AP US Government 2.1-2.3 Congress

redistricting

done by state legislatures, redrawing of congressional boundaries

gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of isolating groups and influencing outcomes in congressional elections

qualifications for the House

25, citizen for 7 years, and inhabitant of district

qualifications for the Senate

30, citizen for 9 years, live in state

Baker v. Carr (1962)

created guidelines for drawing up congressional districts and guaranteed a more equitable system of representation to the citizens of each state. Regarded 14th Amendment's equal protection clause

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Legislative redistricting must be conscious of race and ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965

majority-minority districts

In the context of determining representative districts, the process by which a majority of the population is from the minority.

packing

isolating minorities into districts

cracking

diving minorities across many districts

hijacking

redrawing two districts in order to force two elected representatives of the same party to run against each other

kidnapping

moving an incumbent's home address into another district

delegated powers of Congress

tax, borrow money, regulate commerce, raise army, create federal courts, establish naturalization laws, making any laws necessary and proper

unique powers of the House

originates revenue bills, initiates impeachment, breaks ties for president in Electoral College

unique powers of the Senate

confirm presidential appointments, ratify treaties, conduct impeachment trials

congressional oversight

a committee's investigation of the executive and of government agencies to ensure they are acting as Congress intends

Delegate model

The view that an elected represent should represent the opinions of his or her constituents.

Trustee model

a model of representation in which a member of Congress follows his or her own conscience when deciding issue positions

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.

poison-pill amendments

opponents add something to bill that makes original supporters withdraw support

cloture

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate. Requires 60 votes.

pet project riders

amendments congressmen add to bills to help their home state

pork barrels

"pet project" riders designed to bring federal money to a home state

earmarks

Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents. Not allowed in the House.

conference committee

special joint committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate

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.

line-item veto

an executive's ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature

how committee assignments are determined

house or senate leadership, caucus of political parties.

standing committee

A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area

joint committee

A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate

select committee

temporary committee organized in each of for some special purpose such as investigations

conference committee

special joint committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate

pigeon holed

a bill that is struck in committee

discharge petition

a method to force a bill out of committee for floor vote.

speaker of the house

the leader of the House chosen by the majority party in a species election

importance of the speaker of the house

direct floor debate, influence committee assignments, influence Rules Committee

majority leader

determines party policy and party's legislative agenda.

minority leader

determines minority party's legislative agenda.

whips

assistant to the floor leaders, keeps a head count of votes, rounds up members for important votes

president of the Senate

vice president

powers of the president of the senate

votes to break ties

president pro tempore

The official chair of the Senate; usually the most senior member of the majority party.

logrolling

An agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each other's bills

jawboning

the act of presidential lobbying of Congress

enumerated powers

powers given to government written in the constitution

how implied powers allow Congress to carry out enumerated powers

necessary and proper clause

house rules committee

a powerful house committee that decides which bills make it to the floor debate

committee of the whole

contains all members of the House and relaxes debate rules to speed up amendment debate process

unanimous consent and hold

limit debate and move legislation along in a timely manner

how congress impacts federal budget

income taxes, mandatory and discretionary spending