AP U.S. Congress Key Terms and Concepts for Civics and Government

Advice and Consent

The Senate's power to approve or reject presidential appointments (judges, cabinet officials, ambassadors) and treaties. A check on executive power.

Baker v Carr (1962)

Supreme Court case that established 'one person, one vote.' Allowed federal courts to review redistricting cases under the Equal Protection Clause.

Bicameral

A two-house legislature. In the U.S., Congress is bicameral: the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Caucuses

Groups of members of Congress who meet to pursue common legislative objectives or interests.

Cloture Rule

A Senate procedure to end a filibuster. Requires 60 votes (3/5ths of the Senate).

Committee Chairman

The head of a congressional committee, usually from the majority party, who controls the committee's agenda, hearings, and bills considered.

Committee of the Whole

A procedure in the House where all members sit as one large committee to debate and amend bills more quickly.

Committee of Committees (Republican)

Republican Party committee that assigns party members to standing committees.

Conference Chairman

The fourth-ranking party leadership position; handles party messaging and communications in Congress.

Conference Committees

Temporary, joint committees of House and Senate members created to reconcile differences in a bill before it goes to the president.

Congressional Oversight

The power of Congress to monitor the executive branch and agencies to ensure laws are carried out as intended.

Constituent Services (Casework)

When members of Congress help constituents deal with government agencies or programs.

Deficit

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

Delegate Model

A model of representation where legislators vote strictly according to their constituents' wishes.

Discharge Petition

A House procedure to force a bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote. Requires a majority of House members (218) to sign.

Discretionary Spending

Spending in the federal budget that Congress must approve each year (e.g., defense, education, transportation).

Earmarks

Funding provisions added to bills by lawmakers to direct money to specific local projects.

Enumerated Powers

Powers explicitly listed in the Constitution for Congress (e.g., coin money, declare war, regulate commerce).

Estate Taxes

A federal tax on the transfer of wealth from a deceased person's estate to their heirs.

Expressed Powers

Same as enumerated powers — directly stated in the Constitution.

Filibuster

A Senate tactic where a senator delays action on a bill by speaking for a long time. Can only be ended by cloture (60 votes).

Floor Leaders

Leaders of each party in Congress who guide debate and strategy.

Germane

Relevant to the subject of the bill. In the House, amendments must be germane; in the Senate, they don't have to be.

Gerrymandering

Redrawing congressional districts to favor a political party or group, often leading to oddly shaped districts.

Gridlock

When government is unable to act effectively due to partisan conflict or divided government.

Hold

A Senate practice where a senator objects to a bill or nomination, delaying it from coming to the floor.

House Judiciary Committee

Handles legislation on federal courts, laws, impeachment, civil liberties, and constitutional amendments.

House Ways and Means Committee

The powerful House committee overseeing taxation, tariffs, Social Security, and revenue-related policies.

Impeach

The House's power to formally charge federal officials with misconduct; the Senate then holds the trial.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly written in the Constitution but inferred from the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Incumbency

The status of already holding office. Incumbents have high reelection rates due to advantages like name recognition and fundraising.

Interest

A motivating concern or benefit that influences political behavior; often tied to interest groups.

Joint Committee

A committee with members from both the House and Senate, usually for administrative tasks or investigations.

Logrolling

When legislators agree to support each other's bills ("you vote for mine, I'll vote for yours").

Mandatory Spending

Spending required by law that Congress cannot easily change, e.g., Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid.

Marginal Seats

House or Senate seats that are competitive in elections and often swing between parties.

Markup Session

When a congressional committee debates, amends, and rewrites a proposed bill before voting on it.

Multiple Referral

When a bill is sent to more than one committee for review, allowing multiple perspectives but slowing the process.

Non-Germane Amendments

Amendments unrelated to the bill at hand; allowed in the Senate but not the House.

Omnibus Bill

A large bill that packages many unrelated issues together, making it harder to veto or oppose specific parts.

Politico Model

A model of representation where legislators act sometimes as delegates and sometimes as trustees, depending on the issue.

Pork-Barrel Spending

Government spending directed to specific local projects to benefit a representative's district.

President of the Senate

The Vice President of the U.S.; presides over the Senate and can break tie votes.

President Pro Tempore

A senior member of the majority party who presides over the Senate when the VP is absent; mostly ceremonial.

Reapportionment

The redistribution of House seats among the states every 10 years based on the census.

Redistricting

The redrawing of congressional district boundaries within states after reapportionment.

Riders

Unrelated amendments attached to bills, often to secure passage of measures that wouldn't pass on their own.

Rules Committee

House committee that sets rules for debate on a bill, including time limits and whether amendments are allowed.

Safe Seats

Congressional districts where the incumbent or a particular party has a strong, reliable majority.

Senate Majority Leader

The most powerful senator in the majority party; schedules bills, manages strategy, and leads floor action.

Sequential Referral

A legislative process in which a bill is sent to one committee first and then another for review.

Seventeenth Amendment

Established the direct election of U.S. Senators by the people instead of state legislatures.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Supreme Court case ruling that racial gerrymandering is unconstitutional if race is the predominant factor in drawing districts.

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of the House; leader of the majority party, controls the agenda and committee assignments.

Sponsor

A member of Congress who introduces a bill and advocates for its passage.

Standing Committees

Permanent congressional committees that handle bills in specific policy areas.

Swing Districts

Electoral districts that are competitive with no consistent majority party.

Trustee Model

A model of representation where legislators use their own judgment to make policy decisions, even if constituents might disagree.

Unanimous Consent

A Senate procedure where no senator objects, allowing faster passage of non-controversial measures.

War Powers Act (1973)

Law limiting the president's ability to send troops into combat without congressional approval.

Whip

Party leader in the House or Senate responsible for mobilizing votes, maintaining party discipline, and communicating party strategy.