Congress test

Bicameral Legislature

A two-house legislative system consisting of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

House of Representatives

The chamber of Congress where representation is based on state population and members serve 2-year terms.

Senate

The chamber of Congress where each state receives equal representation with two senators serving 6-year terms.

Term Length (House)

Representatives serve 2-year terms.

Term Length (Senate)

Senators serve 6-year terms.

Minimum Age Requirement (House)

Members must be at least 25 years old.

Minimum Age Requirement (Senate)

Members must be at least 30 years old.

Congressional Districts

Geographic areas represented by members of the House.

Census

A population count conducted every 10 years to determine representation in the House of Representatives.

Reapportionment

The redistribution of House seats among states based on population changes after the census.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing congressional district boundaries within states after reapportionment.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Established that federal courts can rule on redistricting cases and required districts to have roughly equal populations.

Wesberry v. Sanders (1964)

Established the principle of "one person, one vote" for congressional districts.

Gerrymandering

Drawing district boundaries to benefit a political party or specific group.

Partisan Gerrymandering

Manipulating district lines to favor one political party.

Racial Gerrymandering

Drawing district lines primarily based on race.

Packing

Concentrating opposition voters into a single district to reduce their influence elsewhere.

Cracking

Splitting opposition voters across several districts to weaken their voting power.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Ruled that racial gerrymandering must pass strict scrutiny and cannot be based primarily on race.

Vieth v. Jubelirer (2004)

Determined there were no clear judicial standards to evaluate partisan gerrymandering.

Rucho v. Common Cause (2019)

Declared partisan gerrymandering a political question that federal courts cannot resolve.

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically listed in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution.

Power of the Purse

Congress’s authority to tax and spend government funds.

Taxation Power

Congress’s authority to raise revenue through taxes.

Coin Money

Congress’s authority to create national currency.

Declare War

Congress’s constitutional authority to formally declare war.

Raise and Maintain Military

Congress’s authority to fund and regulate the armed forces.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly stated but necessary to carry out enumerated powers.

Necessary and Proper Clause

Constitutional clause allowing Congress to pass laws needed to execute its powers.

Speaker of the House

The leader of the majority party in the House who controls debate, committee assignments, and legislative agenda.

Majority Leader

Party leader responsible for coordinating legislative strategy and guiding party legislation.

Minority Leader

Leader of the minority party who organizes opposition and strategy.

Whips

Party officials who ensure members vote according to party goals.

Vice President

Presides over the Senate and casts tie-breaking votes.

President Pro Tempore

Senator who presides over the Senate when the Vice President is absent.

Standing Committees

Permanent committees that focus on specific policy areas.

Joint Committees

Committees made up of members from both the House and Senate.

Select Committees

Temporary committees created for specific investigations or issues.

Conference Committees

Temporary committees formed to reconcile differences between House and Senate bill versions.

House Ways and Means Committee

Standing committee responsible for taxation and revenue policy.

Senate Appropriations Committee

Committee responsible for government spending legislation.

Bill Introduction

The formal proposal of legislation by a member of Congress.

Committee Review

The stage where bills are debated, amended, or rejected by committees.

Floor Debate

Discussion of a bill by the full House or Senate.

Presidential Action

The president signs or vetoes legislation passed by Congress.

Veto Override

Congress can pass a vetoed bill with a two-thirds vote in both chambers.

Rules Committee

House committee that determines debate rules and whether a bill reaches the floor.

Committee of the Whole

A procedural mechanism allowing the House to debate bills more quickly with fewer members present.

Discharge Petition

A method for House members to force a bill out of committee and onto the floor.

Filibuster

Unlimited debate used by senators to block or delay legislation.

Cloture

Procedure requiring 3/5 Senate vote to end a filibuster.

Unanimous Consent

Agreement among senators to speed up legislative procedures.

Incumbency Advantage

The tendency for current officeholders to win reelection due to name recognition, fundraising, and constituent services.

Safe Seats

Districts where one party is almost certain to win elections.

Swing Districts

Competitive districts where either party has a realistic chance of winning.

Casework

Assistance legislators provide to constituents dealing with federal agencies.

Pork Barrel Spending

Funding for local projects intended to benefit a legislator’s district or state.

Trustee Model

Representatives vote using their own judgment and expertise.

Delegate Model

Representatives vote according to the preferences of their constituents.

Politico Model

Representatives combine personal judgment with constituent preferences.

Mandatory Spending

Spending required by existing laws, such as Social Security and Medicare.

Discretionary Spending

Spending determined through the annual budget process.

Deficit Spending

Occurs when government spending exceeds revenue.

Committee Gridlock

When committees delay or block legislation.

Partisan Polarization

Increasing ideological divisions between political parties that make compromise difficult.

Partisanship

Loyalty to political party goals and policies.

Unified Government

One political party controls the presidency and both chambers of Congress.

Divided Government

Control of government is split between different political parties.

Checks and Balances

The system that allows Congress to limit the powers of other branches of government.

Special Interests

Groups that influence legislation to benefit specific agendas.