We the people 14th edition chapters 10 and 11

Constituency

the residents in the area from which an official is elected

Bicameral legislature

a legislative assembly composed of two chambers, or houses

Delegate

a representative who votes according to the preferences of their constituency

Trustee

a representative who votes based on what he or she thinks is best for his or her constituency

Incumbency

holding the political office for which one is running

Pork barrel

efforts provide tangible benefits and achievements for which they can claim credit and which can be crucial to their re-election

Apportionment

allocates congressional seats among the so states

Redistricting

redrawing election districts and redistributing legislative representatives, this happens every 10 years

Gerrymandering

the drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group

Conference

a gathering representatives every 2 years to elect their house leaders

Impeachment

An action by the House of Representatives to accuse the president, vice president, or other civil officers of the United States of committing "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."

Caucus

a closed political party business meeting of citizens or lawmakers to select candidates

Majority leader

is subordinate in the party hierarchy to the speaker of the house

Minority leader

the elected leader of the minority party in the House or Senate

Whip

responsible for coordinating the party's legislative strategy, building support for key issues and counting votes

makup

a congressional committee rewrites legislation to incorporate changes discussed during hearings on a bill

Joint committees

legislative committees formed of members of both the House and Senate

Conference committees

created to work out a compromise on house and senate versions of a piece of legislation

Bill

a proposed law that has been sponsored by a member of Congress and submitted to the clerk of the House or Senate

Open rule

the addition of new amendments to a bill

Closed rule

house rules committee limits or prohibits the introduction of amendments during debate

Veto

the president's constitutional power to turn down acts of Congress. A presidential veto may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of each house of Congress

Expressed powers

specific powers granted by the constitution to congress

Commander in cheif

The President as the commander of the nation's armed forces

executive agreement

A formal agreement between the U.S. president and the leaders of other nations that does not require Senate approval.

Executive privillage

confidential communications that shouldn't be revealed without the presidents consent

implied powers

are implied through the expansive interpretation of delegated powers

Delegated powers

powers that are assigned to one governmental agency but are exercised by another agency

Inherent powers

powers claimed by a president that are not expressed in the Constitution but are inferred from it

Cabinet

cabinet secretaries are appointed by the president with the consent of the senate

Executive office of the president (EOP)

the permanent agencies that perform defined management tasks for the president

Executive order

a rule or regulation issued by the president that has the effect and formal status of legislation

Signing statements

announcements made by the president when signing bills into law, often presenting the president's interpretation of the law