AP Gov Chapter 4 Vocab

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What is pork-barrel spending?

Legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states

What is logrolling?

Trading of votes on legislation by members of Congress to get their earmarks passed into legislation

What is oversight?

Efforts by Congress to ensure that executive branch agencies, bureaus, and cabinet departments, as well as their officials, are acting legally and in accordance with congressional goals.

What is constituency?

A body of voters in a given area who elect a representative or senator.

What is apportionment?

The process of determining the number of representatives for each state using census data.

What is redistricting?

State’s redrawing of boundaries of electoral districts following each census.

What is gerrymandering?

The unintentional use of redistricting to benefit a specific interest or group of voters.

What is partisan gerrymandering?

Drawing of district boundaries into strange shapes to benefit a political party.

What is majority-minority districts?

A district in which voters of a minority ethnicity constitute an electoral majority within that electoral district.

What is malapportionment?

The uneven distribution of the population among legislative districts.

What is incumbency?

Being already in office as opposed to running for the first time.

What is incumbency advantage?

Institutional advantages held by those already in office who are trying to fend off challengers in an election.

What is the Speaker of the House?

The leader of the House of Representatives, chosen by an election of its members.

What is Political Action Committee?

An organization that raises money for candidates and campaigns.

What is the House Majority Leader?

The person who is the second in command of the House of Representatives.

What is a whip?

A member of Congress, chosen by his or her party members, whose job is to ensure party unity and discipline.

What is a minority leader?

The head of the party with the second-highest number of seats in Congress, chosen by the party’s member.

What is the Senate Majority Leader?

The person who has the most power in the Senate and is the head of the party with the most seats.

What is the committee chair?

Leader of a congressional committee who has authority over the committee’s agenda.

What is a discharge petition?

A motion piled by a member of Congress to move out a bill out of committee and onto the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote.

What is the House Rules Committee?

A powerful committee that determines when a bill will be subject to debate and vote on the House floor, how long the debate will last, and whether amendments will be allowed on the floor.

What is the Committee of the Whole?

Consists of all members of the House and meets in the House chamber but is governed by different rules, making it easier to consider complex and controversial legislation.

What is a hold?

A delay placed on legislation by senator who objects to a bill.

What is a unanimous consent agreement?

An agreement in the Senate that sets the terms for consideration of a bill.

What is a filibuster?

A tactic through which an individual senator may use the rights of unlimited debate to delay a motion or postpone action on a piece of legislation.

What is a cloture?

A procedure through which senators can end debate on a bill and proceed to action, provided 60 senators to agree to it.

What is a veto?

The power of a president to reject a bill passed by Congress, sending it back to the originating branch with objections.

What is the Office of Management and Budget?

The executive branch office that assists the president in setting national spending priorities.

What is entitlement program?

A program that provides benefits for those who qualify under law, regardless of income.

What is mandatory spending?

Spending required by existing laws that is “locked in” the budget.

What is discretionary spending?

Spending for programs and policies at the discretion of Congress and the president.

What is a budget surplus?

The amount of money remaining when the government takes in more than it spends.

What is budget deficit?

The shortfall when a government takes in less money than it spends.

What is national debt?

The total amount of money owed by the federal government.

What is the delegate role?

The idea that the main duty of a member of Congress is to carry out constituents’ wishes.

What is the trustee role?

The idea that members of Congress should act as trustees, making decision based on their knowledge and judgement.

What is the politico role?

Representation where members of Congress balance their choices with the interest of their constituents and parties in making decisions.

What is bipartisanship?

Agreement between the parties to work together in Congress to pass legislation.

What is gridlock?

A slowdown or halt in Congress’ ability to legislate and overcome divisions, especially those based on partisanship.

What is divided government?

Control of the presidency and one or both chambers of Congress split between two major parties.

What is lame duck period?

Period at the end of a presidential term where Congress may block presidential initiatives and nominees.