Chapter 4 AP GOV

House of Representatives

435 members; elected from single districts; has a Rules Committee

Senate

100 members; no Rules Committee; allows filibusters

Baker v. Carr

Court case requiring equal-population districts (“one person, one vote”)

Filibuster

Unlimited debate in the Senate to delay a bill

Cloture

⅔ of Senate vote to end a filibuster

Hold

A Senator’s request to delay a bill

Unanimous Consent

Agreement in the Senate to speed up debate if no one objects

Law-making Power

Congress writes and passes laws

Budget Power

Congress approves or rejects the President’s budget

Oversight Power

Congress monitors other branches and agencies

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically listed in the Constitution

Exclusive Powers

Federal-only powers (not shared with states)

Implied Powers

Powers not written, but allowed by the Necessary & Proper Clause

Concurrent Powers

Powers shared by states and federal government

Reserved Powers

Powers kept by the states

Impeachment

House brings charges (like an indictment)

Conviction

Senate trial decides removal from office

Checks: Congress → Executive

Impeach, override veto

Checks: Congress → Supreme Court

Impeach justices, confirm/deny nominees

Checks: Executive → Congress

Veto

Checks: Executive → Supreme Court

Nominates justices

Checks: Supreme Court → Executive

Judicial review

Checks: Supreme Court → Congress

Judicial review

Base

Group of voters who always support a candidate/party

Constituency

All people a lawmaker represents

Gerrymandering

Redrawing districts to help one party

Malapportionment

Unequal population in districts

Incumbency

Current officeholder advantage in elections

House Leadership

Speaker, Majority/Minority Leaders, Whips, Committees

Senate Leadership

VP, President Pro Tempore, Majority Leader

Standing Committee

Permanent committee on certain policy areas

Joint Committee

Includes members of both chambers

Conference Committee

Reconciles House & Senate versions of a bill

Select Committee

Temporary, focused on a specific issue

Presidential Action: Sign

Bill becomes law

Presidential Action: Veto

Bill goes back to Congress

Presidential Action: Pocket Veto

Ignore bill; outcome depends on days left in session

Override Veto

⅔ of both chambers pass bill into law without president

Entitlement

Spending required by law (ex: Social Security)

Mandatory Spending

Spending required by law, must be funded

Discretionary Spending

Optional spending decided by Congress

Deficit

Spending > revenue in one year

Surplus

Revenue > spending in one year

Debt

Total money owed from past deficits

Delegate Representation

Votes the way constituents want

Trustee Representation

Votes based on personal judgment

Politico Representation

Votes with their party

Gridlock

Congress can’t pass laws due to disagreements

Bipartisan

Both parties support a bill

Partisan

Only one party supports a bill

Divided Government

Different parties control Congress and the Presidency