Chapter 4 Master List: Congress

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions regarding Congress, legislative procedures, spending, and redistricting.

Bicameralism

A legislature divided into two houses (House and Senate), which serves as an internal check on the legislative branch.

Enumerated Powers

Powers specifically listed in Article I, Section 8, such as the power to tax, borrow money, and declare war.

Implied Powers

Powers not explicitly named in the Constitution but necessary to implement the enumerated powers via the Necessary and Proper Clause.

Speaker of the House

The only officer of the House mentioned in the Constitution; the leader of the majority party and the most powerful member of the House.

President of the Senate

The Vice President of the United States, who presides over the Senate and casts the tie-breaking vote when necessary.

President Pro Tempore

The member of the Senate (usually the longest-serving member of the majority party) who presides in the absence of the Vice President.

Filibuster

An informal term for any attempt to block or delay Senate action on a bill or other matter by debating it at length.

Cloture

The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill (overcoming a filibuster) by a three-fifths vote (60 members).

Committee of the Whole

A procedure in the House where the entire membership sits as a committee to debate and amend legislation more efficiently.

Rules Committee

Unique to the House, this "traffic cop" committee determines the rules for debate and amendments on a bill before it reaches the floor.

Discharge Petition

A procedure by which any member of the House, after a committee has had a bill for 30 days, may petition to have it brought to the floor with a majority vote.

Discretionary Spending

Spending that is implemented through an appropriations act; it is optional and must be approved by Congress each year (e.g., defense, education).

Mandatory Spending

Spending on certain programs that is required by existing law (e.g., Social Security, Medicare), making up the largest portion of the federal budget.

Entitlement Programs

Government programs—such as Social Security—that guarantee certain benefits to a particular group or segment of the population.

Budget Deficit

The amount by which federal spending exceeds federal revenue in a single fiscal year.

Pork Barrel Legislation

Legislation that allows representatives to "bring home the bacon" to their districts in the form of public works programs and specialized projects.

Logrolling

Vote trading; "I'll vote for your bill if you vote for mine."

Gerrymandering

The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent.

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.

Baker v. Carr (1962)

The landmark SCOTUS case that established the "one person, one vote" principle, ruling that challenges to redistricting could be heard by federal courts.