AP Gov Unit 2: legislative vocab cards

Bicameral legislature — Definition

A legislature with two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Bicameral legislature — Significance

The Great Compromise created it; both chambers generally must pass a bill, balancing population-based and equal state representation.

Quorum — Definition

The minimum number of members required to conduct official business in a legislative chamber.

Quorum — Significance

Ensures enough members are present to conduct business; a majority constitutes a quorum in each chamber.

Franking privilege — Definition

The ability of members of Congress to send official mail to constituents without paying postage.

Franking privilege — Significance

Helps members communicate with voters and can give incumbents an advantage in reelection.

Majority leader — Definition

The floor leader of the majority party in a chamber of Congress.

Majority leader — Significance

Coordinates party strategy and legislative priorities; the Senate majority leader has major influence over the floor schedule.

Minority leader — Definition

The floor leader of the minority party in a chamber of Congress.

Minority leader — Significance

Represents the minority party, coordinates its strategy, and challenges the majority party's agenda.

Whip — Definition

A party leader who counts votes and encourages members to support the party's positions.

Whip — Significance

Helps leaders estimate support for bills and maintain party unity during votes.

Party polarization — Definition

The growing ideological divide between political parties.

Party polarization — Significance

Increases party-line voting, reduces compromise, and contributes to congressional gridlock.

Congressional caucus — Definition

A group of members of Congress organized around shared political beliefs, interests, or goals.

Congressional caucus — Significance

Lets members coordinate positions, promote shared interests, and influence legislation.

Standing committees — Definition

Permanent congressional committees that specialize in particular policy areas.

Standing committees — Significance

Do most detailed legislative work, including hearings, bill revisions, and oversight of executive agencies.

Select committees — Definition

Committees created for a limited time to investigate or study specific issues.

Select committees — Significance

Allow Congress to investigate major events or problems and recommend possible legislative action.

Joint committees — Definition

Committees consisting of members from both the House and Senate.

Joint committees — Significance

Coordinate congressional activities and conduct research or administrative work, such as overseeing the Library of Congress.

Conference committees — Definition

Temporary committees of House and Senate members that reconcile differences between two versions of a bill.

Conference committees — Significance

Produce a compromise bill that must be approved by both chambers before it can go to the president.

Discharge petition — Definition

A petition signed by 218 House members to force a bill out of committee and onto the House floor.

Discharge petition — Significance

Allows a House majority to bypass a committee that refuses to act on a bill.

Unanimous consent — Definition

An agreement in the Senate in which no senator objects to a proposed action.

Unanimous consent — Significance

Speeds up Senate business, but a single senator's objection can prevent the agreement.

Political/policy agenda — Definition

The issues and proposals government officials prioritize for discussion and action.

Political/policy agenda — Significance

Determines which problems receive government attention and which proposed policies are considered.

Logrolling — Definition

The exchange of votes between legislators to help each other pass legislation.

Logrolling — Significance

Helps legislators build coalitions and secure votes for bills that might otherwise fail.

Divided government — Definition

When different parties control the presidency and at least one chamber of Congress.

Divided government — Significance

Can increase partisan conflict and gridlock when the president and Congress disagree on policy.

Unified government — Definition

When one party controls the presidency, the House, and the Senate.

Unified government — Significance

Can make passing the governing party's agenda easier, although disagreements within the party may remain.

Hold — Definition

A Senate practice in which a senator signals an objection or requests a delay in action on a bill or nomination.

Hold — Significance

Gives individual senators leverage to negotiate, seek concessions, or delay Senate action.

Earmarks — Definition

Provisions directing government funds toward specific projects or recipients, often in a legislator's district or state.

Earmarks — Significance

Help members secure local funding but can be criticized as wasteful spending or political favoritism.

Pork barrel legislation — Definition

Government spending legislation that funds specific local projects to benefit a legislator's constituents.

Pork barrel legislation — Significance

Helps lawmakers gain constituent support, but projects seen as wasteful can damage Congress's reputation.

Trustee — Definition

A lawmaker who uses personal judgment and expertise rather than simply following constituents' wishes.

Trustee — Significance

Allows lawmakers to act on what they believe serves the public interest, even when voters disagree.

Delegate — Definition

A lawmaker who votes according to constituents' preferences and wishes.

Delegate — Significance

Makes representatives responsive to voters and public opinion; often associated with the House's frequent elections.

Politico — Definition

A lawmaker who combines the delegate and trustee models of representation.

Politico — Significance

Lets lawmakers follow constituents' wishes on some issues while using independent judgment on others.

Cloture rule — Definition

A Senate procedure that usually requires 60 votes to end debate and overcome a filibuster on legislation.

Cloture rule — Significance

Allows the Senate to limit debate, but the 60-vote threshold can let a minority block legislation.

Filibuster — Definition

A Senate tactic that delays or blocks action by prolonging debate or threatening extended debate.

Filibuster — Significance

Gives the Senate minority leverage over legislation but can contribute to gridlock.

Gerrymandering — Definition

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

Gerrymandering — Significance

Can create safe districts, reduce competitive elections, and distort political representation.

Reapportionment — Definition

Redistributing the 435 House seats among states based on population changes measured by the census.

Reapportionment — Significance

Adjusts each state's number of House representatives to reflect population shifts across the country.

Malapportionment — Definition

Unequal representation caused by districts having significantly different population sizes.

Malapportionment — Significance

Undermines equal representation; the one person, one vote principle requires districts within a state to have roughly equal populations.

Redistricting — Definition

The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries, usually after the census.

Redistricting — Significance

Adjusts districts to reflect population changes, but the process can be manipulated through gerrymandering.

Constituency — Definition

The people represented by an elected official, such as residents of a congressional district or state.

Constituency — Significance

Constituents influence lawmakers through elections, public opinion, and communication with their representatives.