AP Gov Unit 2a (Congress)

Conference Committee

• Temporary, joint committees

• Formed to reconcile different versions of a similar bill passed by both House and Senate

• Creates one final version both chambers can vote on

Joint Committee

• Composed of both House and Senate members

• Focused more on administrative, research, or study-oriented tasks

Select/Special Committee

• Temporary

• Created to handle specific (often urgent) issues or investigations

Standing Committee

• Permanent

• Focuses on a specific policy area and reviews bills

• Most legislation starts here

Subcommittee

• Smaller group within a standing committee

• Focuses on more specific parts of the topic

Agency Review

Asks appropriate executive agencies for written comments and expertise on proposed laws

Agenda Setting

Process of deciding which issues Congress will focus on and debate

(Re)apportionment

Redistributing the 435 seats in the House of Representatives among states based on population changes after the census

Appropriation

Congress formally setting aside funds for a specific government program/agency

Baker v. Carr (Biggie 15)

• Baker, 6-2

SCOTUS case that said federal courts can hear cases about legislative districting/apportionment

Bicameral

Legislature with two chambers

Bill

Proposed law

• Must past both chambers and be signed by President

Mandatory Spending

Government spending required by existing laws; it happens automatically each year

• Ex: Social Security, Medicare

Discretionary Spending

Spending that Congress must approve each year through appropriation bills

• Ex: Funding for military, education programs, national parks

Casework

When Congress members help individual constituents deal with problems involving the federal government

Cloture

Procedure used in Senate to end a filibuster and force a vote on a bill

• Needs at least 60 votes

“Compact & Contiguous”

Guideline for drawing legislative districts to that they are geographically close and connected

• Tries to protect against redistricting abuses

Discharge Petition

A way for House members to force a bill out of committee and bring it to the floor for debate

• Requires 218 signatures

Divided Government

Different political parties control different parts of the federal government (like the presidency and Congress chambers)

• Ex: Democratic presidency, Republican control of one or both Senate chambers

Earmarks

Specific provisions in a spending bill that directs money to a particular project, location, or group

• Members of Congress add them to make sure funds go somewhere specific

Fiscal Economic Policy

Government policy about taxing and spending used to influence the economy.

• Includes participation and/or interaction of all 3 branches of government

Monetary Economic Policy

The Federal Reserve actions aimed at adjusting amount of money in circulation to maintain stable, low-inflation levels

• President appoints board members who must tbe confirmed by Senate

Filibuster

Senate procedure (used by the minority party) to block or delay a vote on legislation by engaging in unlimited debate

• Requires a 60-vote supermajority (cloture) to end debate and proceed to a final vote.

Franking Privledge

Congressional perk allowing members to send official mail to constituents without paying postage, using their signature (frank) instead of stamps

Packing (Gerrymandering)

Cluster voters of a particular party or group into a small number of districts

• Meant to waste their votes by giving them massive, unnecessary wins in a few seats

Cracking (Gerrymandering)

Compact collention of voters for a particular party or group is split across multiple districts.

• Meant to weaken the their voting power in any single district, making them a minority in many districts

Gomillion v. Lightfoot (1960)

Gomillion, 9-0

• Gerrymandering based solely on race is a violation of the 15th amendment

Gridlock

Legislative stalemate where the inability of opposing parties to compromise prevents the passage of laws.

• Due to extreme polarization or divided government

Pork-Barrel Spending

Government spending on local projects meant to benefit a Congress member’s district or state, often to gain political support from voters

• Very negative connotation

House Committee of the Whole

A meeting of the entire House that acts as one big committee to debate and amend bills quicker

House Rules Committee

A powerful committee that decides how and when a bill will be debated on the House floor

House Ways and Means Committee

A major committee responsible for tax policy and government revenue

Incumbancy

When a candidate currently holding a political office is running for reelection

Logrolling

• Congress members agreeing to vote for a bill in exchange for their colleague’s vote on another bill

• Omnious Bill = combining several pieces of legislation into one bill to secure enough votes for passage

President of the Senate

Vice President

• Casts tie-breaking votes

President Pro Tempore

Constitutionally designated leader of the Senate who presides in the Vice President's absence (aka the actual leader of the Senate)

• Typically the longest-serving senator from the majority party

• 3rd in the presidential line of succession

Speaker of the House

Presiding officer and administrative head of the House of Representatives

• Typically the leader of the majority party

Majority Leaders (House and Senate)

Senate: Holds significant power over the Senate's agenda

House: Acts as second-in-command to the Speaker, sets the legislative agenda, and coordinates committee activity

Minority Leaders (House and Senate)

Senate: Often assisted by whips to enforce party discipline on crucial votes, sometimes facing penalties for voting against the party line

House: Leads the opposition, protects minority rights, and acts as the party spokesperson

Majority/Minority Whips

Assistant leaders who gather votes to ensure participation and party unity

Markup

Committee-level process where members of Congress debate, amend, and rewrite proposed legislation before it goes to the floor for a vote

Trustee (Models of Representation)

Members follow own conscience when deciding positions/how to vote

• Entrusted by contitsuency to use best judgement

Instructed Delegate (Models of Representation)

Legistlatures act/vote as representatives of constituents’ views, even if those views contradict the legislature’s personal views

Politico (Models of Representation)

Attempts to blend trustee and delegates models

Nuclear Option

Changing Senate rules to get rid of filibusters on Judicial Appointments

• eliminates some filibusters

• so certain bills/procedures require only a simple majority vote

Ombudsperson

Independent, non-partisan official appointed to investigate, report on, and help settle complaints against government agencies, officials, or organizations

(Congressional) Oversight

Review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, and policy implementation by Congress, to ensure government accountability, efficiency, and legality

Pocket Veto

When a bill is sent to president after being passed by Congress and President takes no action. If Congress is adjourned/not in session, the bill dies

Enumerated v. Implied Powers

Enumberated: Written into Constitution

• Ex: Coining money, declaring war, regulating interstate commerce, raising armies, and levying taxes

Implied: Necessary and Proper Clause

• Ex: Creating a national bank (to support taxing/borrowing), establishing a minimum wage (to regulate commerce), and drafting soldiers (to raise armies)

Redistricting

Redrawing district lines after census taken every 10 years

Reynolds v. Sims (1964)

Sims, 8-1

• Upholds “1 person, 1 vote” rule

• State legislative districts must be roughly equal in population under the 14th Amendment Equal Protection Clause

Senate Judiciary Committee

A standing committee in the Senate responsible for overseeing the Department of Justice

• Reviewing legislation on civil liberties and constitutional amendments

• Holding hearings for federal judicial nominees, including Supreme Court Justices

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

Shaw, 5-4

• Violation of 14th amendment’s Equal Protection Clause if Congressional District shapes cannot be explained on grounds other than race

• “Bizzarely shaped” districts strongly indecate racial incentive

Wesbury v. Sanders (1964)

Wesbury, 6-3

• “1 person, 1 vote”

• Congressional Districts must be equal in population