Congress Study Guide :3

Congress

A national legislative body, especially that of the United States, composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Senate

The smaller upper assembly of the U.S. Congress, consisting of 100 members, two from each state.

House of Representatives

The lower chamber of the U.S. Congress, consisting of 435 representatives, with proportional representation based on state population.

Constituency

The group of voters or residents in a specific area that a representative is elected to represent.

Speaker of the House

The leader of the U.S. House of Representatives, chosen by members to maintain order and oversee proceedings.

President of the Senate

The Vice President of the United States, who serves as the presiding officer of the Senate.

Whip

A member of Congress tasked with mobilizing party members for votes and ensuring party discipline.

Coalition

An alliance of distinct parties or groups that come together to achieve a common goal, often in legislative contexts.

Majority Leader

The head of the majority party in either chamber of Congress, responsible for directing legislative strategy.

Minority Leader

The head of the minority party in Congress, responsible for organizing opposition against majority initiatives.

Filibuster

A legislative tactic employed in the Senate where a member speaks at length to delay or block a vote.

Cloture

A procedure in the Senate used to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote.

Unanimous Consent

An agreement in the Senate that allows members to expedite proceedings without formal votes.

House Rules Committee

A committee in the House that establishes rules for debating proposed legislation.

Discharge Petition

A procedural tool used in the House to bring a bill out of committee for a vote.

Discretionary Spending

Optional spending determined by annual appropriations laws.

Mandatory Spending

Expenditures required by law, often for entitlement programs.

Entitlements

Programs providing benefits to individuals who meet specific eligibility criteria.

Budget Deficit

The condition when government spending exceeds revenue in a fiscal year.

National Debt

The total amount of money that a government owes to its creditors from past deficits.

Earmark

A provision in legislation directing funds to be spent on specific projects.

Pork Barrel Legislation

Appropriations that benefit specific local projects, designed to win votes.

Logrolling

The practice of exchanging favors in Congress, where representatives support each other's legislation.

President Pro Tempore

The elected officer of the Senate who presides in the absence of the Vice President.

Majority-Minority Districts

Electoral districts where the majority of constituents belong to racial or ethnic minority groups.

Divided Government

A political situation where one party controls the presidency and the opposing party controls one or both chambers of Congress.

Truncated Government

A condition where certain branches of government are limited due to fiscal constraints.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries after the decennial census.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to benefit a specific political party.

Baker v. Carr

A landmark Supreme Court case establishing the 'one person, one vote' doctrine.

One Person, One Vote Doctrine

The legal principle ensuring electoral districts should have roughly equal populations.

Shaw v. Reno

A Supreme Court case ruling that redistricting plans cannot discriminate based on race.

Racial Gerrymandering

Drawing electoral district boundaries to dilute or concentrate the voting power of racial groups.

Incumbent

An individual currently holding a position or office, often running for re-election.

Incumbency Advantage

The benefits experienced by sitting incumbents over challengers.

Casework

Assistance provided by members of Congress to their constituents in navigating government services.

Franking

A privilege allowing members of Congress to send official mail without charge.

Packing

A gerrymandering strategy of concentrating voters of one type into a single district.

Cracking

A gerrymandering method that dilutes a group’s voting power by spreading them across multiple districts.

Legislation

The process through which laws are proposed, debated, amended, and enacted.

Committees

Subgroups within Congress focusing on specific policy areas to review and shape legislation.

Hearings

Meetings held by committees to gather information and public opinions on proposed legislation.

Debate

Formal discussion of proposed legislation where members express support or opposition.

Committee Leadership

Individuals responsible for setting agendas and managing discussions within committees.

House Ways & Means Committee

A pivotal House committee responsible for tax policy and revenue generation.

Appropriations Bill

Legislation providing legal authority for government spending on specific programs.

Government Shutdown

The closure of non-essential government offices due to lack of funding.

Legislative Markup/Amendment

The process where committees review and amend proposed legislation before voting.

Legislative Calendar

A timetable detailing the sessions and activities of Congress.

Supermajority

A voting threshold requiring more than 50% of the votes, often necessary for specific actions.

Nuclear Option

A controversial procedure allowing the majority party to pass legislation with a simple majority.

Veto

The constitutional power of the President to reject a bill passed by Congress.

Congressional Override

The procedure for Congress to reverse a presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds majority.

Balanced Budget

A fiscal state where total revenue equals total expenditures.

Surplus

A financial condition where government revenue exceeds expenditures.