gov unit 2: congress

congress

the legislative branch of the federal government, made up of the house of representatives and the Senate

bicameralism

a legislature divided into 2 chambers

house of representatives

the chamber of Congress based on state population. members serve 2 year terms

senate

the chamber of Congress in which every state has 2 senators. senators serve 6 year terms

constituency

the people an elected official represents

reapportionment

redistributing the 435 house seats among the states after the census

redistricting

redrawing election-district boundaries, usually after reapportionment

gerrymandering

drawing district boundaries to give a political group an advantage

packing

concentrating opposing voters into a small number of districts

cracking

dividing opposing voter among several districts so they are less likely to form a majority

enumerated powers

powers specifically listed in the Constitution

implied powers

powers not directly listed but reasonably connected to an enumerated power

necessary and proper clause

gives Congress authority to make laws needed to carry out its enumerated powers

standing committee

a permanent congressional committee that specializes in a policy area

conference committee

a temporary committee used to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill

speaker of the house

the presiding officer and most powerful leader of the housew

whip

a party leader who counts votes and works to keep members voting with the party

filibuster

a senate tactic using extended debate or the threat of extended debate to delay or block action

cloture

the senate procedure used to end debate and move toward a vote

hold

an informal senate objection that can delay consideration of a bill or nomination

unanimous consent

an agreement by all senators to skip or modify normal Senate procedures

authorization

a law that creates, continues, or sets the terms of a federal program

appropriation

legislation that provides legal authority for the government to spend money

mandatory spending

federal spending required by existing law rather than decided through the regular annual appropriations process

entitlements

government benefit programs that provide benefits to people who meet eligibility requirements established by law. most major entitlement spending is mandatory

discretionary spending

federal spending that congress decides through the annual appropriations process

veto override

congress passing a bill despite a presidential veto with a 2/3 vote in both chambers

impeachment

a formal accusation of serious misconduct against a federal official

oversight

congressional monitoring of executive agencies and officials

delegate model

a view of representation in which an elected official closely follows constituents’ preferences

trustee model

a view of representation in which an elected official uses personal judgement about the public good

politico model

a view of representation that mixes the delegate and trustee approaches

bill of attainder (FCLE)

a law that punishes a person or group without a court trial. the Constitution forbids congress from passing one

ex post facto law (FCLE)

a law that makes an action criminal after it was already committed. the constitution forbids this type of criminal law