AP Gov Legislative Branch Vocab

Enumerated Powers

powers specifically given to Congress in the Constitution, including powers to taxes, coin money, regulate foreign and interstate commerce, and declare war

Implied Powers

powers inferred from the express powers (using Necessary and Proper Clause) that allow Congress to carry out its functions

Casework

activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals, cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to

Pork Barrel Spending

legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states

Logrolling

an agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each other’s bills

Oversight

Congressional review of the activities of an executive agency, department, or office

Constituency

the people and interests that an elected official represents

Apportionment

distribution of representatives among the states based on population of each state

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

Gerrymandering

process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power

Malapportionment

drawing the boundaries of legislative districts so that they are unequal in population

Incumbency

holding the political office for which one is running

Speaker of the House

an office mandated by the Constitution. The Speaker is chosen in practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant.

Majority Leader

the legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy, confers with other party leaders, and tries to keep members of the party in line

Whip

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

Minority Leader

the legislative leader elected by party members holding the minority of seats in the House or the Senate

Vice President

president of the Senate; breaks ties in the Senate

President Pro Tempore

officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president

Committee Chairs

the most important influencers of the Congressional agenda. They play dominant roles in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills when they are brought before the full house

Standing Committee

a permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area

Joint Committee

a committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, such as committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations

Conference Committee

committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form

Select Committee

a temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose

Bill

a proposed law

Pigeonhole

to set a bill aside by a committee without considering it

Discharge Petition

Petition that, if signed by majority of the House of Representatives’ members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration

House Rules Committee

an institution unique to the House of Representatives that reviews the bills (except revenue, budget, and appropriations bills) coming from a House committee before they go to the full House

Committee of the Whole

a committee that consists of an entire legislative body, used for a procedure in which a legislative body expedites its business by resolving itself into a committee of itself.

Filibuster

a procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue

Cloture

a procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate

Entitlement Programs

government benefits that certain qualified individuals are entitled to by law, regardless of need

Mandatory Spending

federal spending required by law that continues without the need for annual approvals by Congress

Discretionary Spending

federal spending on programs that are controlled through the regular budget process

Budget Surplus

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

Budget Deficit

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

Delegate Role

a concept of legislative work as simply voting the desires of one’s constituents, regardless of one’s own personal views

Trustee Role

the idea that members of Congress should act as trustees, making decisions based on their knowledge and judgement

Politico Role

role played by elected Representatives who act as trustees or as delegates, depending on the issue

Bipartisanship

a policy that emphasizes a united front and cooperation between the major political parties, especially on sensitive and foreign policy issues

Partisanship

government action based on firm allegiance to a political party

Divided Government

one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both Houses of Congress

Gridlock

the inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government

Lame Duck Period

the time during which a president who has lost an election or has ended a second term is still in office before the new president serves.