AP GOV VOCAB 4

minority leader

The legislative leader elected by party members holding a

minority of seats in the House or the Senate.

Necessary and proper clause

been the constitutional basis for a wide variety of laws passed and powers assumed by Congress

open rule

An order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to

be amended on the floor.

partisan polarization

A vote in which a majority of Democratic legislators oppose a

majority of Republican legislators.

politico

A legislator who makes a decision using a combination of the “trustee”

and “delegate” mindset.

party vote

There are two measures of such voting. By the stricter measure, a

party vote occurs when 90 percent or more of the Democrats in either

house of Congress vote together against 90 percent or more of the

Republicans. A looser measure counts as a party vote in any case where

at least 50 percent of the Democrats vote together against at least 50

percent of the Republicans

pork-barrel legislation

Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in

several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in

return.

quorum

The minimum number of members who must be present for

business to be conducted in Congress.

restrictive

An order from the House Rules Committee that permits certain

kinds of amendments but not others to be made into a bill on the floor.

Riders

Amendments on matters unrelated to a bill that are added to an

important bill so that they will “ride” to passage through the

Congress. When a bill has many riders, it is called a

Christmas-tree bill.

roll-call vote

A congressional voting procedure that consists of members

answering “yea” or “nay” to their names.

safe districts

Districts in which incumbents win by margins of 55 percent or

more.

select committees

Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and

purpose.

simple resolution

An expression of opinion either in the House or Senate to settle procedural matters in either body.

Speaker

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives and the

leader of his or her party in the House.

standing committees

Permanently established legislative committees that consider

and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject

teller vote

A congressional voting procedure in which members pass

between two tellers, the “yeas” first and the “nays” second.

trustee

A legislator who makes decisions based on their own judgment of what

is best for the greater good of society or the country.

unified government

The same party controls the White House and both houses of Congress.

veto

Literally, “I forbid”: it refers to the power of a president to

disapprove a bill; it may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of each

house of Congress.

voice vote

A congressional voting procedure in which members shout

“yea” in approval or “nay” in disapproval, permitting members to vote quickly or anonymously on bills.

whip

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