AP GOV - AMSCO - Chapter 4 (Congress)

Bicameral

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

House of Representatives

the lower house of Congress, consisting of a different number of representatives from each state, depending on population

Senate

A council of representatives

Seventeenth Amendment (1913)

Instituted the direct election of senators by the people of each state

Advice and Consent

Instituted the direct election of senators by the people of each state

Coalitions

Alliances of various parties

Power of the Purse

Constitutional power given to Congress to raise and spend money

Caucuses

meetings where political parties chose their candidates

Enumerated Powers

Powers given to the national government alone

Implied Powers

Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution

Necessary and Proper Clause

Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national government

War Powers Act (1973)

Gave any president the power to go to war under certain circumstances, but required that he could only do so for 90 days before being required to officially bring the matter before Congress.

Cloture Rule

a rule used by the Senate to end or limit debate

Filibuster

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.

Hold

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of the bill or nomination.

Logrolling

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

Omnibus Bill

One very large bill that encompasses many separate bills.

Pork-Barrel Spending

legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states

Rider

A provision attached to a bill - to which it may or may not be related - in order to secure its passage or defeat.

Sponsor

A person or group who provides resources and support for the project, program, or portfolio and is accountable for enabling success.

Unanimous Consent

an agreement by every senator to the terms of debate on a given piece of legislation

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.

Conference Committee

Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.

Discharge Petition

Petition that, if signed by majority of the House of Representatives' members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.

Joint Committees

Congressional committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership drawn from both houses.

President of the Senate

Vice President

President Pro Tempore

Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president

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.

Select Committee

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

Senate Majority Leader

The chief spokesperson of the majority party in the Senate, who directs the legislative program and party strategy.

Ways and Means Committee

House committee that handles tax bills

Whip

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

Deficit

An excess of federal expenditures over federal revenues.

Discretionary Spending

the portion of the federal budget that Congress decides on annually through the appropriations process, which includes funding for programs like defense, education, and transportation

Mandatory Spending

Required government spending by permanent laws

Baker v. Carr (1962)

"One man, one vote." Ordered state legislative districts to be as near equal as possible in population; Warren Court's judicial activism.

Delegate Model

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

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

Gridlock

the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government

"Lame Duck" President

Time after a new president is elected, but has not been inaugurated yet.

“one person, one vote” principle

The principle that each legislative district within a state should have the same number of eligible voters so that representation is equitably based on population

Politico Model

Members of Congress act as delegates or trustees depending on the issue

Racial Gerrymandering

The drawing of election districts so as to ensure that members of a certain race are a minority in the district; ruled unconstitutional in Gomillion v. Lightfoot (1960).

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

NO racial gerrymandering; race cannot be the sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative boundaries; majority-minority districts.

Swing District

a district where no single candidate or party has overwhelming support

Trustee Model

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

germane

in close relationship, appropriate, or relevant

Speaker of the House

recognizes members for floor speeches and comments, organizes members for conference committees, and has great influence in most matters of lawmaking; only House leadership position mentioned in the Constitution

saliency 

intense importantance 

valence issues

concerns or policies that are viewed in the same way by people w/ variety of idealogies

wedge issues

sharply divide the public

majortarian policy making 

a political philosophy where the preferences of the majority are prioritized in creating laws and policies, which can lead to policies reflecting the will of most citizens but also risk overlooking or marginalizing minority interests.

fiscal policy 

that part of economic policy that is concerned w/ government spending and taxation 

Internal Revenue Service (IRS)  

a U.S. government agency responsible for collecting federal taxes and enforcing tax laws.

progressive tax

meaning one’s tax increases, or progresses, as one’s incomes rises 

monetary policy

how the gov. manages the supply and demand of its currency and thus the value of the dollar

Federal Reserve Board

board of seven “governors” appointed by president and approved by the Senate for staggered 14 year terms 

discount rate

the interest rate at which the government loans actual dollars to commercial banks  

reserve requirement 

how much cash commercial banks must keep in their vaults 

bonds

a debt instrument issued by a government or corporation to raise capital by borrowing money from investors

North American Free Trade Agreement

a 1994 agreement between Canada, Mexico, and the United States that eliminated most tariffs on trade and investment between the three countries

entitlements 

government services Congress has promised by law to citizens 

Medicare 

a gov. run health insurance program for citizens over 65 years old 

Medicaid

a healthcare program for the impoverished who cannot afford necessary medical expenses

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

a U.S. healthcare reform law passed in 2010 that aims to increase health insurance access, improve the quality of care, and lower healthcare costs