Chapter 4

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