AMSCO AP Government and Politics: Chapter 3 The Legislative Branch

bicameral

The division of a legislature into two separate assemblies (or houses)

pork barrel spending

The use of government funds for projects designed to please voters or legislators and win votes

gerrymandering

Manipulate the boundaries of (an electoral constituency) so as to favor one party

marginal seats

Political districts in which candidates elected to the House of Representatives win in close elections, typically with less than 55 percent of the vote.

Seventeenth Amendment

Established the popular election of United States senators by the people of the states. Prior to its passage senators were elected by state legislatures

standing committees

Permanent committees that meet regularly and are assigned work on an ongoing basis

conference committees

Committees of Congress appointed by the House of Representatives and Senate to resolve disagreements on a particular bill

caucuses

Groups of members of the United States Congress that meet to pursue common legislative objectives.

filibuster

An attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely, thus preventing the Senate from taking action on the bill

cloture rule

Procedure that may be used to limit or end floor debate in the Senate

implied powers

Powers inferred by the expressed powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions (powers not expressly stated in the constitution but are reasonably suggested)

omnibus bill

Packages together several measures into one or combines diverse subjects into a single bill.

ex. reconciliation bills, combined appropriations bills, and private relief and claims bills.

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

Baker v. Carr (1962)

A court case that ordered state legislative districts to be as near equal as possible in population; Warren Court's judicial activism.

"One man, one vote."

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

A court case that decided that redistricting based on race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny under the equal protection clause while bodies doing redistricting must be conscious of race to the extent that they must ensure compliance with the Voting Rights Act

President Pro Tempore

The constitutionally recognized officer of the Senate who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer

riders

Amendments attached to a bill, usually unrelated to the subject of the underlying bill

Rules Committee

House committee that determines which bills come to the floor and sets rules and procedures for how they will be debated and amended

joint committees

Refers to a committee consisting of members of the House of Representatives and the Senate

Committee of the Whole

A device in which the House of Representatives is considered one large committee. This is usually done for the purposes of discussion and debate of the details of bills and other main motions

safe seats

House districts in which the winning incumbent of the general election carries more than 55 percent of the vote

select committees

Formed for a specific purpose and usually for a limited period of time. They rarely get legislative power. Instead they conduct investigations and studies. They are found in both the House and Senate.

whip

Officials in a Congress who enforce other members in the party to vote in accordance with the party's policies

advice and consent

In the United States this is a power of the United States Senate to be consulted on and approve treaties signed and appointments made by the President of the United States to public positions, including Cabinet secretaries, federal judges, United States Attorneys, and ambassadors.

Committee on Committees (Republican)

Republican group that recommends committee assignments

conference chair

Leadership position in each party below the rank of Whip that handles party matters

congressional oversight

Congress using its powers to ensure that executive agencies are carrying out their legislative intent

discharge petition

A way to bring a bill to the floor without it having to pass through committee...very rare and considered a strong rebuke to majority party leadership

earmark

Funds allocated to a political project often as a favor to a legislator's home district and without proper review

expressed powers

Congressional powers explicitly stated in the Constitution

floor leaders

Serve as the chief leaders and spokespeople for each party in Congress

House Judiciary Committee

Committee in charge of overseeing the federal judicial system, conducting hearings on judicial nominees, and initiating impeachment charges

Ways and Means Committee

The chief taxation committee of the U.S. House of Representatives

markup session

The process by which a U.S. congressional committee or state legislative session debates, amends, and rewrites proposed legislation.

multiple referral

When a bill is sent to multiple committees that can address it simultaneously

non-germane amendments

Something that is attempted to be added to a bill that is not relevant to the subject matter of the bill that is being debated

reapportionment

The process by which congressional districts are redrawn and seats are redistributed among states in the House of Representatives

sequential referral

When a bill is sent to one committee and then to a second committee after the first committee finishes with it

sponsor

A lawmaker in Congress who introduces a bill

trustee model

A form of congressional representation in which members of Congress are entrusted with the responsibility to act on the best interests of their districts while using their own independent judgment

Steering and Policy Committee (Democrats)

Committee used by Democrats to assign committee members

deficit

Government practice of spending more than it takes in from taxes

delegate model

The philosophy that legislators should adhere to the will of their constituents

politico model

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

germane

relevant

gridlock

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

hold

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of the bill or nomination.

Impeach

To formally charge a public official with misconduct in office

interest

A sum paid or charged for the use of money or for borrowing money

mandatory spending

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

President of the Senate

Vice President

Senate Majority Leader

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

Speaker of the House

The leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

swing districts

Districts where no single candidate or party has overwhelming support

unanimous consent

A Senate requirement, applied to most of that body's business, that all senators agree before an action can proceed.

War Powers Act

Passed by Congress in 1973; the president is limited in the deployment of troops overseas to a sixty-day period in peacetime (which can be extended for an extra thirty days to permit withdrawal) unless Congress explicitly gives its approval for a longer period.