AP Gov Unit 2 Reading Quiz- Legislative Branch

Legislative Branch Terms

bicameral legislature

Legislative body with two separate chambers

bill

Proposed law presented to the legislature for consideration

casework

Assistance provided by members of Congress to constituents

Speaker of the House

Presiding officer of the House of Representatives

Majority Leader

Leader of the majority party in the legislative chamber

Minority Leader

Leader of the minority party in the legislative chamber

whip

Member of Congress responsible for party discipline and vote counting

House Rules Committee

Committee responsible for determining the rules of debate in the House

caucus

Group of members of Congress sharing common interests or goals

pork barrel

Government spending on projects that primarily benefit a specific constituency

committee chairs

Members of Congress who lead committees

standing committee

Permanent committee in Congress that focuses on specific policy areas

select committee

Temporary committee in Congress created for a specific purpose

joint committees

Committees composed of members from both the House and the Senate

conference committee

Committee formed to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill

seniority system

System in Congress that gives preference to members with longer service

legislative oversight

Congressional review of the executive branch and its agencies

filibuster

Tactic used in the Senate to delay or prevent a vote on a bill

cloture

Procedure to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote

incumbents

Current officeholders running for re-election

trustee role

Role of a legislator to vote based on their judgment and conscience

delegate role

Role of a legislator to vote based on the preferences of their constituents

gerrymandering

Manipulation of electoral district boundaries to benefit a particular party

appropriations bill

Legislation that provides funding for government programs and activities

authorization bill

Legislation that establishes or continues a government program or agency

budget

Plan for government spending and revenue for a specific period

budget resolution

Congressional resolution setting overall spending and revenue targets

Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974

Law that established the congressional budget process

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

Nonpartisan agency that provides budgetary and economic analysis

continuing resolution

Temporary funding measure to keep the government running

deficit

Excess of government spending over revenue in a fiscal year

entitlements

Government programs that provide benefits to eligible individuals

expenditures

Government spending on goods, services, and transfer payments

federal debt

Total amount of money owed by the federal government

House Ways and Means Committee

Committee in the House of Representatives responsible for tax and revenue legislation

income tax

Tax on an individual's income

incrementalism

Approach to policy-making that involves small, gradual changes

earmarks

Funding provisions inserted into legislation for specific projects or interests

reconciliation

Process to bring revenue and spending levels in line with budget targets

revenues

Government income from taxes and other sources

Sixteenth Amendment

Amendment to the US Constitution authorizing the federal income tax

Social Security Act

Law that established the Social Security program

tax expenditures

Provisions in the tax code that reduce tax liability

uncontrollable expenditures

Government spending that cannot be easily changed

Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII)

Law that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Law that prohibits racial discrimination in voting

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990

Law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold Act) of 2002

Law that regulates campaign financing and political advertising