be approved annually as part of budget bills, making up about $30$ percent of federal spending, with defense as its largest area (also includes education).

Mandatory Spending

Federal spending required by law that can only be changed by new legislation, making up about $70$ percent of federal spending and including entitlements and interest payments on national debt.

Entitlement Spending

Mandatory federal spending on programs and benefits that individuals are legally entitled to receive, such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (welfare), and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps).

Pork Barrel Legislation

Legislation that provides tangible benefits, such as jobs, money, and projects, to a specific congressional district.

Logrolling

The practice of vote trading in Congress summarized as 'I vote for yours if you vote for mine.'

Trustee Model

A model of representation where a member of Congress votes based on their own conscience, regardless of constituent desires.

Delegate Model

A model of representation where a member of Congress votes according to constituent desires, even if the representative personally disagrees.

Politico Model

A model of representation where a member of Congress alternates between acting as a trustee and acting as a delegate.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Supreme Court case regarding Tennessee's unequal district populations; held that apportionment claims are justiciable under the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause, establishing the 'one person, one vote' principle.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Supreme Court case regarding North Carolina's creation of a bizarrely shaped majority-minority district; held that congressional districts cannot be drawn based solely on race, banning racial gerrymandering under the 14th Amendment's equal protection clause.

Party Polarization

The growing ideological gap between political parties that leads to policy gridlock, increased conflict, and difficulty passing legislation or confirming nominations.

Divided Government

A governance situation where different political parties control at least one of the House, Senate, or White House, often leading to intense partisanship and refusal to confirm appointments of 'lame-duck' presidents.