Chapter 4 APUSGOV

Pork Barrel Spending

Government spending for localized projects, often aimed at bringing money to a specific district or constituency.

Logrolling

A practice where politicians exchange favors, usually by voting for each other’s proposed legislation.

Oversight

The review, monitoring, and supervision of government agencies, programs, and policies to ensure they are being implemented properly and within the law

Constituency

The body of voters or residents in a particular district or area who are represented by an elected official.

Apportionment

The process of distributing seats in a legislative body, like the U.S. House of Representatives, based on population size.

Redistricting

The redrawing of electoral district boundaries, often after the census, to reflect changes in population and ensure equal representation

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor a specific political party or group, often by drawing districts in odd shapes to include or exclude certain voting populations.

Partisan Gerrymandering

A form of gerrymandering where district boundaries are drawn with the intent to favor one political party over another.

Majority-Minority Districts

Electoral districts where the majority of the population is from a racial or ethnic minority group, often drawn to provide better representation for these communities.

Malapportionment

The unequal distribution of legislative representatives to populations, leading to districts with vastly different numbers of residents, which can distort representation.

Incumbency

The condition of holding a political office. Incumbents are often seen as having a political advantage in elections due to name recognition, access to resources, and established networks.

Incumbency Advantage

The advantages that incumbents have over challengers in an election, including greater name recognition, easier access to campaign finance, and established relationships with voters.

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Speaker is responsible for maintaining order, managing debates, and representing the House in all official matters.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

An organization that raises and spends money to influence elections or legislation, typically supporting a specific candidate or political party.

House Majority Leader

The second-in-command in the House of Representatives, after the Speaker, and typically the leader of the majority party. They assist in setting the legislative agenda and managing the floor’s activity.

Whip

A party leader in both the House and Senate whose primary role is to ensure party discipline and vote cohesion among members. Whips also track votes and communicate party positions.

Minority Leader

The leader of the minority party in either the House or Senate. The Minority Leader serves as the chief spokesperson for the party and works to oppose the majority party’s agenda.

Senate Majority Leader

The head of the majority party in the U.S. Senate. The Majority Leader sets the legislative agenda, leads the majority party, and works closely with the Speaker of the House.

Committee Chair

The leader of a specific committee in either the House or Senate. They are responsible for leading committee meetings, setting the agenda, and overseeing the committee's work.

Discharge Petition

A petition that forces a bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote, typically used when the committee leadership is unwilling to bring the bill to the floor.

House Rules Committee

A powerful committee in the House of Representatives that determines the rules for debate and the scheduling of bills. It is a key committee for controlling the legislative process.

Committee of the Whole

A procedure in which the entire House of Representatives sits as one large committee, allowing for more informal debate and faster consideration of bills.

Hold

A Senate procedure where a senator informs their party leadership or the majority leader that they intend to object to a particular bill, delaying its progress.

Unanimous Consent Agreement

A Senate procedure where all members agree to pass a bill or allow certain procedures without a formal vote. It’s typically used for non-controversial matters.

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill by extending debate.

Cloture

A procedure in the Senate to end a filibuster or limit debate on a bill, usually requiring a three-fifths vote (60 senators).

Veto

The power of the president to reject a bill passed by Congress, preventing it from becoming law

Office of Management and Budget

A U.S. government office that helps the president prepare the federal budget and oversees the implementation of the budget, as well as coordinating the regulatory process.

Entitlement Program

A government program that provides benefits to individuals who meet specific eligibility requirements, such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

Mandatory Spending

Expenditures required by law, such as entitlement programs, which are not subject to the annual budgetary process.

Discretionary Spending

Government spending that is not required by law and can be adjusted or allocated during the annual budget process, including defense and education funding.

Budget Surplus

A situation where government revenues exceed expenditures in a given period.

Budget Deficit

A situation where government expenditures exceed revenues in a given period, often leading to borrowing.

National Debt

The total amount of money the U.S. government owes as a result of accumulated budget deficits.

Delegate Role

A model of representation where elected officials act in accordance with the wishes and preferences of their constituents.

Trustee Role

A model of representation where elected officials use their own judgment to make decisions, rather than strictly following the preferences of their constituents.

Politico Role

A hybrid model of representation where legislators balance their own judgment with the interests of their constituents and party.

Bipartisanship

Cooperation between two major political parties, especially on significant or critical legislation, to achieve broad support across party lines.

Gridlock

A situation where no progress is made in government due to a lack of agreement between parties, branches of government, or different levels of government.

Divided Government

A situation in which one political party controls the presidency while the other party controls one or both houses of Congress.

Lame Duck Period

The period after an election when an incumbent who has lost re-election or is not seeking re-election is still in office, but their influence and power are typically diminished because their term is nearing an end.