Chapter 4 AP Gov.

Pork Barrel spending

legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states

logrolling

trading of votes on legislation by members of Congress to get their earmarks passed into legislation

oversight

efforts by Congress to ensure that executive branch agencies, bureaus, and cabinet departments, as well as their officials, are acting in accordance with congressional goals

constituencies

bodies of voters in given areas who elect representatives or senators

apportionment

process of determining the number of representatives for each state using census data

redistricting

states redrawing of boundaries of electoral districts following each census

gerrymandering

international use of redistricting to benefit a specific interest or group of voters

partisan gerrymandering

drawing district boundaries into strange shaped to benefit a political party

majority-minority districts

district in which voters of a minority ethnicity constitutes an electoral majority within that electoral district

malapportionment

uneven distribution of population among legislative districts

incumbency

being already in office as opposed to running for the first time

incumbency advantage

institutional advantages held by those already in office who are trying to fend off challengers in an election

Speaker of the House

leader, chosen by election of its members

Political Action Committees

organizations that raise money for candidates and campaigns

House majority leader

second in command

majority whip

chosen by party members to ensure party unity and discipline

House minority leader

head of party with second-highest number of seats in Congress

Senate Majority Leader

head of the party with most seats

committee chairs

leader of congressional committee who has authority over committee’s agenda

discharge petition

a motion filed by a member of Congress to move a bill out of Committee and onto the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote

House Rules Committee

committee that determines when a bill will be subject to debate and vote on the house floor, how long debate will last and whether amendments are allowed on the floor

Committee of the Whole

all members of the house meets in the House chamber

hold

delay placed on legislation by a senator who objects the bill

unanimous consent agreement

an agreement in the Senate that sets the terms for consideration of a bill

filibuster

tactic through which an individual Senator may use the right of unlimited debate to delay a motion or postpone action on piece of legislation

cloture

a procedure through which senators can end a filibuster and proceed to action, provided 60 senators agree to it (2/3)

veto

the power of a president to reject a bill passed by Congress, sending it back to the originating branch with objections

Office Management and Budget

the executive branch of office that assists the president in setting national spending priorities

entitlement program

a program that provides benefits for those who qualify under the law, regardless of income

mandatory spending

spending required by existing laws that is “locked in” the budget

discretionary spending

spending for programs and policies at the discretion of Congress and the president

budget surplus

amount of money remaining when the government takes in more than it spends

budget deficit

annual shortfall when a government takes in less money than it spends

national debt

total amount of money owed by the federal government

delegate role

idea that main role of a member of Congress is to carry out the wishes of constituents

trustee role

idea that members of Congress should act as trustees, making decisions based on their knowledge and judgement

politico role

representation where members of Congress balance their choices with the interests of their constituents and parties in making decisions

bipartisanship

agreement between the parties to work together in Congress to pass legislation

gridlock

a slowdown or halt in Congress’ ability to legislate and overcome divisions, especially those based on partisanship

divided government

control of the of the presidency and one or both chambers of Congress split between the two major parties

lame duck period

period at the end of a presidential term when Congress may block presidential initiatives and nominees