AP Gov - Unit 2 Vocab

Bicameral Legislature

A two-house legislature

Appointment

The process of distributing congressional seats to each state according to its population following the census

Bill

A proposed law

Impeachment

Power delegated to the house in the Constitution to charge Vice President, President, and civil officers, including federal judges, with “treason, bribery, or other high crimes or misdemeanors”. The first step in the Constitutional process of removing government officials from office

Trustee

Role played by elected representative who listens to constituents opinions and uses their own best judgment to make final decision

Delegate

Role played by elected representative who votes the way their constituents want, regardless of personal opinion

Politico

Elected representative who acts as a trustee or a delegate depending on the issue

Incumbency

Already holding an office

Redistricting

Process of redrawing congressional districts to reflect increases or decreases in seats given to states and the population shifts in states

Gerrymandering

Drawing of congressional districts to produce a particular electoral outcome without regard to the shape of the district

Baker v. Carr

Decided that federal courts could hear cases alleging that a state’s drawing of electoral boundaries violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment

Shaw v. Reno

Decided that using racial reasons for redistricting is unconstitutional

Majority Party

Political party in each house of Congress with most members

Minority Party

Political party in each house with 2nd most members

Party Caucus

Formal gathering of all party members

Speaker of the House

Only officer of the House mentioned in the Constitution. Chamber’s most powerful position, usually member of majority party

Majority Leader

Head of the party with the most seats in the House, 2nd in authority to Speaker in House, regarded as most powerful member

Minority Leader

Head of party with 2nd highest number of elected representatives in the House or Senate

Whip

Party leader who keeps close contact with all members of party, takes vote counts on key legislature, prepares summaries of bills, acts as communication link in party

Standing Committee

Committee where bills are referred continues from one Congress to next

Joint Committee

Standing committee including members from both houses set up to conduct investigations/special studies

Conference Committee

Special joint committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by House/Senate

Select Committee

Temporary committee appointed for a specific purpose

House Committee on Rules

Determines scheduling and conditions, such as length of debate and types of amendments allowed, for all bills in the House

Discharge Petition

Petition that gives a majority of the House the authority to bring issue to the floor in the face of committee inaction

Seniority

Time of continuous service on a committee

Markup

Session in which committee members offer changes to bill before it goes to the floor

Committee of the Whole

Procedure that allows the House to deliberate with a lower number of members to quicken consideration/amendment of bill

Hold

Procedure where a senator asks to be informed before a bill/nomination is brought to the floor/ This signals leadership that a member may have objections to the bill, should be consulted before further action

Filibuster

Formal way of halting Senate action on a bill with long speeches/unlimited debate

Cloture

Mechanism requiring the vote of 60 senators to cut off debate

Veto

Constitution authority of president to reject bills passed by Congress, preventing them from becoming law without further congressional action

Pocket Veto

If Congress adjourns during 10 days President has to consider a bill, the bill is considered vetoed

Pork

Legislation allowing representatives to bring money and jobs to districts in the form of public works, programs, military bases, or other programs

Programmatic Requests

Federal funds for special projects within state/congressional district (earmarks)

Divided Government

Political condition in which different political parties control presidency and at least 1 house in Congress

War Powers Resolution

President limited in deployment of troops overseas to 60-day period in peacetime unless Congress gives approval for longer period

Congressional Review

Process where Congress can nullify agency regulations in 60-day window by passing joint resolution of legislation disapproval. President’s approval of resolution or a 2/3 majority vote in both houses to overrule presidential veto is required

Senatorial Courtesy

Process where President allows senators from the state where there is a judicial vacancy occurs to block a nomination by registering their objection

Unified Government

Same political party controls presidency and Congress

Logrolling

Vote trading

Lawmaking

Process of passing/enacting laws

Representation

Activity of making citizens “present” in public-policy making processes when political actors act in citizen’s best interest

Oversight

Action taken to review operations