AP Gov: Legislative Branch

Bicameralism

The principle of a two house legislature

Constituents

The residents of a congressional district or state

Franking Privilege

Privilege that allows members of congress to mail letters and other materials to constituents postage free

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer In the house of representatives formally elected by the house but actually selected by the majority party

President Pro Tempore

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

Majority leader

The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy, confers with other party leaders, and tries to keep members of the party in line

Minority leader

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

Whip

The party leader who is a liaison between the leadership and the rank-and-file in the legislature

Redistricting

The state legislature re-draws the different districts within a state after reapportionment is done

Reapportionment

Redistribution of the congressional seats among the states after the census determines changes in population distribution

Gerrymandering

Drawing of congressional districts to favor one pol. party group over another

Legislative Oversight

Congress monitors policies of the executive branch (money, hearings, investigations)-checks and balances

Caucus

A meeting of local party members to choose party officials or candidates for public office and to decide the platform

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

Conference Committee

A committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in a different from

Pocket Veto

A veto exercised by the President after Congress has adjourned; if the President takes no action for ten days, the bill does not become law and is not returned to Congress for a possible overrride

Divided Government

Governance divided between the parties, especially when one holds the presidency and the other controls one of both houses of Congress

17th Amendment

Direct elections of senators

Safe seat/district

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 holder of an elected office

House requirements

25 years old, U.S. Citizen for 7 years, and resident of state

Senate requirements

30 years old, U.S. citizen for 9 years, and resident of state

Article 1 of the Constitution

Legislative Branch

4 jobs of congress

1: Lawmakers (make and write laws)

2: Represent their constituents

3: Committee members

4: Servants of their constituents.

Benefits of Congress

-franking privilege
-salary
-office space
-immunity

Politico

Lawmaker who attempts to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles

Trustee

A legislator who acts according to her or his conscience and the broad interests of the entire society

Delegate

A person appointed or elected to represent others

Partisan

Devoted to or biased in support of a party, group, or cause

Incumbency advantage

the electoral edge afforded to those already in office

Bill making process

Idea comes from House/ Senate and put into bill -> referred to subcommittee -> returned to house floor for debate/amendments -> conference commitee (differences between house and senate bills are reconciled) -> house/senate floor debate -> president signs/veto -> if president vetoes and house and senate have 2/3 majority, it is passed

Veto

To reject

Difference of house and senate

senate represents entire state - serves 6 yr terms. floor debate. unlimited debate. casework not imp. fewer committees. VP is presiding officer.
house represents part of a state - serve 2 yr terms.committee work. limited debate. casework important. more committees. House elects presiding officer (Speaker

Standing committee

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

Expressed Powers of Congress

Powers stated in the Constitution; powers to collect taxes, establish army, establish postal system, make laws, and declare war

Gerrymandering: Packing

concentrating the opposing party's voting power in one district to reduce their voting power in other districts

Gerrymandering: Cracking

diluting the voting power of the opposing party's supporters across many districts

Impeachment

A formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office

Impeachment in the House

Passes and article of impeachment which must be approved by a simple majority

Impeachment in the Senate

hears evidence and votes to convict and forcibly remove the person from office (2/3rds vote required to convict)

Judge in presidential impeachment trial

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

Virginia Plan

"Large state" proposal for the new constitution, calling for proportional representation in both houses of a bicameral Congress. The plan favored larger states and thus prompted smaller states to come back with their own plan for apportioning representation.

New Jersey Plan

A constitutional proposal that would have given each state one vote in a new congress

Connecticut Compromise/ The Great compromise

Compromise agreement by states at the Constitutional Convention for a bicameral legislature with a lower house in which representation would be based on population and an upper house in which each state would have two senators.

Baker vs Carr

case that est. one man one vote. this decision created guidelines for drawing up congresional districts and guaranteed a more equitable system of representation to the citizens of each state

Shaw vs Reno

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

US vs Lopez

Gun Free School Zones Act exceeded Congress' authority to regulate interstate commerce.

Continuous Body

governing unit whose seats are never all up for election at the same time (Senate)

Creates Fedral Courts

Congress