AP Government Unit 2a Terms

Formal Power (expressed)

powers explicitly granted to the national government through the constitution

Informal Power (Implied)

powers not granted specifically to the national government but considered necessary to carry out the enumerated powers

Bicameral

two branches/chambers in the legislative branch

Senate

at least 30 years old

nine years of citizenship

resident of the state

6 year term

3 classes

unlimited number of terms

less government rules

entire state

informal

more power to individual members

more insulated from voters preferences

House

at least 25 years old

seven years of citizenship

resident of the state

2-year term (unlimited) 

apportioned by states number of population

district

governed by rules

structured

power to individual leader

closer to voter’s preferences 

constituency

a body of voters in a given area who elect a representative or a senator

Speaker of the House

Leader of the HOR and chosen by an election of its members

Senate majority Leader

the person who has the most power in the senate and is the head of the party with the most states

majority leader

the head of a majority party in a legislative body

minority leader

the head of the party with the second highest number of seats in congress

chosen by the party’s members

whip

a member of congress chosen by his or her party members whose job is to ensure party unity and discipline

President Pro Tempore

high ranking senator who presides over the Senate in the absence of the Vice President

committee

a group of people appointed for a specific function, typically consisting of members of a larger group

legislative oversight

a legislature reviews and evaluates the activities of the executive branch to ensure efficiency, accountability, and compliance with laws

committee chairs

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

seniority system/rule

members who have served the longest in a committee gets a chair

caucus

a group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic 

committee hearing

when bills get read for the first time

committee of the whole

consists of all members of the House and meets in the House chamber but is governed by different rules making it easier to consider complex and controversial legislation 

house rules committee

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

federal budget

bill

a draft of a proposed law presented to Congress

discharge petition

(House)

a majority of members of the House sign a physical petition (piece of paper) the bill then gets brought out of committee and onto the floor for debate

unanimous consent

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

hold

a delay placed on legislation by a senator who objects a bill

mark up

a committee debates, amends, and votes on a bill before it is sent to the full chamber floor for consideration

filibuster

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

cloture

a procedure through which senators can end debate on a bill and proceed to action, provided 60 senators agree to it

conference committee

temporary joint

resolves differences between the House and Senate on a bill

pork barrel legislation 

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

veto

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

pocket veto

congress adjourns on a veto before the 10 days of sitting at the presidents desk

policy agenda 

the set of issues that policymakers prioritize for consideration and action

divided government

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

gridlock

a slowdown or halt in congress’ ability to legislate and overcome decisions especially those based on partisanship

partisan voting

the tendency of a legislator (or the general public) to align their voting decisions and political actions strictly with the positions, ideology, and agenda of their chosen political party

polarization

a sharp ideological distance between political parties

Trustee representative

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

Delegate representative 

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

Politico representative

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

case work/ constituent services

non-legislative assistance and activities provided by elected officials to the people they represent to solve problems and address concerns

midterm election

a general election held in the United States every four years, taking place at the midpoint of a President's four-year term in office

incumbency advantage

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

redistricting

states’ redrawing of boundaries of electoral districts following each census

reapportionment 

the government process of redistributing the 435 seats in the U.S. House of Representatives among the 50 states based on population changes revealed by the decennial U.S. Census

gerrymandering

the intentional use of redistricting to benefit a specific interest or group of voters

partisan gerrymandering

drawing of district boundaries into strange shapes to benefit a political party

radical gerrymandering

cracking

packing

extreme or excessive gerrymandering