AP Gov Test 2

marginal district

political districts in which candidates elected to the house of representatives win in close elections, typically by less than 55 percent of the vote

safe district

districts in which incumbents win by margins of 55% or more

simple resolution

a statement adopted to cover matters affecting only one house of Congress

conccurent resolution

a resolution adopted by both houses of a legislative assembly that does not require the signature of the chief executive and that does not have the force of law.

joint resolution

a resolution that is passed by both houses of Congress

casework

the work that a lawmaker does to help constituents with a problem

discharge peitition

Petition that gives a majority of the House of Representatives the authority to bring an issue to the floor in the face of committee inaction.

restrictive rule

an order from the House Rules Committee that permits certain kinds of amendments but not others to be made into a bill on the floor

open rule

an order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor

rider

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

quorom

The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress

christmas tree bill

A bill that has many riders to increase its chances of being passed

double tracking

A procedure to keep the Senate going during a filibuster in which the disputed bill is shelved temporarily so that the Senate can get on with other business.

pork-barrel legislation

legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return

sequester

automatic spending cuts that occur through the withdrawal of funding for certain (but not all) government programs

House Rules Committee

The committee in the House of Representatives that reviews most bills coming from a House committee before they go to the full House.

Ways & Means committee

a permanent committee of the United States House of Representatives that makes recommendations to the House on all bills that would raise revenue

Incrementalism

Small changes in policy over long periods of time; usually in reference to budget-making--that th ebest indicator of this year's budget is last year's budget plus a small increase

political agenda

issues that people believe require governmental action

logrolling

vote trading; voting to support a colleague's bill in return for a promise of future support

majoritarian politics

the politics of policy-making in which almost everybody benefits from a policy and almost everybody pays for it

client politics

a policy in which one small group benefits and almost everybody pays

entrepreneurial politics

a policy in which almost everyone benefits and a small group pays

interest group politics

a policy in which one small group benefits and another small group pays

national debt

the total amount of money that a country's government has borrowed, by various means.

gross domestic product

The sum total of the value of all the goods and services produced in a nation

federal reserve board

A seven-member board that sets member banks reserve requirements, controls the discount rate, and makes other economic decisions.

monetary policy

Government policy that attempts to manage the economy by controlling the money supply and thus interest rates.

fiscal policy

managing the economy through the use of tax and spending laws

budget

A policy document allocating burdens (taxes) and benefits (expenditures).

surplus

A situation in which quantity supplied is greater than quantity demanded

deficit

An excess of federal expenditures over federal revenues.

entitlements

are based on concepts of principle which are themselves based in concepts of social equality or enfranchisement

budget resolution

a congressional decision that states the maximum amount of money the government should spend

fiscal year

A 12-month pd, October through Septmeber, for planning the federal budget

Continuing Resolution

A temporary funding law that Congress passes when an appropriations bill has not been decided by the beginning of the new fiscal year on October 1.

cloture

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

filibuster

a tactic for delaying or obstructing legislation by making long speeches

trustee

a representative who votes based on what he or she thinks is best for his or her constituency

delegate

Attitudinal Representation

The theory of congressional voting behavior which assumes that members vote on the basis of their own beliefs because the array of conflicting pressures on members cancel out one another.

representational view

explanation of congressional voting that is based on the assumption that members want to get reelected and vote to please their constituents

organizational view

Explanation of congressional voting which suggests members of Congress respond primarily to cues provided by their colleagues

Rule 22

Provides that debate in the Senate could be cut off if two-thirds of the Senators present and voting agreed to a cloture motion

franking privilege

Benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free

standing committee

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

select committee

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

joint committee

A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.

parliament

A body of representatives that makes laws for a nation

mandatory

money that the government is required to spend by law

discretionary spending

spending that is not required to pay for contracts, interest on the national debt, or entitlement programs

conference committee

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

This amendment prohibits Congressional pay changes from taking effect until the next term

27th Amendment

This is the only way to get a bill out of committee when it is pigeonholed

discharge petition

This is extended "debate" in an attempt to stall action on a bill

filibuster

These are permanent committees and consider bills within certain subject areas

Standing Committee

These temporary committees are established for a limited time and special purpose

Select Committee

These legislative committees are composed of members from both chambers of congress

Joint Committee

This is a joint committee appointed to reconcile differences between versions of a bill

Conference Committee

This is a special committee that decides how the debate will occur in the House

House Rules Committee

A form or draft of a proposed statute presented to a legislature

Bill

A piece of legislation passed by both houses but not signed by the president; not a law

Concurrent Resolution

A piece of legislation pertaining to either house alone; not a law

Resolution

A provision not likely to pass on its own merit that is attached to a more important measure

Rider

The person currently holding an office

incumbent

Drawing of congressional districts to favor one political group

gerrymandering

The privilege of free postage that congressman enjoy

Frank

This legislation is an attempt to provide funds and projects to a person's home district

Pork Barrel

This is an attempt by a Member to gain support for their legislation by supporting another

logrolling

This occurs when the president does not sign a bill and sends it back to Congress

Veto

This occurs when the president refuses to sign a bill for 10 days and the bill dies

Pocket Veto

What can a subcommittee NOT do with a bill?

Veto it

This is the people in a district a member of Congress represents

constituency

Who is the leader of the House?

Speaker of the House

Who presides over the Senate?

Vice President

Who refers bills to committee?

The Speaker

How many votes are needed for a majority in the house?

218

the belief that the government should provide jobs when the economy is slow

keynesianism

which is not an action taken by the Federal Reserve?

oversee the budget process

name for the following powers of Congress: coin $, declare war, create post offices

enumerated powers

if a citizen meets the requirements, the govt is mandated to provide a benefit to them

entitlement

presides over the MO Senate

lieutenant governor

the president is from one political party and one or both houses of Congress are from another party

divided government

district in which more than 55% of voters chose the winner

safe

Number of members in the House of Rep

435

Number of members in the Senate

100

How many years does each House member serve?

2 years

Which part of Congress votes on foreign treaties and presidential appointees?

Senate

Who is the leader of the majority party in the House of Reps?

Speaker of House

Where and/or when do most proposed bills die in Congress?

in committee

how many votes are needed to stop a filibuster in the Senate?

60

What type of politics: large group pays, small group benefits?

The view of representation that Congress must vote how their constituents vote.

representational

Which executive branch group helps the president prepare a budget to be sent to Congress?

CEA, Secretary of the Treasury, OMB

Which person has the real power in the Senate?

Majority leader

Which of the following best reflects the intent of the Framers in creating the legislative branch?

the legislative should be slow and deliberate in the lawmaking process

Which of the following is a responsibility of the Federal Reserve Board?

regulating the amount of money a bank must keep in reserves

Which of the following is an informal power of Congress?

create continuing resolutions

Which House committee is important because they get tax bills first?

Ways and Means

View of representation that Congress must vote according to how their party votes on issues

organizational