Study Guide for Congress and Public Policy

A comprehensive review of key terms and concepts related to Congress and public policy.

What is a Collective Action Dilemma?

It refers to the problem that arises when individuals would all benefit from a certain action, but have no incentive to act individually because the costs are personal while the benefits are shared.

What were the Reed Rules?

Rules introduced by Speaker Thomas Reed in the 1890s to strengthen the power of the Speaker of the House and limit obstruction by the minority party.

What did the Reed Rules do?

They prevented dilatory tactics by counting members present for a quorum even if they didn’t vote and restricted motions that delayed proceedings.

Define the Conditional Party Government Theory.

A theory that suggests party leadership is strongest when party members share similar policy views and differ greatly from the opposing party.

What does the Conditional Party Government Theory prefer?

Preference homogeneity within the party and policy conflict with the opposing party.

Does the Conditional Party Government Theory prefer bipartisanship or conflict?

Conflict, especially when ideological differences between parties are significant.

What is the Pivotal Voter Theory?

A theory which focuses on the importance of the median or pivotal voter, often the 218th vote in the House, in determining the passage of legislation.

What is a party caucus?

A meeting of members of a political party in Congress to coordinate policy positions and strategy.

What do party caucuses do?

They elect party leadership, develop legislative strategy, and maintain party discipline.

What is a Mega-bill?

A large, often omnibus piece of legislation that includes multiple issues or policies, often passed to expedite legislative action.

Why would Congress pass Mega-bills?

To speed up the legislative process, especially during deadlines, and to combine popular measures with less popular ones for passage.

What is Partisan Polarization?

The growing ideological divide between Democrats and Republicans, resulting in less cooperation and more conflict in Congress.

What contributed to Partisan Polarization?

Redistricting, media fragmentation, partisan primaries, and events like the Gingrich Revolution, and legislative changes increasing party control.

What is party-fit?

How well a candidate or member’s policy preferences align with their party's platform.

What is a Caucus?

A group of legislators who meet to pursue common legislative objectives.

What does a Caucus help do?

It helps draft legislation, organize votes, advocate for specific issues, and represent shared interests in Congress.

What is the Distributive Theory?

The theory that congressional committees exist to serve members' re-election needs by allowing them to shape policy benefiting their constituencies.

What is the Informational Theory?

Committees exist to provide expertise and allow members to make informed policy decisions on complex issues.

What is the Partisan Theory?

Committees serve the majority party's goals and are structured to advance partisan interests, often at the expense of the minority party.

What are Standing Committees?

Permanent committees that deal with specific policy areas.

What are Select Committees?

Temporary committees that are often investigative.

What are Joint Committees?

Committees that consist of members from both chambers for routine tasks.

What are Conference Committees?

Committees that reconcile different House and Senate bill versions.

What are the three methods of getting committee assignments?

Party Leadership, Friendly Lobbyists, or Preferred Committee.

What are the Three Concerns of congressmen?

Re-election, Influence in Congress, and Making Good Policy.

What is an Iron-Triangle?

A policy-making relationship among congressional committees, the bureaucracy, and interest groups, often resistant to change.

What is a Political Gang?

An informal group of bipartisan legislators working outside leadership to pass major legislation that's otherwise stuck.

What is a Sponsor?

A member of Congress who introduces a bill for consideration.

What is a Co-Sponsor?

A member who formally adds their support to a bill already introduced by another sponsor.

What is a Hopper?

A box located at the clerk’s desk in the House where representatives place proposed bills for official introduction.

What is the Union Calendar?

The House calendar that lists bills involving money, such as appropriations or taxation.

What is the House Calendar?

A calendar that lists public bills that are not related to money matters.

What is the Private Calendar?

A calendar used for bills that affect specific individuals or entities.

What is the Consensus Calendar?

A calendar for bills that have 290+ co-sponsors but have been stuck in committee without being reported out.

What are the four methods of getting a bill to the Floor?

Suspension of the Rules, Cluster Voting, Unanimous Consent, and Privileged Measure.

What is the Relevancy rule?

It requires amendments to a bill to be relevant to the bill’s original purpose.

What are the Creative Rules?

Rules that include Queen of the Hill, Self-Executing Rule, and Multiple-Step Rule for organizing debate.

What is the Committee of the Whole?

A procedural device where the House operates as one large committee for easier debate and amendment of bills.

What are the Calendars of the Senate?

Business Calendar lists legislation and Executive Calendar lists nominations and treaties.

What is a Filibuster?

A tactic where a senator speaks indefinitely to delay or block action on a bill.

What is a Hold?

A senator’s request to delay a bill’s consideration until they are consulted.

What is Cloture?

A procedure to end a filibuster by gathering 60 votes to limit further debate.

What is a policy entrepreneur?

A legislator who specializes in a particular issue area and becomes the go-to expert.

What is an early decider?

A legislator who publicly commits to supporting or opposing a bill early in the legislative process.

