Unit 2: Vocab Quiz 1

Bicameral

Two-house legislature

Constituent

An individual citizen or voter represented by a politician within an electoral district, state, community, or organization

Caucuses

Like-minded people organized into groups, which usually unite around a particular belief or concern

Coalitions

Like a caucus, but longer lasting and typically applied to Senators, due to the longer-term length/guarantee of reelection. These are more of a “working relationship” than a gathering for a specific purpose.

Enumerated Powers

Explicitly stated/specific federal powers to tax, borrow money, raise an army, create a postal system, address piracy on the seas, define the immigration and naturalization process, and a few others

Implied Powers

Federal powers not specifically listed in the Constitution but deriving from the elastic clause (power that goes beyond enumerated powers)

Necessary and Proper Clause

The Congress shall have power to make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into execution the foregoing powers

Power of the purse

Congress is allowed to tax (raise revenue) and appropriate (spend) those tax revenues through the public lawmaking process (more money=stronger politics)

Seventeenth Amendment

Broadened democracy by giving the people of the state the right to elect their senators

Casework

The response or services that Members of Congress provide to constituents who request assistance

War Powers Amendment (1973)

The president must notify Congress within 48 hours of military action and prohibits armed forces from remaining for more than 60 days

Cloture rule

Enables and requires a two-thirds supermajority to stop debate on a bill- stopping a filiibuster and allowing for a vote

Conference committee

A temporary committee created to iron out differences on the bill that was passed in slightly different forms in the House and Senate

Deficit

The difference between spending and revenue

Discharge petition

A simple majority signs to discharge a bill out of committee and onto House floor which prevents a minority from stopping a majority from advancing the bill

Discretionary spending

Funding that congressional committees debate and decide how to divide up, such as military spending, human resources, physical resources, and government functions

Filibuster

Speaking for an extremely long time to block a nomination or to let the time run out on a deadline for voting on a bill (Senate)

Hold

A measure to stall the bill in the Senate

Joint committees

Unites members from the House and Senate which complete routine management and research

Logrolling

Trading votes to gain support for a bill (agreeing to back someone else’s bill to secure a vote for your own bill in return)

Mandatory spending

Payment required for by law for certain programs such as Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and unemployment insurance

Pork-Barrel spending

Funds earmarked for specific purposes in a legislator’s district (spending a lot of money on specific special projects through the form of riders)

President of the Senate

Nonvoting vice president who is there to break a tie vote

Rules committee

Reflects the will and sentiment of House leadership and the majority caucus, assigns bills to the appropriate standing committees, schedules bills for debate, and decides when votes take place

Select committees

Established for a limited time period to perform a particular study or investigation

Speaker of the House

De facto leader of the majority party in the House, wielding significant power, and is second in line to presidency

Senate majority leader

The chief legislator in the Senate, who is the first person the chair recognizes in debate, and the leader who sets the legislative calendar and determines which bills reach the floor for debate and which ones do not

Unanimous consent

The approval of all senators

Ways and Means committee

A committee exclusive to the House that determines tax policy (including whether to raise or lower income taxes)

Whip

The deputy leader who tallies his or her party’s votes, offers political favors/party endorsements to secure votes, and assures that party members remain in good standing/behave ethically and professionally

Delegate model

Representatives’ vote reflect the will of their constituency

Trustee model

Representatives believe they are entrusted by their constituency to use their best judgment, regardless of how constituents may view an issue

Politico model

Representatives attempt to blend the delegate and trustee model