AP GOV LEGISLATIVE

Advice and Consent

The Senate's authority to approve or reject the president's appointments and treaties.

Apportionment

The process of allocating congressional seats based on population.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

A landmark Supreme Court case that ruled federal courts could intervene in and decide redistricting cases.

Bicameral legislature

A legislative body that has two chambers, typically a House and a Senate.

Bipartisanship

Cooperation between two different political parties.

Budget deficit

A situation where expenditures exceed revenue.

Budget surplus

A situation where revenue exceeds expenditures.

Caucus (Congressional)

A meeting of members of a political party in Congress.

Closed rule

A procedural rule that prohibits amendments to a bill during debate.

Cloture rule

A procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote.

Committee chair

The leader of a congressional committee.

Committee of the Whole

A device in which the House of Representatives sits as a committee to consider certain matters.

Concurrent resolution

A resolution adopted by both houses of Congress without the force of law.

Conference committee

A temporary committee formed to resolve differences in House and Senate versions of a bill.

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

A nonpartisan agency that provides economic data to Congress.

Congressional oversight

The review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation.

Congressional Research Service (CRS)

A division of the Library of Congress that provides research and analysis for Congress.

Constituency

The voters in a specified area who elect a representative.

Deficit

The amount by which expenses exceed income.

Delegate role

The role of a representative who acts according to the wishes of their constituents.

Discharge petition

A petition that can bring a bill out of committee for consideration by the entire House.

Discretionary spending

Expenditures that can be adjusted by yearly appropriations.

Divided Government

A government in which one party controls the presidency and another party controls one or both houses of Congress.

Division vote (standing vote)

A voting process where members stand to be counted.

Double-tracking

A procedure to keep the Senate going during a filibuster by shelving the bill in question.

Earmark

A provision in legislation that directs funds to a specific project.

Entitlement program

A government program that guarantees benefits to a particular group.

Enumerated powers

Powers specifically outlined in the Constitution.

Expressed powers

Powers explicitly granted to Congress by the Constitution.

Filibuster

A tactic used to stall or delay legislative action, often by prolonged speech.

Franking Privilege

The ability of Congress members to send mail to constituents free of charge.

Government Accountability Office (GAO)

An independent agency that provides auditing, evaluation, and investigative services for Congress.

Germane

Relevant or appropriate to the subject at hand.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party.

Gridlock

A situation where progress is stalled due to disagreement between parties.

Hold

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator can delay a vote on a bill.

House Judiciary Committee

A committee responsible for overseeing the administration of justice within federal courts.

Impeach

To formally charge a government official with misconduct.

Implied powers

Powers not explicitly listed in the Constitution but inferred from the expressed powers.

Incumbency

The status of holding an office currently.

Incumbency advantage

The electoral edge afforded to those already in office.

Joint committee

A committee made up of members from both the House and Senate.

Lame duck period

The time period after an election when the current officeholder has not yet relinquished their office.

Logrolling

The practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics.

Majority Leader

The head of the majority party in either the House or Senate.

Majority-minority districts

Districts created to ensure that a minority group has a majority of voters.

Malapportionment

The uneven distribution of congressional seats among districts.

Mandatory spending

Spending that is required by existing law.

Marginal seat/Marginal district

A district where either party has similar chances of winning.

Mark-Up Session

A meeting held to review the details of a bill.

Minority leader

The head of the minority party in either the House or Senate.

Multiple referral

The process of sending a bill to more than one committee.

National debt

The total amount of money that a country's government has borrowed and not yet repaid.

OMB

Office of Management and Budget, responsible for budget preparation.

Omnibus spending bill

A single document that packages together multiple funding measures.

Open Rule

A rule that allows amendments to a bill during debate.

Oversight

Congress's monitoring of the executive branch and its administration.

Party Polarization

The division of political parties that results in distinct and opposing viewpoints.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

An organization that raises money privately to influence elections or legislation.

Politico role

The role of a representative who acts as both delegate and trustee.

Pork-barrel legislation

Legislative provisions that direct funds to specific projects in a particular district.

President of the Senate

The Vice President of the United States, who presides over the Senate.

President pro tempore

The senior member of the Senate who presides in the absence of the Vice President.

Quorum

The minimum number of members required to conduct business.

Quorum call

A call to determine if a quorum is present.

Reapportionment

The process of reallocating seats in the House of Representatives after each census.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries.

Restrictive rule

A rule that limits the debate or amendments to a bill.

Rider

An additional provision added to a bill that may not be related to the main topic.

Roll-call vote

A voting process where each member's vote is recorded.

Rules Committee

A committee responsible for determining the rules for debate and amendments on bills.

Safe seat/Safe district

A district that is highly unlikely to change party affiliation.

Select committee

A temporary committee created for a specific purpose.

Sequential referral

The process of sending a bill to multiple committees, one after the other.

Seventeenth Amendment

Amendment that established the direct election of U.S. Senators.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

A Supreme Court case that addressed racial gerrymandering.

Simple resolution

A legislative measure passed by either the House or the Senate.

Sophomore surge

Increase in votes that candidates receive when they run for reelection.

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives.

Sponsor

A member of Congress who introduces a bill.

Standing committees

Permanent committees established in a legislature.

Swing districts

Districts that do not consistently vote for one party.

Trustee role

The role of a representative who acts in the best interest of their constituents.

Unanimous consent agreement

An agreement in the Senate to expedite the legislative process.

Unified Government

A government in which the same party controls the presidency and both houses of Congress.

Veto

The power of the president to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Voice vote

A voting process where members say 'aye' or 'no' rather than recording a vote.

War Powers Act

A law that limits the president's ability to engage U.S. forces in hostilities without congressional approval.

Ways and Means Committee

The committee responsible for tax legislation and revenue policies.

Whip

A member of Congress who helps manage party discipline and mobilizes votes.