What is an Active Player?

A legislator who engages actively during negotiations to shape a bill’s content.

What is a late decider?

A legislator who withholds their decision until the final moments to maximize leverage.

What is Allocation of Effort?

How legislators prioritize their limited time, energy, and resources among different activities.

What is Position-Taking?

When a legislator publicly states a judgmental view on an issue to signal to voters.

What is Strategic Waiting?

When legislators delay making a voting decision until the outcome is more certain.

What are Partisan Motives?

The drive to align with one's party to maintain party cohesion and strength.

What is an Inattentive Public?

Citizens who are largely unaware or unconcerned about a specific political issue.

What is an Active Public?

Citizens who are knowledgeable about and actively engaged in a specific political issue.

What is a Cue?

An indicator that signals how a legislator should vote.

What is Bargaining?

The process by which legislators negotiate to advance their legislative goals.

What is Implicit Bargaining?

When legislators signal what they want without direct negotiation.

What is Explicit Bargaining?

Direct negotiation where legislators trade support or concessions openly.

What is Logrolling?

A form of explicit bargaining where legislators trade votes for mutual benefits.

What is Pluralism?

The theory that politics is a competition among groups pressing for their preferred policies.

What is Elitism?

The theory that a small number of wealthy individuals dominate political decision-making.

What is Hyper-pluralism?

A theory that too many strong groups lead to government gridlock.

What is an Organized Interest?

A group that influences politics through lobbying, often arising from a business.

How is an Organized Interest different from an Interest Group?

Organized interests arise from businesses while interest groups are created specifically to influence policy.

What is Direct Lobbying?

Lobbyists meeting directly with legislators to advocate for their clients' interests.

What is the Revolving Door?

Former government officials becoming lobbyists to influence current policymakers.

What is Social Lobbying?

Lobbyists interacting with lawmakers at social events to influence them informally.

What is Coalition Lobbying?

Multiple groups temporarily unite to lobby on a shared issue to amplify influence.

What is Grassroots Lobbying?

Mobilizing ordinary citizens to contact their representatives for policy change.

What is Digital Lobbying?

Using digital platforms to influence both the public and lawmakers.

What is an Interest Group?

An organization formed specifically to influence public policy around a common interest.

What is a Selective Benefit?

Rewards given only to members of an interest group to encourage participation.

What is a Material Benefit?

Physical rewards given to group members, like discounts or travel perks.

What is a Solidarity Benefit?

The emotional satisfaction from associating with like-minded people.

What is a Purposive Benefit?

The personal satisfaction of advancing a political, moral, or ideological cause.

What is an Experienced Fundraiser?

A political figure or lobbyist skilled at organizing large-scale fundraising events.

Why are Experienced Fundraisers important?

They attract major donors and secure funding for candidates.

What is Bundling?

A fundraising tactic where lobbyists collect contributions from many individuals to a candidate.

What were the loopholes of Title 3 of the Legislative Reorganization Act?

It only required registration for paid lobbying with direct money transactions.

What was the MAIN loophole of the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995?

It only applied to lobbyists who spent more than 20% of their time lobbying.

Which Act created the Congressional Ethics Committee?

The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007.

What is a Vote Context?

The political environment surrounding a vote, influencing how legislators decide.

What is Tactical Rationality?

When legislators reward contributors with favorable votes without appearing corrupt.

What is a Signing Statement?

A pronouncement by the President when signing a bill into law.

What does 'Going Public' mean?

When a president appeals directly to the people to pressure Congress.

What was the War Powers Resolution of 1974?

A law requiring the president to notify Congress within 48 hours of military deployment.

What is an Executive Order?

A directive by the president managing operations of the federal government.

What does the idea of 'Two Presidencies' refer to?

The theory that presidents are more successful in foreign affairs than in domestic policy.

What is the Military-Industrial Complex?

The close relationship between the military and defense contractors that may encourage military spending.

What are Fast-Track Trade Negotiations?

A process that allows Congress to approve or reject international trade agreements without amendments.

What are the four processes of the Policy-Making Process?

1) Agenda Setting, 2) Policy Formulation, 3) Policy Adoption, 4) Policy Implementation.

What is policy incubation?

The slow development of a policy idea over time before gaining support.

What is the policy window?

A brief period when political conditions align for major policy change.

What are distributive policies?

Policies that allocate resources broadly across many groups.

What is the nickname for distributive policies?

'Pork-barrel' policies.

What are Earmarks?

Specific provisions in bills directing funding to particular projects.

What are Regulatory policies?

Rules set by the government to control specific behaviors.

What are Redistributive policies?

Policies that transfer resources to address inequality.

What is an authorization?

A law that establishes a federal program and sets maximum funding.

What is an appropriation?

The actual allocation of money by Congress to a program.

What is discretionary spending?

Government spending that must be approved annually.

What is an entitlement program?

A government program guaranteeing benefits to a certain population.