2.1-2.3 AP GOV

Senate

The upper chamber of the U.S. Congress, with 100 members (two per state) who serve six-year terms.

House

The lower chamber of the U.S. Congress, with 435 members based on state population, who serve two-year terms.

Caucus

A group of members of Congress (or a political party) who unite to pursue shared legislative objectives.

Coalition

A temporary alliance of various groups or parties, often in a legislature, for joint action on a specific issue.

Advice and Consent

The Senate's power to approve or reject treaties signed and major appointments made by the President.

Power of the purse

Congress's constitutional power (especially the House) to raise and spend money, giving it control over the executive branch.

Redistricting

The process of drawing new electoral district boundaries within states after the decennial Census.

Reapportionment

The process of re-dividing the 435 House seats among the states based on changes in population shown by the Census.

Revenue

The total income a government receives from all sources, such as taxes and fees.

Tax revenue

Money the government collects through compulsory transfers like income, sales, or property taxes.

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives and the political leader of the majority party.

President Pro Tempore

A high-ranking senator of the majority party who presides over the Senate when the Vice President is absent; a largely ceremonial role.

Whip

A member of a party's leadership whose primary role is to count votes and persuade members to vote for the party line.

Majority Leader

The legislative strategist and leader of the party that holds the most seats in either the House or Senate.

Minority Leader

The leader of the party that holds the fewer seats in either the House or Senate.

Filibuster

A Senate tradition of unlimited debate used by a minority to delay or block a vote on a bill.

Cloture

The Senate procedure to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote, requiring a supermajority of 60 votes.

Rules committee

A powerful committee in the House that determines the rules for debate on a bill, including whether amendments are allowed.

Committee of the whole

A procedural device in the House where the entire membership acts as a committee, relaxing rules to expedite debate on bills.

Discharge petitions

A way to bring a bill out of a committee and to the floor for a vote without a committee report, requiring a majority of signatures (218) in the House.

Discretionary spending

Government spending that is optional and must be approved annually by Congress through appropriation bills.

Pork barrel

Legislation that directs federal funds to projects in a specific district for a representative's political benefit.

Logrolling

The practice of legislators trading support for each other's proposed legislation (e.g., "I'll vote for your bill if you vote for mine").

Gerrymandering

Drawing district boundaries to give one political party or group an unfair advantage over another.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

Supreme Court case that established that federal courts have the authority to hear cases challenging the fairness of legislative districts (paving the way for "one person, one vote").

One person, one vote

The principle that all legislative districts must contain roughly equal populations so that one person's vote carries the same weight as another's.

Shaw v Reno (1993)

Supreme Court case that ruled that congressional districts drawn predominantly based on race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny.

Divided government

A political situation where the President and at least one chamber of Congress are controlled by different parties.

Lame duck

An elected official who is nearing the end of their term and whose successor has already been chosen.

Trustee representative

A representative who relies on their own judgment and conscience when deciding how to vote, believing it is best for their constituents.

Delegate representative

A representative who primarily votes and acts according to the expressed wishes of their constituents.

Politico representative

A representative who acts as a delegate on issues their constituents feel strongly about and as a trustee on less-publicized issues.

Constituent

A person who lives in an electoral district and is represented by an elected officia