AP Gov Congress Quiz

Bicameral legislature

A lawmaking body divided into two separate chambers (U.S. Congress - House and Senate)

Midterm election

National election held midway through a president's 4-year term (even years, no president on ballot) - affects all House seats + 1/3 Senate seats

Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

Nonpartisan agency providing Congress independent budget/economic analysis and cost estimates for bills

Filibuster

Senate tactic of extended debate to delay/block a vote (minority party tool - requires 60-vote cloture to end)

Cloture

Senate procedure (60 votes) to end filibuster and limit debate on a bill

Congressional oversight

Congress monitoring/supervising executive branch to ensure proper law implementation (hearings, investigations, GAO audits)

Resolution

Formal statement of opinion by Congress that does NOT become law (simple=1 house - concurrent=both houses)

Discretionary spending

Annual spending Congress must approve via appropriations (defense, education, transportation)

Mandatory spending

Automatic spending required by law (Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid - no annual approval needed)

Gerrymandering

Drawing district lines to favor one party/incumbent (packing/cracking voters)

Hold

Informal Senate notice to leadership delaying/blocking a bill/nomination from floor consideration

Incumbent

Current officeholder running for re-election (advantages - name recognition, fundraising)

Elastic clause

Necessary and Proper Clause (Art I Sec 8) - Congress power to make laws needed to execute enumerated powers (creates agencies like FBI)

Closed rule

House Rules Committee restriction prohibiting amendments to a bill during floor debate

Open rule

House Rules Committee rule allowing amendments to a bill during floor debate

Standing committee

Permanent congressional committee handling specific policy areas (Ways & Means = taxes)

Special/select committee

Temporary committee for specific investigation (Jan 6 Committee)

Joint committee

Committee with members from both House and Senate (Joint Economic Committee)

Conference committee

Temporary House-Senate committee reconciling different versions of same bill

Pork/pork barrel

Legislation funding specific local projects to benefit a member's district/state (helps re-election)

Logrolling

Members trading votes/support for each other's bills ("you vote for mine, I'll vote for yours")

Appropriations

Laws authorizing specific spending amounts for federal programs (discretionary spending tool)

Single member district

Electoral district electing one House representative (majority/plurality vote)

House Rules Committee

Powerful House committee setting debate rules for bills (open/closed rules, time limits)

Delegate model of voting

Representative votes strictly per constituent wishes (acts as mouthpiece)

Trustee model of voting

Representative uses own judgment/expertise (constituents trust their decisions)

Politico model of voting

Hybrid - delegate on popular issues, trustee on complex ones

Impeachment

House impeaches (simple majority articles) - Senate convicts/removes (2/3 vote) for high crimes

Baker v. Carr

1962 - Federal courts can review state legislative redistricting (not political question)

Shaw v. Reno

1993 - Race-based districts must meet strict scrutiny (limits racial gerrymandering)

Override of veto

Congress passes bill over president's veto (2/3 vote in both House + Senate)

Divided government

Different parties control presidency + at least one chamber of Congress (causes gridlock)

Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974

Reformed budget process - created CBO - limited presidential impoundment of funds

Fiscal year

U.S. federal budget period - October 1 - September 30 (avoids shutdowns if no appropriations)