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Pork Barrel
The appropriation of government spending for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative's district.
Logrolling
The practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics, by reciprocal voting for each other's proposed legislation.
Partisanship
The strong support of a party, cause, or person, often without regard for objective considerations, especially in politics.
Gerrymandering
The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party or class.
Redistricting
The process of redrawing electoral district boundaries, usually following a census to reflect changes in population.
Reapportionment
The redistribution of representation in a legislative body, especially the periodic reassignment of congressional seats to reflect population changes.
Baker v. Carr and Shaw v. Reno
Landmark Supreme Court cases related to redistricting and voting rights.
Divided Government
A situation in which one party controls the presidency while the other party controls one or both houses of Congress.
Delegate Representative
A representative who primarily acts as a mouthpiece for the views of their constituents, even if those views contradict the representative's personal beliefs.
Politico Representative
A representative who balances their own views with the interests of their constituents and the political party.
Trustee Representative
A representative who exercises their own judgment in decision-making, guided by their own principles and beliefs rather than the preferences of their constituents.
Marginal District
A congressional district in which the winner of an election gets less than 55 percent of the vote.
Safe District
A congressional district in which the winner of an election receives more than 55 percent of the vote.
Majority-Minority District
A district in which a minority group constitutes the majority of the population, often drawn to increase minority representation in Congress.
Sophomore Surge
The tendency for members of Congress to gain a higher percentage of the vote when running for reelection for the second time compared to their initial election.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
A federal agency that provides Congress with nonpartisan analysis for economic and budget decisions.
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
A federal agency that provides auditing, evaluation, and investigative services for Congress to ensure accountability and efficiency in government operations.
Entitlements
Government programs that provide benefits to individuals who meet certain eligibility criteria.
Budget
A plan for the coordination of resources and expenditures, especially in government, to allocate public funds for specific purposes within a defined period.
Revenue
Income generated by the government, typically through taxes, fees, or other sources, used to fund public expenditures.
Conference Committee
A temporary committee composed of members from both the House of Representatives and the Senate, formed to resolve differences in legislation passed by both chambers.
Joint Committee
A committee composed of members from both the House of Representatives and the Senate, typically established to conduct studies or investigations.
Rules Committee
A committee in the House of Representatives responsible for determining the rules and procedures under which bills will be considered on the House floor.
Select Committee
Standing Committee
A permanent committee in a legislative body responsible for considering and overseeing legislation related to a particular subject area.
Concurrent Resolution
A resolution passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate that addresses matters within the jurisdiction of both chambers but does not require the President's approval.
Joint Resolution
A resolution passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate that has the force of law and, in some cases, requires the President's approval.
Simple Resolution
A resolution passed by either the House of Representatives or the Senate that addresses matters within the jurisdiction of that chamber alone and does not require the approval of the other chamber or the President.
Senatorial Courtesy
A custom observed in the Senate whereby Senators from the same political party as the President can effectively block nominations to federal positions in their home state.
Policy Agenda
The set of issues and priorities that government officials, political parties, or interest groups consider important and seek to address through legislation, regulation, or other means of governmental action.
Baker V. Carr Court Case
Landmark Supreme Court case establishing the principle of "one person, one vote." It required states to reapportion legislative districts based on population, ensuring equal representation. This decision played a key role in promoting political equality and combating gerrymandering.
Shaw V. Reno Court Case
Supreme Court case (1993) challenging racial gerrymandering in North Carolina. Resulted in a ruling that race cannot be the primary factor in drawing district boundaries, unless there is a compelling government interest. Led to increased scrutiny of redistricting plans under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.
Select Committee (AP Government)
A Select Committee is a temporary committee formed by Congress to investigate specific issues or propose legislation. It is composed of members from both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Unlike standing committees, Select Committees are disbanded once their assigned task is completed.
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