Vocab

Pork barrel spending

Legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states.

Logrolling

Trading of votes on legislation by members of Congress to get their earmarks passed into legislation.

Incumbent

A political official who is currently in office.

Discretionary spending

Spending for programs and policies at the discretion of Congress and the president.

Entitlement spending

A program that provides benefits for those who qualify under the law, regardless of income.

Gerrymandering

The intentional use of redistricting to benefit a specific interest or group of voters.

Divided government

Control of the presidency and one or both chambers of Congress split between the two major parties.

Trustee model

The idea that members of Congress should act as trustees, making decisions based on their knowledge and judgment.

Delegate model

The idea that the main duty of a member of Congress is to carry out constituent wishes.

Political model

Representation where members of Congress balance their choices with the interests of their constituents and parties in making decisions.

Reapportionment

Congressional districts are redrawn and seats are redistributed amongst states in the House based on the census.

Redistricting

The process of redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts to reflect changes in population and ensure fair representation.

Safe seat

Electoral districts that are highly likely to be won by a particular political party.

Bicameralism

A type of legislative body that consists of two separate chambers or houses.

Speaker

The leader of the House of Representatives, chosen by an election of its members.

Party caucus

Members meet to openly debate and vote on party leaders/nominees.

Majority leader

The person who is the head of the party with the most seats in the Senate and second in command of the House.

Minority leader

The head of the party with the second-highest number of seats in Congress.

Whip

A member of Congress whose job is to ensure party unity and discipline.

Closed rule

A procedural guideline used in the House that limits debate on a bill and prohibits amendments.

Open rule

A procedural guideline that allows for unlimited debate and the possibility of amendments to a bill.

President pro tempore

A high-ranking senator who presides over the chamber in the absence of the Vice President.

Hold

A delay placed on legislation by a senator who objects to a bill.

Filibuster

A tactic through which an individual senator uses unlimited debate to delay action on legislation.

Cloture

A procedure through which senators can end debate on a bill and proceed to action.

Senatorial courtesy

An agreement among senators to not vote for a nominee opposed by senators from the nominee's home state.

Standing committee

A permanent legislative committee established to handle bills and issues in specific policy areas.

Special or select committee

Meant to investigate specific issues, temporary and without legislative authority.

Joint committee

A legislative committee made up of members from both the House and Senate.

Earmarks

The allocation of money to specific projects in states or congressional districts.

Seniority rule

A legislative practice that assigns the committee chair to the member of the majority party with the longest service.

Conference committee

A committee that achieves agreement on a bill between chambers when there are different versions.

Congressional oversight

Efforts by Congress to ensure executive branch agencies act legally and in accordance with goals.

Rider

A provision included in a bill on a different subject to kill the bill.

Pocket veto

An informal veto caused when the president chooses not to sign a bill within ten days during adjournment.

Override

Congress reverses a veto with a two-thirds vote.

Single-Issue Group

An association focusing on one specific area of public policy, often a moral issue.

Open shop

A company with a labor agreement where union membership cannot be required for employment.

Closed shop

A company with a labor agreement where union membership can be required for employment.

Free rider

An individual who enjoys collective goods and benefits from an interest group without joining.

Nongovernmental organization (NGO)

Independent groups outside of the government that work toward a public cause.

Collective action

Political action that occurs when individuals contribute their energy, time, or money to a larger goal.

Amicus curiae brief

A brief filed by someone not a party to a case to persuade the court.

Lobbyist

An individual who interacts with government officials to advance a group's public policy goals.

Lobbying

Interacting with government officials to advance a group's public policy goals.

Revolving door

The movement of individuals between government and lobbying positions.

Iron Triangle

Coordinated activities of bureaucracy, Congress, and interest groups to achieve shared policy goals.

Issue network

Webs of influence between interest groups, policymakers, and policy advocates.

Political action committee (PAC)

An organization that raises money for candidates and campaigns.

SuperPAC

An organization that may spend unlimited money on a political campaign, not coordinated with campaigns.

Leadership PAC

A PAC formed by an officeholder that collects contributions to contribute to other candidates.

Soft money

Contributions made to political parties for purposes other than supporting a specific candidate.

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act

A federal law aimed to regulate political campaign financing and eliminate soft money contributions.

Quid pro quo

Something given with the expectation of receiving something in return.

Issue advocacy

Promoting a particular position or issue paid for by interest groups but not candidates.

527 organization

Organizations that raise and spend money to advance political causes under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code.