AP Gov chapter 12

Advice and consent

Legislative branch approving presidential appointments

Quorum

the minimum number of members of an assembly or society that must be present at any of its meetings to make the proceedings of that meeting valid

Congressional caucuses

Groups of Representatives who come together to pursue shared goals

Expressed powers

Same as enumerated powers, powers explicitly given to Congress by the constitution

Implied powers

Powers implied to be given to Congress by the necessary and proper clause

Franking privilege

The ability to send mail by signature rather than by postage, it dates back to the seventeenth-century English House of Commons

Reapportionment

Redistribution of house seats when the census shows population shifts

Redistricting

Re-designing district lines, including and excluding new places

Gerrymandering

When a political group tries to change a voting district to create a result that helps them or hurts the group who is against them

Discharge petition

Brings a bill out of a reluctant committee with a majority vote

Filibuster

Let time run out on voting for a bill or wear down opposition, usually by talking

Cloture rule

Requires ⅔ (60 votes or 3/5ths now) supermajority to stop debate and go to a vote

Standing committee

Permanent committees established under the standing rules of the Senate and specialize in the consideration of particular subject areas

House Judiciary Committee

A standing committee that drafts crime bills to define illegality and outline punishments

Ways and Means Committee

Outlines details when there are proposals to raise or lower income tax

Rules Committee

Considers all bills from policy/ monetary committees and decides if and when to put them on the floor

Joint Committee

Committees with both house and senate representatives

Select committee

Temporary committees

Conference committee

Temporary committees to iron out bills that passed both chambers in slightly different forms

Pork barrel spending

Allocation of funds to local or interest groups at a congresspersons discretion

Earmarks

Federal funds are directed to a specific purpose