Congress Terms 👩🏻‍⚖️

Article I

The section of the U.S. Constitution that establishes the legislative branch, outlining congressional powers, limitations, terms, and eligibility requirements.

Gerrymandering

The redrawing of legislative district boundaries deliberately intended to favor one political party or demographic group over another.

Malapportionment

The creation of electoral districts with substantially unequal population sizes, resulting in unequal voter representation.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

SCOTUS established legislative reapportionment and redistricting claims are justiciable in court

Incumbency Advantage

Built in benefits that current officeholders have over challengers → allow them to win reelections at higher rates

Speaker of the House

Most powerful member of House of Reps → chosen by majority

Senate Majority Leader

Chief spokesperson and elected leader of majority party in US senate

House Rules Committee

Acts as “traffic cop,” controlling when bills reach the floor and the terms of their debate

Standing Committee

Permanent, subject-specific committee that handles ongoing legislative work

Select Committee

Temporary committee created for a limited time and specific purpose (ie. investigations, etc.)

Filibuster

A procedural maneuver in the Senate where a senator or group prolongs debate indefinitely to delay or prevent a vote on legislation or a nomination.

Cloture

Procedure used to end debate and force a vote on a bill → method used to break filibuster

Open Rule

An order from the House Rules Committee that permits bill to be amended om legislative floor

Closed Rule

Special order from House Rules Committee that sets time limits on debate and prohibits floor amendments to a bill

Bill

Proposed piece of legislation introduced to senate or house of reps.

Resolution

A formal measure passed by one or both chambers of Congress to express non-binding opinions, govern internal chamber operations, or propose constitutional amendments.

Riders / Earmarks

Non-germane amendments attached to a larger piece of legislation, often designed to secure pet projects or funding provisions that might fail independently.

Pork-Barrel Legislation

Federal spending measures targeted to benefit a specific representative's district, often designed to enhance the lawmaker's electoral appeal.

Omnibus Legislation

A single consolidated bill combining multiple disparate policy measures or appropriation acts into one single, massive voting package.

Discharge Petition

A parliamentary mechanism in the House that pulls a pigeonholed bill out of committee directly to the floor if signed by an absolute majority (218 members).

Veto

The constitutional authority of the President to reject a measure passed by Congress, preventing it from taking effect as law.

Veto Override

The constitutional process through which Congress enacts a rejected bill into law by securing a two-thirds vote in both the House and the Senate.

Divided Government

A political dynamic where one political party holds the presidency while the opposing party holds a majority in at least one chamber of Congress.

Gridlock

The state of governmental inaction or paralysis caused by extreme partisan division, conflicting branch priorities, or procedural hurdles.

Delegate Model

A representational role in which an elected lawmaker votes in accordance with the expressed will and preferences of their constituent base.

Trustee Model

A representational role in which an elected lawmaker uses their own conscience, reasoning, and judgment to decide what best serves the public good.

Politico Model

A hybrid representational role in which an elected lawmaker switches between delegate and trustee behaviors based on issue salience and political pressures.

Authorization Legislation

A formal act of Congress that creates, reauthorizes, or specifies the legal parameters and maximum spending limits of a federal agency or program.

Appropriation Legislation

A specific legislative measure that explicitly allocates and releases funds from the U.S. Treasury to finance authorized programs.

Continuing Resolution

A stopgap measure passed by Congress to maintain temporary funding for federal agencies at existing levels when regular annual spending bills are delayed.