AP Comp gov vocab (Legislative branch)

weekly/biweekly vocab quiz

Bicameral Legislature

In the U.S, the Congress is divided into the House of Representatives and Senate.

Bill

A proposed law introduced in Congress. It must pass both chambers and be signed by the president (or become law through the constitutional process) to take effect.

Casework

Help that members of Congress provide individual constituents, such as helping with problems involving federal agencies.

Speaker of the House

The leader of the House of Representatives, chosen by House members. The Speaker is second in the presidential line of succession after the vice president.

Majority leader

the leader of the majoirty party in chamber who helps organize and guide the party’s Legislative agenda

Minority leader

the leader of the minority party in a chamber who represents and coordinates the minority party.

Whip

A party leader who counts votes and encourages members to vote with the party.

House rules Committee

A house committee that determines how and when many bills will be debated, including how much debate is allowed and whether amendments can be offered.

Caucus

A group of members of Congress who share a common party, interest, or goal and meet to coordinate.

Pork Barrel

Government spendings directed toward projects that benefit a specific district or state, often helping a member of Congress gain support from constituents.

Committee chairs

members who lead congressional committees. They typically come from the majority party and control much of the committee’s agenda.

Standing Committee

A permanent congressional committee that handles legislation and oversight in a specific policy area.

Select Committee

a committee created for a specific purpose or investigation, usually temporary.

Joint Committee

Committees made up of members of both the House and Senate, usually used for investigation or coordination rather than directly passing legislation

Conference Committee

A temporary committee made up of House and Senate members that works to reconcile different versions of the same bill.

Seniority system

the practice of giving members with more years of service greater influence, such as committee leadership positions.

Legislative oversight

Congress’s ability to monitor and investigate the executive branch to make sure laws are properly implemented.

Filibuster

A Senate Tactic used to delay or prevent a vote by extending debate.

Cloture

A Senate procedure to end debate and overcome a filibuster. It generally requires 60 votes.

Incumbents

Current officeholders who are running for reelection.

Trustee Role

A representative makes decisions based on their own judgement about what is best, even if constituents disagree.

Delegate role

A representative votes according to the preference of their constituents.

Gerrymandering

Drawing electoral district boundaries to give an unfair political advantage to a particular party or group.

Packing

Concentrating opposing voters into a small number of districts, limiting their influence elsewhere.

Cracking/Dilution

Spreading opposing voters across many districts so they have less influence in each one

Appropriation Bill

A specific bill the gives government agencies permission to spend money for purposes.

Authorization Bill

A bill that creates or continues a government program and sets its general purpose or funding limit.

Budget

A plan for government revenues and expenditures.

Budget resolution

A congressional plan that establishes overall spending and revenue targets for the federal government. It does not go to the president for a signature.

Congressional Budget and impoundment Control Act of 1974

A law that strengthened Congress’s control over the federal budget and created the Congressional Budget Office.

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

A nonpartisan congressional agency that provides economic and budget analysis to Congress.

Continuing Resolution

A temporary law that allows the government to continue funding operations when regular appropriations have not been passed.

Deficit

When the government spends more money than it collects in a given year.

Entitlements

Government programs that provide benefits to people who meet eligibility requirements, such as Social Security and Medicare.

Expenditures

Money the government spends.

Federal debt

The total amount of money the federal government owes from accumulated borrowing over time.

House Ways and Means Committee

A major House committee responsible for legislation involving taxes, revenue, and certain entitlement programs.

Income Tax

A tax charged on income earned by individuals or businesses.

Incrementalism

The process of making small changes to existing policies or budgets rather than making major changes all at once.

Earmarks

Congressional funding designated for a specific project or purpose, often benefiting a particular district or state.

Franking Privilege

Allows members of Congress to send official mail to constituents without paying regular postage.

Reconciliation

A congressional budget process used to change taxes or spending to meet targets established in the budget resolution. It can be especially important because Senate debate is limited.

Revenues

Money collected by the government, primarily through taxes and other resources.

Sixteenth Amendment

Gave Congress the constitutional authority to impose a federal income tax

Social Security Act

1935 law that created social security, providing benefits primarily to retried and certain other eligible Americans.

Tax expenditures

Revenue the government doesn’t collect because of tax breaks, such as deductions, credits, or exclusions.

Uncontrollable expenditures

Government spending that occurs automatically because it is required by existing laws, such as many entitlement benefits.

Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII)

Prohibits employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin and created the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) to enforce federal employment discrimination laws.

Voting Rights Act of 1965

A major civil rights law that prohibited discriminatory voting practices and strengthened federal enforcement of voting rights.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990

Prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities and requires accessibility in areas such as employment, public services and public accommodations.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold Act) of 2002

Law that placed restrictions on certain types of campaign financing, particularly “soft money” contributions to political parties.