AP Gov- Congress

40 key terms

bicameral legislature

a law-making body divided into two houses

earmarks

funds allocated for a member of Congress's pet project, usually it benefits the district of that member

pork barrel spending

legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states

logrolling

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

legislative oversight

efforts by Congress to ensure that executive branch agencies, as well as their officials, are acting legally and in accordance with congressional goals

constiuents

the people who are served by a member of Congress

incumbency

being already in office as opposed to running for the first time

incumbency advantage

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

casework

activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals, cutting through bureaucratic red tape

speaker of the house

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

house majority leader

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

whips

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

minority leader

the head of the party with the second-highest number of seats in Congress, chosen by the party's members

senate majority leader

the person with the most power in the Senate and is the head of the party with the most seats

standing committees

the regular committees of both Congress houses that handle bills in specific policy areas

committee chair

leader of a congressional committee who has authority over the committee's agenda

seniority system

a tradition for picking committee chairs in which the longest serving member of the majority party obtains the position

bill

a proposed law

conference committee

congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms

discharge petition

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

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

committee of the whole

consists of all members of the House and meets in the House chamber

hold

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

unanimous consent agreement

agreement on any question or matter before the Senate that sets aside a rule of procedure to expedite proceedings

filibuster

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

cloture

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

delegate role

the idea that the main duty of a member of Congress is to carry out constituents' wishes

trustee role

the idea that members of Congress should make decisions based on their knowledge and judgement

politico role

representation where members of Congress balance their choices with the interests of their constituents and parties in making decisions

bipartisanship

agreement between the parties to work together in Congress to pass legislation

gridlock

a slowdown or halt in Congress's ability to legislate and overcome divisions, especially those based on partisanship

divided government

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

lame duck period

period at the end of a presidential term when Congress may block presidential initiatives and nominees

veto

the power of the president to reject a bill passed by Congress

power of the purse

the ability of Congress to influence public policy, because only they can approve spending for governmental projects and initiatives

president of the senate

the vice-president has this constitutional role, but rarely practices it

president pro tempore

an honorary title given to the longest serving US senator of the majority party, third in line of presidential succession

treaty ratification

an agreement with another country that must be approved by two-thirds of Senate

senatorial courtesy

a custom whereby presidential appointments are confirmed only if there is no objection to them by the senators from the appointee's state

omnibus bill

legislation that packages together several measures into one or combines diverse subjects, intended to pass quickly with little scrutiny or debate