KTQ 06: Legislatures

Unit 2 Examination practice test #1

Apportionment

Process, occuring after every census, that allocates congressional seats among the states

Redistricting

Process of redrawing districts, after the census, to distribute representative seats

Gerrymandering

Drawing of districts to give an unfair advantage to one group over others

Miller v. Johnson

Ruled that race cannot be a predominant factor in drawing districts

Shelby County v. Holder

Invalidated part of the Voting Rights Act requiring the Justice Department approve redistricting plans of place with a history of discrimination

Patronage

Resources available to higher officials to give special favors to supporters

Pork-barrel legislation

Appropriations made for often needed, local projects to increase re-election prospects of legislators

Private Bill

Bill that provides relief to a specific person, such as exemption from immigration quotas

Standing committee

Permanent committees with the power to propose and write legislation that cover a particular subject

Select committee

Mostly temporary committees set up to investigate or address a particular issue

Joint committee

Legislative committees formed of members of both the House and Senate

Conference committee

Committees created to work out a compromise between the House and Senate versions of a bill

Filibuster

Tactic to prevent action on legislation, particularly preventing ending debate

Cloture

Rule aimed at ending debate on a particular bill

Nuclear option

Ending rules that require a supermajority to end debate on a bill or nomination

Veto

Presidential power to prevent a bill from becoming law

Pocket Veto

Procedure whereby the president can prevent a bill from becoming law from not acting on a bill during the final 10 days of a legislative session

Logrolling

Legislative practice whereby agreements are made between legislators to trade votes on bills