Chapter 11 AP Gov Vocab.txt

The residents of a congressional district or state.

The assigning by Congress of congressional seats after each census. State legislatures reapportion state legislative districts.

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.

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

An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other, so the success of that party’s candidate is almost taken for granted.

The current holder of the elected office.

The principle of a two-house legislature.

The powers expressly given to Congress in the Constitution.

The presiding officer in the House of Representatives, formally elected by the House but actually selected by the majority party.

A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy. Called a conference by the Republicans.

The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy, confers with other party leaders, and tries to keep members of the party in line.

the legislative leader selected by the minority party as spokesperson for the opposition.

Party leader who is the liaison between the leadership and the rank-and-file in the legislature.

A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendments to bills or provides that only members of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments.

A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill.

Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president.

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of the bill or nomination.

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate.

Presidential custom of submitting the names of perspective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work.

A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area.

A congressional committee created for a specific purpose, sometimes to conduct an investigation.

A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.

Special spending projects that are set aside on behalf of individual members of Congress for their constituents.

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

Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.

An official who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of legislator.

An official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances; one interpretation of the role of the legislator.

Mutual aid and vote trading among legislators.

Those citizens who follow public affairs closely.

Petition that, if signed by majority of the House of Representatives’ members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.

A provision attached to a bill – to which it may or may not be related – in order to secure its passage or defeat.

A veto exercised by the president after Congress has adjourned; if the president takes no action for 10 days, the bill does not become law and does not return to Congress for possible override.

An action taken by Congress to reverse the presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds majority in each chamber.

Incumbents do not have to pay postage on their mail to their district, except during the last 90 days before an election

All members of HOR can agree to suspend the rules to bring an urgent topic to the table

the HOR can vote on a quorum. This only requires 100 votes to pass something instead of a majorirty

the name for the party caucus for rebpuclians

each party leader in the senate has a policy committee that helps monitor legislation and provide policy expertise

• type of standing committee
• laws that tell the gov what to do
• Ex: House and Senate Education and Labor Committees

• type of standing committee
• how much money government will spend and where to spend it

• type of standing committee
• determine operative rules of the chambers

• type of standing committee
• raising the money that appropriating committees will spend
• Often provide less than the Appropriation Committees want
• Taxes

specialize in a couple of issues

defer to members with longer tenure in office

never criticize anyone personally

waiting turns to speak and introduce legislation