DE US Government - Unit 2: Legislative Branch

Power of the Purse

Control over taxation and spending

Unicameral system

single house legislature

Bicameral system

two house legislature, can be symmetrical or asymmetrical

Rubber Stamp Legislature

little or no independent power that simply approves decisions made by the executive/ruling party

Arena Legislature

allows open debate and discussion but has limited influence on actual policy

Transformative Legislature

plays an active and independent role in shaping national policy

Plurality/First Past the Post/Single Member District

Legislative members are chosen in a winner take all system (common in two party systems)

Proportional Representation

Seats distributed in legislature by party vote share (common in multi party systems)

Mixed Electoral System

combines elements of proportional and plurality

Descriptive Representation

extent to which legislators physically or demographically resemble the people they represent

Substantive Representation

Representation based on advocating for peoples interests and policy preferences regardless of the legislator’s identity

Delegate Model

Representatives act as mouthpieces for the people, voting according to the wishes of the majority, even if they personally disagree

Trustee Model

Representatives use their own judgment and expertise to make decisions in what they believe is the best interest of the people and the nation, even if it goes against popular opinion in their district

Politico Model

hybrid of the trustee and delegate models. Representatives balance their own judgment with constituent preferences depending on the issue’s importance

Hyperpluralism

Elites and special interests having too much influence

Gridlock

a situation where no progress can be made because opposing factions are in stalemate

Political Polarization

divergence of political attitudes away from the center toward more extreme views

House of Representatives

Represent the people directly (population-based)

Senate

represent all states equally

Commerce Clause

grants Congress the power to regulate commerce with foreign nations, the several states, and Indian tribes

Congressional Hearings

Congressional Investigation

Subpoena

Confirmation Hearing

Reporting Requirements

Hopper

Committees

Subcommittees

Hearings

Sunshine Act

Mark up

Discharge Petition

Rules Committee

Unanimous Consent Agreement

Filibuster

Conference Committee

Pocket Veto

Federal Budget

Mandatory Spending

Entitlements

Discretionary Spending

Surplus

Deficit

National Debt

Apportionment

Reapportionment

Gerrymandering

Speaker of the House

Majority/minority leaders

Majority/minority whips

President of the Senate

President pro tempore

Standing committee

Select Committee

Joint Committee