Congress
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🧠 Pork Barrel Spending
When Congress members spend government money on local projects to please voters.
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🧠 Logrolling
Lawmakers trading votes — “You vote for my bill, I’ll vote for yours.”
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🧠 Oversight
Congress checking how the executive branch carries out laws.
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🧠 Constituency
The people a lawmaker represents (their voters).
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🧠 Apportionment
Dividing House seats among states based on population.
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🧠 Redistricting
Redrawing district lines after the census.
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🧠 Gerrymandering
Changing district lines to favor one political party.
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🧠 Partisan Gerrymandering
When one political party redraws districts to help themselves win more seats.
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🧠 Majority-Minority Districts
Districts made mostly of racial or ethnic minorities so they can elect a representative.
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🧠 Malapportionment
When districts have very different populations — causes unfair representation.
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🧠 Incumbency
The person already holding political office.
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🧠 Incumbency Advantage
The benefits current officeholders have (name recognition, experience, etc.).
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🧠 Speaker of the House
The top leader of the House of Representatives.
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🧠 Political Action Committee (PAC)
A group that raises money to support candidates or causes.
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🧠 House Majority Leader
The second most powerful person in the House; helps plan the party’s agenda.
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🧠 Whip
Makes sure party members vote the way the party wants.
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🧠 Minority Leader
The leader of the smaller political party in Congress.
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🧠 Senate Majority Leader
The most powerful person in the Senate; controls what bills are discussed.
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🧠 Committee Chair
The leader of a congressional committee.
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🧠 Discharge Petition
Lets the House force a bill out of committee for a full vote.
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🧠 House Rules Committee
Sets rules for debate and voting on bills in the House.
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🧠 Committee of the Whole
When all House members act as one big committee to speed up debate.
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🧠 Hold
When a senator delays a bill by asking for more time to review it.
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🧠 Unanimous Consent Agreement
When all senators agree to speed up the process if no one objects.
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🧠 Filibuster
A long Senate speech used to block or delay a vote.
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🧠 Cloture
A vote to end a filibuster (needs 60 votes).
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🧠 Veto
When the president rejects a bill from Congress.
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🧠 Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Helps the president create the yearly budget.
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🧠 Entitlement Program
Government programs that give benefits to people who qualify (like Social Security).
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🧠 Mandatory Spending
Money the government must spend by law (like entitlements).
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🧠 Discretionary Spending
Money Congress chooses how to spend (like defense or education).
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🧠 Budget Surplus
When the government makes more money than it spends.
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🧠 Budget Deficit
When the government spends more than it earns.
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🧠 National Debt
The total amount of money the government owes.
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🧠 Delegate Role
When a lawmaker votes how their voters want.
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🧠 Trustee Role
When a lawmaker votes based on their own judgment.
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🧠 Politico Role
A mix of delegate and trustee roles — depends on the issue.
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🧠 Bipartisanship
When both parties work together.
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🧠 Gridlock
When nothing gets done because of political disagreements.
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🧠 Divided Government
When one party controls Congress and the otheAbsolutely, Diva 💅 here’s your AP Gov flashcards, spaced out and ready to quiz yourself with — super clean and easy to study from!
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🧠 Pork Barrel Spending
When Congress members spend government money on local projects to please voters.
---
🧠 Logrolling
Lawmakers trading votes — “You vote for my bill, I’ll vote for yours.”
---
🧠 Oversight
Congress checking how the executive branch carries out laws.
---
🧠 Constituency
The people a lawmaker represents (their voters).
---
🧠 Apportionment
Dividing House seats among states based on population.
---
🧠 Redistricting
Redrawing district lines after the census.
---
🧠 Gerrymandering
Changing district lines to favor one political party.
---
🧠 Partisan Gerrymandering
When one political party redraws districts to help themselves win more seats.
---
🧠 Majority-Minority Districts
Districts made mostly of racial or ethnic minorities so they can elect a representative.
---
🧠 Malapportionment
When districts have very different populations — causes unfair representation.
---
🧠 Incumbency
The person already holding political office.
---
🧠 Incumbency Advantage
The benefits current officeholders have (name recognition, experience, etc.).
---
🧠 Speaker of the House
The top leader of the House of Representatives.
---
🧠 Political Action Committee (PAC)
A group that raises money to support candidates or causes.
---
🧠 House Majority Leader
The second most powerful person in the House; helps plan the party’s agenda.
---
🧠 Whip
Makes sure party members vote the way the party wants.
---
🧠 Minority Leader
The leader of the smaller political party in Congress.
---
🧠 Senate Majority Leader
The most powerful person in the Senate; controls what bills are discussed.
---
🧠 Committee Chair
The leader of a congressional committee.
---
🧠 Discharge Petition
Lets the House force a bill out of committee for a full vote.
---
🧠 House Rules Committee
Sets rules for debate and voting on bills in the House.
---
🧠 Committee of the Whole
When all House members act as one big committee to speed up debate.
---
🧠 Hold
When a senator delays a bill by asking for more time to review it.
---
🧠 Unanimous Consent Agreement
When all senators agree to speed up the process if no one objects.
---
🧠 Filibuster
A long Senate speech used to block or delay a vote.
---
🧠 Cloture
A vote to end a filibuster (needs 60 votes).
---
🧠 Veto
When the president rejects a bill from Congress.
---
🧠 Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
Helps the president create the yearly budget.
---
🧠 Entitlement Program
Government programs that give benefits to people who qualify (like Social Security).
---
🧠 Mandatory Spending
Money the government must spend by law (like entitlements).
---
🧠 Discretionary Spending
Money Congress chooses how to spend (like defense or education).
---
🧠 Budget Surplus
When the government makes more money than it spends.
---
🧠 Budget Deficit
When the government spends more than it earns.
---
🧠 National Debt
The total amount of money the government owes.
---
🧠 Delegate Role
When a lawmaker votes how their voters want.
---
🧠 Trustee Role
When a lawmaker votes based on their own judgment.
---
🧠 Politico Role
A mix of delegate and trustee roles — depends on the issue.
---
🧠 Bipartisanship
When both parties work together.
---
🧠 Gridlock
When nothing gets done because of political disagreements.
---
🧠 Divided Government
When one party controls Congress and the other controls the presidency.
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🧠 Lame Duck Period
Time after a new president is elected but the old one is still in office.
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Would you like me to turn these into a printable flashcard sheet or a Quizlet-style digital set next? ✨
r controls the presidency.
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🧠 Lame Duck Period
Time after a new president is elected but the old one is still in office.