AP Government Chapter 10 Vocabulary

constituent

a person whom a member of Congress has been elected to represent

Reapportionment

the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census

Redistricting

The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.

Gerrymandering

the drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent

safe seat

An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other, so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted.

incumbent

the current officeholder

earmark

Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents.

Bicameral

A two-house legislature.

enumerated powers

The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution.

Speaker of the House

the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

party caucus

A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy. Called a conference by the Republicans.

majority leader

the legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or Senate

minority leader

the legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority of seats in the House or the Senate

whip

Party leader who is the liaison between the leadership and the rank-and-file in the legislature.

closed rule

A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendments to bills or provides that only members of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments.

open rule

A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill.

President Pro Tempore

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

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.

Cloture

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

standing committee

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

Select committee

A congressional committee created for a specific purpose, sometimes to conduct an investigation.

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.

seniority rule

the members of Congress with the most years of service are generally given preference in office space, major committee assignments, and leadership positions

conference committee

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

Riders

a provision on a subject other than the one covered in the bill

pocket veto

A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

override

An action taken by Congress to reverse a presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds majority in each chamber.

delegate

official who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views

Trustee

An official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances; one interpretation of the role of the legislator.

Politico

a hybrid of delegate and trustee models

Logrolling

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

pork barrel

the use of government funds for projects designed to please voters or legislators and win votes.

implied powers

Powers not specifically mentioned in the constitution

impeach

To accuse government officials of misconduct in office

Advice and Consent

Terms in the Constitution describing the U.S. Senate's power to review and approve treaties and presidential appointments.

Conference Chair

works with the whip, the majority leader, and the pro tem. They put people on different committees. This is a powerful job

President of the Senate

the presiding officer of a senate; in Congress, the vice president of the United States

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

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.

discharge petition

a device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had the bill for 30 days, may petition to have it brought to the floor

Omnibus Bill

One very large bill that encompasses many separate bills.

Gridlock

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

oversight

the effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies

majority-minority districts

Drawing district boundaries to give a minority group a majority

Veto

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature

divided government

one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress

Bipartisanship

A policy that emphasizes a united front and cooperation between the major political parties, especially on sensitive foreign policy issues.