Congressional Structure and Legislative Process

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, positions, and procedures of the United States Congress.

Pork barrel spending

Government spending on projects that benefit a representative's district or state.

Logrolling

When members of Congress trade votes to help each other pass bills.

Oversight

Congress monitoring the executive branch and federal agencies.

Constituency

The people an elected official represents.

Apportionment

Dividing the $435$ House seats among the states based on population.

Redistricting

Redrawing congressional district boundaries within a state.

Gerrymandering

Drawing boundaries to benefit a political group or party.

Partisan gerrymandering

Drawing districts specifically to give one political party an advantage.

Majority-minority district

A district where a racial or ethnic minority makes up a majority of the population.

Malapportionment

When voting districts have unequal populations.

Incumbency

Currently holding an elected office.

Incumbency advantage

Benefits current officeholders have when running for reelection, like name recognition and fundraising.

Speaker of the House

Leader of the House and the majority party; helps control the House agenda.

Political Action Committee (PAC)

An organization that raises and spends money to support or oppose candidates.

House majority leader

Helps the Speaker lead the majority party and move legislation through the House.

Congress's role in the budget process

Congress decides taxes and spending and passes bills that fund the government.

Whip

Party leader who counts votes and encourages members to vote with the party.

Minority leader

Leader of the minority party in the House or Senate.

Senate majority leader

Main leader of the Senate majority party who controls much of the Senate agenda.

Committees in Congress

Smaller groups that study, revise, and decide whether bills should move forward.

Committee chair

Member who leads a congressional committee and controls much of its agenda.

Discharge petition

A House procedure that can force a bill out of committee and onto the floor.

House Rules Committee

Decides how and when bills are debated in the House and whether amendments are allowed.

Committee of the Whole

The entire House meeting under simpler rules to debate and amend bills faster.

Hold

When a senator asks to delay or block a bill or nomination.

Unanimous consent agreement

A Senate agreement that sets rules for debate as long as no senator objects.