ap gov unit 2 vocab- chapter 4

Apportionment***

the assigning by Congress of congressional seats after each census. State legislatures reapportion state legislative districts.

Seventeenth Amendment

broadened democracy by giving the people of the state the right to elect their senators. ratified in 1913

War Powers Resolution/Act

Passed in 1973 after nearly a decade of an unpopular and ultimately failed Vietnam. Reigns in executive power by requiring the president to inform Congress within 48 hours of committing U.S. forces to combat. Requires Congress to vote within 60 days, with a possible 30-day extension, to approve any military force and its funding. Strikes a balance between the framers’ intended constitutional framework and the need for a strong executive to manage quick military action in the days of modern warfare. Congress can choose to waive the 60-day requirement, as it did at the request of President George W. Bush after the September 11 attacks.

Speaker of the House***

Wields the most power in HOR- only leadership position mentioned in Constitution. Recognizes speakers for floor speeches and comments, organizes members for conference committees, great influence in most lawmaking matters.

House Majority/Minority Leader***

Floor leaders- direct debate from among their party’s members, guide discussion from their side of the aisle, first members recognized in debate, spokepersons for the party (offer their party messages through news conferences + interviews on cable networks & Sunday talk shows). 2nd place in HOR’s power.

Majority/Minority Whip***

Deputy leader- below floor leader in HOR’s power ladder, in charge of party discipline. Keeps rough tally of votes of party members (helps determine optimum time for a vote), communicate leadership views to them, makes them vote with party, assures they remain in good standing + act in an ethical/professional way, may insist a member step down from serving as a committee chair or leave Congress entirely when scandals or misteps occur.

President pro tempore***

Temporary pres- Article 1 provides for them. Mostly a ceremonial position held by most senior member of majority party, preside over Senate in absence of vice pres, sign legislation, issue oath of office to new senators.

Senate Majority Leader***

Has more power in Senate than vice pres and pro tem- chief legislator, first person chair recognizes in debate, leader who sets legislative calendar + determines which bills do/don’t reach floor for debate, guides party caucus on issues & party strategy.

Committee Chair

Senior members in majority party in that committee

House Rules committee

Very powerful- can dispose a bill/define guidelines for debate (traffic cop to House floor). Allows everything to reach floor, generally reflects will and sentiment of Hour leadership and majority caucus, impacts every House bill (assigns bills to appropriate standing committees), schedules bills for debate, decides when votes take place, determines what issues/bills other members will vote on.

Committee of the Whole

Unique to House, includes but doesn’t require all representatives, state of operation where House rules are relaxed (not an actual committee). Created to allow longer debate among fewer people, allows members to vote as a group instead of in an individual roll call, nonvoting delegates from U.S. territories can vote when House operates, only 100 must be present to act, “rises and reports” bill to House when finished examining + shaping it (then, more formal rules of procedure and voting resume and entire House will vote on final passage of bill if quorum is present)

Standing Committee

Permanent committees focused on a particular policy area- Congress members can specialize in a few topics and become experts in these areas.

Filibuster***

Tactic Senators use to use their debate time- stalling/killing a bill by speaking for a very long time to block a nomination/let the time run out on a deadline for voting on a bill. Senate procedure, not a constitution power, that any senator can use to wear down opposition/extract a deal from Senate leadership.

Hold

A measure to stall a bill.

Cloture***

Rule enabled and required a 2/3 supermajority to stop debate on a bill/a filibuster, allowing a vote. Senate lowered standard to 3/5 (60/100 senators) in 1975- once cloture is reached, each senator can speak for up to an hour on that bill or topic.

Pork Barrel Spending***

A product of legislative add-ons- funds earmarked for specific purposes in a legislator’s district. Federal money is spent across nation to fund fed-to-state programs. Congress members try to “bring bacon home”- riders are sometimes inserted onto bills by a powerful leader or chair, sometimes within days/hours before a final vote to avoid debate on them.

Logrolling***

Factor affecting lawmaking- trading votes to gain support for a bill. Members can secure a vote for their own bill by agreeing to back someone else’s bill.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)***

Congress created in 1970’s- pres’ budgeting arm. Headed by a director (essentially pres’ accountant)- considers needs and wants of all fed departments and agencies, fiscal + economic philosophy of pres, fed revenues, & other factors to arrange annual budget.

Mandatory Spending***

Payment required by law/mandated for certain programs (special funds for people in temporary need of help). Congress passed laws determining eligibility for these programs + level of payments- on basis of those laws, this spending happens automatically.

Budget Deficit***

Difference between spending and revenue. Gov has to borrow money to pay it- each year’s loans add to national debt (already large).

Discretionary Spending***

funding that congressional committees debate and decide how to divide up. pays for everything else not required under mandatory spending.

national debt***

the amount of money the federal government has borrowed to cover expenses incurred over time

gridlock

the “congestion” of opposing forces that prevents ideas from moving forward within each house and between the Congress and the president (caused by intensifying partisanship)

delegate model***

Members reflecting the will of their constituency, especially in the House

trustee model***

Representatives believe they are entrusted by their constituency to use their best judgment, regardless of how constituents may view an issue (especially in the Senate)

politico model***

blends delegate and trustee models. lawmakers consider a variety of factors and decide their action/vote for whatever political calculations make the most sense to them at the time, especially when there seems to be little public concern.

redistricting***

reshaping of congressional districts based on shifts in population following the census every 10 years, impacts congressional behavior, HOR, democratic participation, public policy

Majority-minority districts

electoral district (like a congressional one) where the majority of constituents are racial or ethnic minorities

Malapportionment

drawing electoral district boundaries in a way that results in significantly uneven populations across districts, meaning some voters have more influence than others due to the disparity in representation based on population size

Incumbency

holding of an office or the period during which one is held

Incumbency Advantage

significant electoral benefit that current officeholders (incumbents) have over challengers in elections (name recognition, donor networks, media attention, etc), making it easier for them to win re-election

Political Action Committee (PAC)

tax-exempt organization that pools campaign contributions from members and donates those funds to campaigns for or against other candidates, ballot initiatives, or legislation.

Gerrymandering (Partisan & Racial)***

illogical district lines drawn to give the advantage to one party. partisan- guaranteeing safe seats (districts where a party consistently wins by more than 55% of the vote) and one-party rule. racial- intentional drawing of legislative districts on the basis of race. has been used to dilute African American votes, violating 15th amendment.

discharge petition

can bring a bill out a reluctant committee

unanimous consent agreement

arrangement in Senate- all senators must agree to a specific set of rules or procedures regarding a piece of legislation

entitlement program

government program that guarantees specific benefits to individuals who meet certain eligibility criteria

constituency

group of voters or residents within a specific geographical district who elect a representative to a legislative body

bipartisanship

political situation (usually in the context of a two-party system) where opposing political parties find common ground through compromise

divided government

president is from one party and HOR and/or Senate is dominated by the other

lame duck period

time between an election and the inauguration of a new government where the outgoing officials have limited power or influence