ap gov chapter 4 vocab

caucuses

groups of like minded people

coalitions

working relationships - alliance for combined action

house of representatives

435 members, serves 2 years, the lower chamber of u.s. congress that makes and passes federal laws 435 members, serves 2 years

power of the purse

power to raise revenue - to tax

senate

represents the interests of the states in a deliberate assembly - upper house, 100 members, 6 year term

war powers act (1973)

requires the president to inform congress within 48 hours of committing u.s. forces to combat

cloture rule

rule 22, enabled and required a 2/3 supermajority to stop debate on a bill, thus stopping a filibuster and allowing for a vote

committee of the whole

state of operation in which rules are relaxed, 100 members - allows longer debate among fewer people and members to vote as a group rather than an individual roll call, more of a state operation

conference committee

created to iron out differences on a bill that passes both houses in slightly different forms

deficit

difference between spending and revenue

discharge petition

can bring a bill out of a reluctant committee with a simple majority to force onto house floor

discretionary spending

funding that congressional committees debate and decide how to divide up

filibuster

to block a nomination or to let the time run out on a deadline for voting on a bill

germane

amendments to a bill by members who may not speak for more than an hour and typically speaks for less

joint committees

unite members from the house and senate

logrolling

trading votes to gain support for a bill

mandatory spending

payment required by law, or mandated for curtain programs

omnibus bill

includes multiple areas of law and/or addresses multiple programs

pork-barrel spending

funds earmarked for specific purposes in a legislator's district

president of the senate

vice president, doesn't vote

president pro tempore

temporary president of the senate

rider

non germane amendments, often added to benefit a member's own agenda or programs or to enhance the political chances of the bill

rules committee

part of the house that can easily dispose of a bill or define the guidelines for debate because it acts as a traffic cop to the house floor.

select committees

temporary committees formed periodically for some particular and typically short-lived purpose

senate majority leader

chief legislator for the senate, the first person the chair recognizes in debate and the leader who sets the legislative calendar and determines which bills reach the floor for debate

speaker of the house

only house leadership position mentioned in the constitution, de facto leader of the majority party

sponsor

member who introduces a bill and typically assumes authorship

unanimous

approval of all senators

ways and means committee

committee exclusive to the house that determines tax policy

whip

deputy leader who is in charge of party discipline

baker vs carr

redraw state district lines to ensure one person - one vote principle

delegate model

used by members trying to reflect the will of their constituency

gerrymandering

illogical district lines drawn to give the advantage of one party

gridlock

the 'congestion' of opposing forces that prevents ideas from moving forward

"lame duck" president

executive who has not won reelection or who is closing in on the end of the second presidential term

"one person-one vote principle"

expanded democratic participation in the voting rights of minorities - established in baker vs carr

politico model

attempts to blend the delegate and trustee models in voting

shaw vs reno (1993)

discussed whether a congressional district designed for the purpose of assuring a majority black population violates the 14th amendment equal protection clause

swing district

marginal seats, closer elections

trustee model

representatives believe they're entrusted by their constituency to use their best judgement, regardless of how constituents may view an issue