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pork barrel spending
Legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states.
logrolling
Trading of votes on legislation by members of Congress to get their earmarks passed into legislation.
oversight
Efforts by Congress to ensure that executive branch agencies and their officials are acting legally and according to congressional goals.
constituency
A body of voters in a given area who elect a representative or senator.
apportionment
The process of determining the number of representatives for each state using census data.
redistricting
States’ redrawing of boundaries of electoral districts following each census.
gerrymandering
The intentional use of redistricting to benefit a specific interest or group of voters.
partisan gerrymandering
Drawing of district boundaries into strange shapes to benefit a political party.
majority-minority district
A district in which voters of a minority ethnicity constitute an electoral majority within that electoral district.
malapportionment
The uneven distribution of the population among legislative districts.
incumbency
Being already in office as opposed to running for the first time.
incumbency advantage
Institutional advantages held by those already in office who are trying to fend off challengers in an election.
Speaker of the House
The leader of the House of Representatives, chosen by an election of its members.
political action committee (PAC)
An organization that raises money for candidates and campaigns.
House majority leader
The person who is the second in command of the House of Representatives.
whip
A member of Congress, chosen by his or her party members, whose job is to ensure party unity and discipline.
minority leader
The head of the party with the second-highest number of seats in Congress, chosen by the party’s members.
Senate majority leader
The person who has the most power in the Senate and is the head of the party with the most seats.
committee chair
Leader of a congressional committee who has authority over the committee’s agenda.
discharge petition
A motion filed by a member of Congress to move a bill out of committee and onto the floor of the House for a vote.
House Rules Committee
A powerful committee that determines when a bill will be debated and voted on in the House.
Committee of the Whole
Consists of all members of the House and meets in the House chamber but is governed by different rules.
hold
A delay placed on legislation by a senator who objects to a bill.
unanimous consent agreement
An agreement in the Senate that sets the terms for consideration of a bill.
filibuster
A tactic through which an individual senator may delay a motion or postpone action on legislation.
cloture
A procedure through which senators can end debate on a bill and proceed to action.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
The executive branch office that assists the president in setting national spending priorities.
entitlement program
A program that provides benefits for those who qualify under the law, regardless of income.
mandatory spending
Spending required by existing laws that is locked in the budget.
discretionary spending
Spending for programs and policies at the discretion of Congress and the president.
budget surplus
The amount of money remaining when the government takes in more than it spends.
budget deficit
The shortfall when a government takes in less money than it spends.
national debt
The total amount of money owed by the federal government.
delegate role
The idea that the main duty of a member of Congress is to carry out constituents’ wishes.
trustee role
The idea that members of Congress should act as trustees, based on their knowledge and judgment.
politico role
Representation where members of Congress balance their choices with the interests of constituents and parties.
bipartisanship
Agreement between the parties to work together in Congress to pass legislation.
gridlock
A slowdown or halt in Congress’s ability to legislate and overcome divisions.
divided government
Control of the presidency and one or both chambers of Congress split between the two major parties.
lame duck period
Period at the end of a presidential term when Congress may block presidential initiatives.
veto
The president’s constitutional power to reject a bill passed by Congress.
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