AP Gov. Unit 2 - Congress & Senate

Incumbent

Those already holding office. In an election, they are current office holders seeking re-election

Constituency

A specific geographic area or district that is represented by an elected official

Pork Barrel Spending

The allocation of government funds for projects that benefit a specific congressional district or state, secured to help a legislator gain favor and boost re-election chances.

Service Strategy

Use of personal staff by members of Congress to perform services for constituents in order to gain their support in future elections.

Open-Seat Election

An election in which there is no incumbent in the race

Reapportionment

The reallocation of house seats among states after each census as a result of population changes.

Redistricting

The process of altering election districts in order to make them as nearly equal in population as possible.

Gerrymandering

The process by which the party in power draws election district boundaries in a way that is to the advantage of its candidates.

Midterm Election

Election that takes place in the middle of a presidential term, where a third of the senate seats are elected.

Party Leader(s)

Members of the House and Senate who are chosen by the Democratic or Republican caucus in each chamber to represent the party's interests in that chamber and who give some central direction to the chamber's deliberations.

Party Caucus

A group that consists of a party's members in the House or senate and that serves to elect the party's leadership, set policy goals, and determine party strategy.

Party Unity

the extent to which members of a political party vote together in the legislature, reflecting their shared ideology, goals, and interests. 

Speaker of the House

Presiding officer and most powerful member of the house. Duties- assigning bills to committee, controlling floor debate, and appointing party members to committee

House Majority Leader

Major assistant to the speaker, helps plan the party's legislative program and directs floor debate

House Minority Leader

Major spokesperson for the minority party and organizes opposition to the majority party

House Majority Whip

Help House Majority leaders by directing party members in voting, informing members of impending voting, keeping track of vote counts, and pressuring members to vote with the party

House minority Whip

Help House Minority leaders by directing party members in voting, informing members of impending voting, keeping track of vote counts, and pressuring members to vote with the party

President of the Senate

Presiding officer of the senate, only duty is to make tie breaking votes. Also the vice president.

President Pro-Tem of the Senate

A senior member of the majority party chosen to preside in the absence of the senate president

Senate Majority Leader

The most influential member of the senate and often the majority spokesperson

Senate Minority Leader

Major spokesperson for the minority party and organizes opposition to the majority party

Senate Majority Whip

key party leader, elected by the majority party, responsible for "counting heads," enforcing party discipline, ensuring members attend votes (quorum calls), and helping the Majority Leader manage the legislative agenda by persuading members to support party positions on bills

Senate Minority Whip

key leadership position in the U.S. Senate, responsible for assisting the minority leader in coordinating party strategy and ensuring party discipline among members

Standing Committee

permanent committees; first and last stop for the bills before a floor vote; continue from one congress to the next and are where bills go for consideration

Conference Committee

Special committee that resolves