AP Gov Unit 2 Vocab

apportionment

allotting of congressional seats to each state according to its proportion of the population, following the decennial census

bicameral legislature

two house legislature, composed of the House of Representatives and Senate

caucuses

a formal meeting with all party members, at which they nominate/elect party members, review committee assignments, discuss party policy, impose party discipline, set party themes, and coordinating media

cloture

mechanism requiring the vote of 60 senators to cut off a debate, limits further consideration of a pending proposal to 30 hours in order to end a filibuster

conference committee

special joint committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate, formed to create a compromise bill when each house has passed a different version of a bill

congressional review

a process whereby congress can nullify agency regulations of legislature disapproval, congress can overturn rules issued by federal agencies

congressional oversight

the power of congress to review, monitor, and supervise, federal agencies, programs, and policy implementation, a check on the executive branch

discharge petition

gives a majority of the hor the authority to bring an issue to the floor in the face of committee inaction, requires the signature of an absolute majority which is 218 members

divided gov

political condition in which different political parties control the presidency and congress

incumbency

it is easier for someone already holding office to be reelected because they have name recognition, casework, campaign financing, and usually redistricting on their side

joint committee

standing committee that includes members from both houses of Congress set up to conduct investigations or special studies

logrolling

vote trading, vote to support a colleague's bill in return for a promise of future support

markup

a session in which committee members offer changes to a bill before it goes to the floor, members debate, amend, and rewrite proposed legislation

pocket veto

A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

pork

legislation that allows representatives to bring money and jobs to their districts in the form of public works programs, military bases, or other programs

reconciliation

allows consideration of controversial issues affecting the budget by limiting debate to 20 hours, thereby ending threat of a filibuster

select committee

A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.

unified gov

the same party controls the White House and both houses of Congress

trustee

A legislator who acts according to her or his conscience and the broad interests of the entire society.

veto

the power of the president to reject bills passed by congress, preventing them from becoming law without further congressional action

whip

a senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking

war powers resolution

A law passed in 1973 spelling out the conditions under which the president can commit troops without congressional approval.
limited to 60 days in peacetime unless congress explicitly gives approval

casework

Assistance provided by members of Congress to their constituents in solving problems with the federal bureaucracy or addressing other specific concerns.

programmatic requests

federal funds designated for special projects within a state or congressional district

filibuster

A way of delaying or preventing action on a bill by using long speeches and unlimited debate to "talk a bill to death."

hold

A procedure by which a senator asks to be informed before a particular bill or nomination is brought to the floor. This request signals leadership that a member may have objections to the bill (or nomination) and should be consulted before further action is taken.

rules committee

A standing committee of the House of Representatives that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by the house.
has no counterpart in senate,

committee of the whole

A committee that consists of an entire legislative body; used for a procedure in which a legislative body expedites its business by resolving itself into a committee of itself.