Keeping the Republic: Chapter 7- Congress

representation

the efforts of elected officials to look out for the interests of those who elect them

national lawmaking

the creation of policy to address the problems and needs of the entire nation

partisanship

loyalty to a party that helps share how members see the world, define problems, and identify appropriate solutions

polarization

the ideological distance between the parties and the ideological homogeneity within them

hyperpartisanship

a commitment to party so strong it can transcend other commitments

constituency

the voters in a state or district

policy representation

congressional work to advance the issues and ideological preferences of constituents

allocative representation

congressional work to secure projects, services, and funds for the representatived district

pork barrel

public works projects and grants for specific districts paid for by general revenues

casework

legislative work on behalf of individual constituents to solve their problems with government agencies and programs

franking

the privilege of free mail service provided to members of congress

symbolic representation

efforts of member of Congress to stand for American ideals or identify with common constituency values

bicameral legislature

legislature with two chambers

congressional oversight

a committee's investigation of the executive and of government agencies to ensure they are acting as Congress intends

reapportionment

a reallocation of congressional seats among the states every ten years, following the cencus

redistricting

process of dividing states into legislative districts

gerrymandering

redistricting to benefit a particular group

racial gerrymandering

redistricting to enhance or reduce the chances that a racial or an ethnic group will elect members to the legislature

strategic politicians

office-seekers who base the decision to run on a rational calculation that they will be sucessful

incumbency advantage

the electoral edge afforded to those already in office

coattail effect

the added voters received by congressional candidates of a winning presidential party

midterm loss

the tendency for the presidential party to lose congressional seats in off year elections

descriptive representation

the idea that an elected body should mirror demographically the population it represents

majority party

the party with the most seats in the house of Congress

party polarization

greater ideological differences between the parties and increased ideological consensus with the parties

Speaker of the House

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

seniority system

the accumulation of power and authority in conjunction with the length of time spent in office

standing committees

permanent committees responsible for legislation in particular policy areas

House Rules Committee

the committee that determines how and when debate on a bill will take place

select committee

a committee appointed to deal with an issue or a problem not suited to a standing committee

joint committees

combined House-Senate committees formed to coordinate activities and expedite legislation in a certain area

conference committees

temporary committees formed to reconcile differences in House and Senate versions of a bill

norms

informal rules that govern behavior in Congress

legislative agenda

the slate of proposals and issues that representatives think it worthwhile to consider and act on

policy entrepreneurship

practice of legislators becoming experts and taking leadership roles in specific policy areas

filibuster

a practice of unlimited debate in the Senate in order to prevent or delay a vote on a bill

cloture

a vote to end a Senate filibuster; requires a three-fifths majority, or sixty votes

omnibus legislation

a large bill that contains so many important elements that members can't afford to defeat it and the president can't afford to veto it, even if the bill contains elements they dislike

roll call votes

publicly recorded voters on bills and amendments on the floor of the House or Senate

veto override

reversal of a presidential veto by a 2/3 vote in both the house of congress

pocket veto

presidential authority to kill a bill submitted within ten days of the end of a legislative session by not signing it