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 department, as well as their officials, are acting legally and in accordance with congressional goals.
constituency
a body of voters in a given area who elect a representative or senator
apportionment
the process of determining the number of representative for each state using census data
redistricting
states’ redrawing of boundaries of electoral districts following each census
gerrymandering
the intentional use of redistricting to benefit a specific interest or group of voters
partisan gerrymandering
drawing district boundaries into strange shapes to benefit a political party
majority minority district
a district in which voters of a minority ethnicity constitute an electoral majority within the electoral district
misapportionment
the uneven distribution of the 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
the leader of the house of representatives, chosen by an election of its members
political action committee (PAC)
an organization that raises money for candidates and campaigns
house majority leader
the person who is the second in command of the house of representatives
whip
a member of congress chosen by his or her party members, whose job is to ensure party unity and discipline
minority leader
the head of the party with the second highest number of seats in congress, chosen by the party members
senate majority leader
the person who has the most power in the senate and is the head of the party with the most seats
committee chair
leader of a committee who has authority over the 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
a powerful committee that determines when a bull will be subject to debate and vote on the house floor, how long the debate will last, and whether amendments will be allowed on the floor.
committee of the whole
consists of all members of the house but no senators and meets in the house chamber but is governed by different rules, making it easier to consider complex and controversial legislation
hold
a delay placed on legislation by a senator who objects to a bill
unanimous consent agreement
an agreement in the senate that sets the terms for consideration of a bill. Requires unanimous consent to finally get to a vote
filibuster
a tactic throughout 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 a filibuster and proceed to action, provided that 60 senators agree to it
veto
the power of the president to reject a bill from congress, sending it back to the original branch with objections
office of management and budget (OMB)
the executive branch 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 the congress and the president
budget surplus
the amount of money remaining when the government takes in more than it spends
budget deficit
the annual shortfall when a government takes in less money than it spends
national debt
the total amount of money owed by the federal government
delegate role
the idea that the main duty of a member of congress is to carry out constitutions wishes
trustee role
the 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’s ability to legislate and overcome divisions, especially those based on partisanship
divided government
control of the presidency and one or both chambers of congress split between the 2 major parties
lame duck period
period at the end of a presidential term when congress may block presidential initiatives and nominees
franking privilege
allows for members of Congress and their staff to send mail to their constituents or supporters without having to pay postage. This allows for Congress to be able to communicate more effectively with their supporters
Senate rules committee
has jurisdiction over the internal management of the Senate, as well as responsibility for legislation establishing federal election laws
17th amendment
The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two Senators from each State, elected by the people thereof, for six years; and each Senator shall have one vote.
term limit
legal restriction that limits the number of terms an officeholder may serve in a particular elected office
marginal district
a district where there are tight elections
safe district
a district where the incumbent will overwhelmingly win.
Baker v Carr
the U.S. Supreme Court case that held that federal courts could hear cases alleging that a state's drawing of electoral boundaries, i.e. redistricting, violates the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution.
shaw v reno
The Court ruled that claims of racial redistricting must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny, meaning that any law that results in classification by race must have a compelling government interest
house ways and means committee
committee that considers legislation on tax. Any proposal with tax starts with the people in the house
budget committee
committee that chooses and sets the budget of the government. Decides the budget
appropriations committee
house committee that figures out how to spend the governments money and divides it between the different programs
rules committee
the traffic cop for the house of reps, they deicide which bills make it to the floor of the house,
President Pro Tempore
a person who is elected to serve only during the absence of the vice president, is usually the longest sitting member, and is usually only ceremonial
conference committee
a committee of both senators and reps who get together and reconcile parts of the bills when they passed house/senate and bring it back to both houses for a final vote.
sophomore surge
An increase in the number of votes candidates receive between the first time elected and their first time reelected.
standing committees
perminent committees that stay present even if theres a new congress
house of representatives
what part of congress can impeach and tax
senate
what part of congress can try impeachment trials, create treaties, and confirm presidential appointments and judicial appointments.
General Accounting Office (GAO)
the legislative branch government agency that provides auditing, evaluative, and investigative services for the United States Congress
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
a federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government that provides budget and economic information to Congress
public bill
a proposed law which would apply to everyone within its jurisdiction.
joint resolution
resolution passed by both the Senate and the House of Representatives
closed rule
rule that sets time limits on debate and restrict the passage of amendments
open rule
rule that permits amendment from the floor of the house
quorum
the minimum number of a governmental body's membership necessary to act
double tracking
a procedure to keep the senate going during a filibuster, whereby disputed bill is temporarily shelved so that the senate can go on with other business
voice vote
a voting procedure in both houses that is answered with a yelled yay or nay
division vote
If a senator is in doubt about the outcome of a voice vote, he or she may request a ____, whereby the presiding officer counts the senators voting yea and those voting no, to confirm the voice vote
teller vote
a button is pressed to express the vote of a congressman
roll-call vote
a yay or nay vote that is recorded
joint committee
a committee that contains both members from house and senate and focus public attention on an issue, gather info for congress, or help party leaders speed things along in the legislative process.
conference committee
a temporary joint committee that resolves differences between the house and senate versions of a bill.
select/special committee
temporary committees used to investigate an issue, like scandels