U.S. Congress Lecture Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, historical compromises, legislative processes, committee structures, and representative roles discussed in the U.S. Congress lecture notes.

The Great Compromise

A legislative compromise required for the ratification of the Constitution that created a bicameral legislature.

The Three-Fifths Compromise

A constitutional compromise that settled how enslaved people would be counted for state representation.

The Sectional Compromise

A compromise that gave Congress the power to regulate commerce with a simple majority vote in exchange for permitting the slave trade for at least twenty years.

17th Amendment (1913)

A constitutional amendment ratified in 1913 that established the direct popular election of U.S. Senators instead of selection by state legislatures.

Reapportionment

The redistribution of representatives among the states based on population changes, occurring every 10 years.

Impeach

The power of the House of Representatives to formally charge a government official with "treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors".

Incumbents

Current officeholders running for reelection, who are reelected at high rates (approximately 90% in the House and 85% in the Senate).

Redistricting

The process of redrawing legislative districts to reflect population changes.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

A Supreme Court case that set the standard that House districts must contain an equal number of constituents.

Gerrymandering

The redrawing of a congressional district to intentionally benefit one political party.

Franking privilege

An incumbent advantage granting members of Congress the right to send mail to constituents free of charge.

Casework

Solving problems for constituents, especially problems involving government agencies.

Descriptive representation

The view that a legislature should resemble the demographic characteristics of the population it represents.

Racial gerrymandering

Drawing legislative districts to maximize the chances of a minority candidate winning an election, instigated by the Voting Rights Act Amendments of 1982.

Shaw v. Reno (1993)

A Supreme Court ruling in which a North Carolina congressional district was declared to be an example of "political apartheid".

Veto

A president's formal disapproval of a bill passed by both houses of Congress, which can be overridden by a 2/3 vote in each house.

Pocket veto

A procedure taking place when the president does not sign a bill and Congress adjourns within ten days of the bill's passage.

Standing committees

Permanent congressional committees that specialize in particular legislative areas.

Joint committee

A congressional committee made up of members of both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Select committee

A temporary committee created for a specific purpose.

Conference committee

A temporary committee created to work out differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

Legislative Reorganization Act (1946)

Act of Congress that reduced the number of standing committees.

Seniority

Years of consecutive service on a committee, traditionally used to select committee chairs.

Markup sessions

The meetings at which subcommittees and committees actually debate and amend legislation.

Oversight

The process of reviewing the operations of an agency to determine whether it is carrying out policies as Congress intended.

Speaker of the House

The constitutional presiding officer of the House of Representatives (currently Mike Johnson of Louisiana).

President pro tempore

The official who presides over the Senate in the vice president's absence, usually given to the most senior member of the majority party and third in line of presidential succession.

Filibuster

A delaying tactic used in the Senate that involves speechmaking to prevent action on a piece of legislation.

Cloture

The mechanism by which a filibuster is cut off in the Senate, requiring a vote of 60 senators.

Logrolling

The practice of supporting another legislator's bill in exchange for support of one's own bill.

Pork-barrel legislation

Legislation that benefits a single state or district.

Trustee

A representative who is obligated to consider the views of constituents but is not obligated to vote according to those views if he/she believes they are misguided.

Delegate

A legislator whose primary responsibility is to represent the majority view of his/her constituents, regardless of personal opinion.

Legislative Process (How a Bill Becomes a Law)

The step-by-step process of passing legislation starting from introduction, committee work, floor action, conference action, to presidential approval or veto override.

Beating of Charles Sumner (May 22, 1856)

An incident of violence on the Senate floor where Senator Charles Sumner was beaten and bloodied by Representative Preston Brooks.

Informed Voter Law

A procedure proposed to instruct members of Congress to support a 3-term limit and inform voters if their instructions are disregarded.