AP GOV Chapter 4 - CONGRESS

U.S. Congress

The national legislative body of the U.S., consisting of the Senate, or upper house, and the House of Representatives, or lower house

House of Representatives

Directly elected by district voters

- meant to be close to the people and their wishes

- Serve two years (brief terms help keep reps accountable to the people)

- Issues articles of impeachment against executive branch members (think nancy pelosi vs trump)

U.S. Senate

- More isolated from the public

- 6 year terms, but 1/3 rotate every three years to keep it fresh

- Add stability to the legislation in case of voting mistakes (Fall Back)

- Confirms nominations of executive officers

- Can impeach with a 2/3 vote

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

Shaw vs. Reno

NO racial gerrymandering; race cannot be the sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative boundaries; majority-minority districts.

Redistricting

The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.

Pork Barrel Spending

Legislative funding for unnecessary projects that favor the district of a particular representative/legislator (funding something just to help some other legislator)

Logrolling

(vote trading)

- voting to support a colleague's bill in return for a promise of future support

Oversight

The effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of EXECUTIVE agencies

CONGRESS BABYSITS EXECUTIVE

Constituency

Body of voters in a given area who elect a representative or senator

Apportionment

Process of determining the number of reps for a state by looking at the population from the census data

Partisan Gerrymandering

Drawing of district boundaries into weird shapes to benefit certain party

Baker vs. Carr

The Supreme Court ruling that all state districts must be equal in population., required that voting district needed to be reapportioned.

Majority-Minority district

A district where voters of a minority ethnicity make up an electoral majority within the district

Malapportionment

Uneven distribution of the population between legislative districts

Incumbency

Holding the political office and running for re-election

Incumbency Advantage

Those already in office who are trying to beat newcomers have an advantage depending on how they served their term and how much voter liked their policies

Speaker of the House

Most powerful role in the HOR, usually part of the majority party

Political Action Committee (PAC)

A committee set up by a corporation, labor union, or interest group that raises money for campaigns and candidates

House Majority Leader

Second in power for the HOR

- dictates the majority party activities

Whip

A senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking

Minority Leader

Much less powerful, dictates activities of the minority party in the HOR

Senate Majority Leader

The chief spokesperson of the majority party in the Senate, who directs the legislative program and party strategy. Has the most power in the senate

Committee Chair

The leaders of congressional committees, usually members of the majority party with the most seniority on that committee.

Discharge petition

A motion to move a bill out of the committee and onto the floor of the HOR

House Rules Committee

Determines the rules for debate of each bill, including whether the bill may be amended. This is the most powerful committee in the House.

- Determines when a bill will be subject to debate and whether the amendments will be allowed on the floor

Committee of the Whole

All house members become members of a single committee

- Make it easier to consider complex legislation

Hold

A delay placed on legislation because of a speaker who objects a bill

Filibuster

When a senator delays a bill passing by taking up the floor for as long as possible

Cloture

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate with a vote of 60

Veto

Power of president to object a bill

Office of Management and Budget (OMB)

executive branch office responsible for assisting the president with setting national spending

Entitlement Program

Programs such as unemployment insurance, disaster relief, or disability payments that provide benefits to all eligible citizens, regardless of income

Mandatory Spending

Spending required by existing law

Discretionary Spending

Spending for programs and policies at the discretion of Congress and the President

Budget Surplus

Amount of money remaining after the government takes in more than it spent

Budget Deficit

A situation in which the government spends more than it takes in

National Debt

The total amount of money owed by the federal government

- about 23 trillion dollars (nice job america)

Delegate Role

A concept of legislative work as simply voting the desires of one's voters, regardless of one's own personal views

Trustee Role

Role in congress when members act as trustees, making their own decisions based on their knowledge and judgement. (don't listen to voter decisions at much)

Politico Role

Role played by elected representatives who act as trustees or as delegates, depending on the issue.

(A balance between trustees and delegates)

Bipartisanship

Two major parties find common ground and work together to pass legislation

Gridlock

When, usually because of a divided government, a bill is stalled or even stopped

Lame Duck Period

Period at the end of a presidential term when Congress may block presidential initiatives and nominees.

Divided Government

When the president and one chamber in congress are of two different parties

Appropriations Committee

HOR committee that deals with federal spending