American Government 3e Chapter 11

Apportionment

The process by which seats in the House of Representatives are distributed among the fifty states

Bicameralism

The political process that results from dividing a legislature into two separate assemblies

Bill

Proposed legislation under consideration by a legislature

Cloture

A parliamentary process to end a debate in the Senate, as a measure against the filibuster; invoked when three-fifths of senators vote for the motion

Collective Representation

The relationship between Congress and the United States as a whole, and whether the institution itself represents the American people

Conference Committee

A special type of joint committee that reconciles different bills passed in the House and Senate so a single bill results

Constituency

The body of voters, or constituents, represented by a particular politician

Delegate Model of Representation

A model of representation in which representatives feel compelled to act on the specific stated wishes of their constituents

Descriptive Representation

The extent to which a body of representatives represents the descriptive characteristics of their constituencies, such as class, race, ethnicity, and gender

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically given to Congress in the Constitution; including the power to collect taxes, coin money, regulate foreign and interstate commerce, and declare war.

Filibuster

A parliamentary maneuver used in the Senate to extend debate on a piece of legislation as long as possible, typically with the intended purpose of obstructing or killing it

Implied Powers

Powers not specifically listed in the Constitution but claimed by the federal government

Inherent Powers

The powers neither enumerated nor implied but assumed to exist as a direct result of the country's existence

Joint Committee

A legislative committee composed of members from both chambers of Congress

Majority Leader

The leader of the majority party in either the House or Senate; in the House, the majority leader serves under the Speaker of the House, in the Senate, the majority leader is the functional leader and the chief spokesperson for the majority party

Markup

The amending and voting process in a congressional committee

Minority Leader

The party member who directs the activities of the minority party on the floor of either the House or the Senate

Oversight

The right to review and monitor other bodies such as the executive branch

Politico Model of Representation

A model of representation in which members of Congress act as either trustee or delegate, based on rational political calculations about who is best served, the constituency or the nation

Pork-Barrel Politics

Federal spending intended to benefit a particular district or set of constituents

President Pro Tempore

The senator who acts in the absence of the actual president of the Senate, who is also the vice president of the United States; the president pro tempore is usually the most senior senator of the majority party

Representation

An elected leader's looking out for his or her constituents while carrying out the duties of the office

Select Committee

A small legislative committee created to fulfill a specific purpose and then disbanded; also called an ad hoc, or special, committee

Speaker of The House

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, chosen by and from the majority party in the House

Standing Committee

A permanent committee that meets regularly.

Surge-and-Decline Theory

A theory proposing that the surge of stimulation occurring during presidential elections subsides during midterm elections, accounting for the differences we observe in turnouts and results

politico model of representation

a model of representation in which members of Congress act as either trustee or delegate, based on rational political calculations about who is best served, the constituency or the nation

whip

in the House and in the Senate, a high leadership position whose primary duty is to enforce voting discipline in the chambers and conferences

trustee model of representation

a model of representation in which representatives feel at liberty to act in the way they believe is best for their constituents

pocket veto

an indirect veto of a legislative bill by the president or a governor by retaining the bill unsigned until it is too late for it to be dealt with during the legislative session.

Logrolling

An agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each other's 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.

Appropiation

A law of Congress that provides an agency with budget authority

safe seat

a district drawn so members of a party can be assured of winning by a comfortable margin

Rules Committee

A standing committee of the House of Representatives that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by the house.

open seat

an elected position for which there is no incumbent

Impeachment

the act of charging a government official with serious wrongdoing, which in some cases may lead to the removal of that official from office

delegate

A person appointed or elected to represent others

Trustee

an officeholder who believes he or she was elected to exercise judgment and to know best by virtue of having the time and expertise to study and understand an issue

Incumbency

holding the political office for which one is running

term limits

legally prescribed limits on the number of terms an elected official can serve

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

Patronage

Granting favors or giving contracts or making appointments to office in return for political support

Senority

years of service, which is used as a consideration for assigning committee members

Veto

to reject