APGOV Chapter 3

Bicameral Legislature

A legislature with two separate chambers or houses — the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Seventeenth Amendment

Allowed voters to directly elect U.S. Senators (before, state legislatures chose them)

Reapportionment

Redistributing seats in the House of Representatives based on population changes after each census.

Enumerated/Expressed Powers

Powers specifically listed in the Constitution (like taxing, declaring war, and coining money).

Implied Powers

Powers not directly stated but necessary to carry out the enumerated ones (based on the Necessary and Proper Clause).

Gibbons v. Ogden (1824)

Supreme Court case that said Congress controls interstate commerce, strengthening federal power.

War Powers Act (1973)

Limits the President’s power to send troops into combat without Congress’s approval.

Impeach

When the House formally accuses a government official of wrongdoing.

Advice and Consent

Senate’s power to approve presidential appointments and treaties.

Speaker of the House

Leader of the House of Representatives who sets the agenda and leads debates

Floor Leaders

Party leaders in Congress who guide bills and debates for their party

Whip

Party official who tracks votes and ensures members vote with the party.

Conference Chair

Helps organize party communication and strategy within Congress.

President of the Senate

The Vice President of the U.S.; only votes to break a tie in the Senate.

President Pro Tempore

Senior senator of the majority party who leads the Senate when the Vice President isn’t there.

Senate Majority Leader

Most powerful senator; sets the agenda and represents the majority party.

Standing Committees

Permanent committees that handle specific policy areas like education or defense.

House Judiciary Committee

Handles issues related to federal courts, impeachments, and justice.

Steering and Policy Committee

(Democrats) Assigns members to committees and shapes party priorities.

Committee on Committees

(Republicans) Chooses members for committees.

Joint Committee

Made up of both House and Senate members; usually for research or investigations.

Select Committees

Temporary committees created for special issues (e.g., investigating scandals).

Conference Committees

Resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

Markup Session

Meeting where a bill is edited and rewritten before being voted on

Congressional Oversight

Congress’s power to monitor how the executive branch enforces laws.

Caucuses

Groups of members with shared interests (e.g., Black Caucus, Women’s Caucus).

Ways and Means Committee

House committee that handles taxes and revenue.

Rules Committee

Decides how and when bills are debated and voted on in the House.

Committee of the Whole

All House members act as one committee to speed up the lawmaking process.

Discharge Petition

A way to force a bill out of committee and onto the floor (needs 218 signatures).

Filibuster

Senate tactic where a member talks endlessly to delay or block a vote.

Unanimous Consent

When all senators agree to move forward without objections.

Hold

A senator’s request to delay a bill or nomination (can lead to a filibuster).

Cloture Rule

Ends a filibuster in the Senate; needs 60 votes.

Sponsor

Member of Congress who introduces a bill.

Germane

An amendment that’s directly related to the main topic of the bill.

Non-Germane Amendments

Unrelated amendments added to a bill; allowed in the Senate (aka “riders”).

Omnibus Bill

A large bill that covers many topics or programs at once.

Pork Barrel Spending

Government money used for local projects to please voters or gain support.

Earmark

Funds in a bill set aside for a specific project or district.

Multiple Referral Status

A bill sent to more than one committee at the same time.

Sequential Referral Status

A bill sent to committees one after another, in a specific order.

Logrolling

When lawmakers agree to support each other’s bills (“You vote for mine, I’ll vote for yours”).

Delegate Model

When representatives vote how their constituents want.

Trustee Model

When representatives vote based on their own judgment.

Politico Model

Mix of delegate and trustee — depends on the issue

Estate Taxes

Taxes on money or property inherited after someone’s death.

Mandatory Spending

Spending required by law (like Social Security, Medicare).

Deficit

When government spends more than it earns in a year.

Discretionary Spending

Spending that Congress must approve each year (like defense, education).

Gridlock

When disagreement between parties stops laws from passing.

Redistricting

Redrawing congressional district lines based on population changes.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Supreme Court case saying federal courts can decide redistricting issues — “one person, one vote.”

Gerrymandering

Drawing district lines unfairly to help one political party.

Safe Seats

Districts that always vote for one party by a wide margin.

Marginal Seats (Swing Districts)

Competitive districts where elections are close.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Supreme Court ruled that racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional.