A.P. Government and Politics
Chapter 11: Congress
Vocabulary
Mr. Foster
Foster gave these definitions to us, verbatim.
Terms : Hide Images
| 120813072 | bicameral legislature | two (2) chambers sharing control of Congress | |
| 120813073 | filibuster | delay tactic used to try to prevent a vote on a bill | |
| 120813074 | marginal districts | congressional race that is competitive | |
| 120813075 | safe districts | congressional race that is not competitive | |
| 120813076 | majority leader | top person in Congress from party in power | |
| 120813077 | minority leader | most powerful person from party not in power | |
| 120813078 | whip | person responsible for ensuring that people within his/her party vote properly | |
| 120813079 | congressional caucus | groups in Congress that share demographics | |
| 120813080 | standing committees | only permanent committees divided by specific subject matters | |
| 120813081 | select committees | temporary committees set up to deal with specific subject matters | |
| 120813082 | joint committees | committees made up of both House and Senate members | |
| 120813083 | conference committee | committee where final copy of bill is drawn up | |
| 120813084 | simple resolution | agreement in one (1) chamber about procedural issues | |
| 120813085 | concurrent resolution | agreement in both chambers about procedural issues | |
| 120813086 | joint resolution | agreement between the House and the Senate, signed by the president, that has the same weight as a law | |
| 120813087 | discharge petition | when the House calls a vote to pool a bill out of committee | |
| 120813088 | closed rule | no amendments may be added to a bill during debate | |
| 120813089 | open rule | amendments may be added to a bill during debate | |
| 120813090 | rider | attachment to a bill that is not related to the bill | |
| 120813091 | Christmas tree bill | tons of riders attached to a bill | |
| 120813092 | quorum | minimum number of people that must be present to conduct business in Congress | |
| 120813093 | quorum call | vote taken to see if a majority of congresspeople are present in Congress | |
| 120813094 | cloture rule | vote to prevent a filibuster | |
| 120813095 | double-tracking | when Congress is working on two bills at the same time | |
| 120813096 | pork-barrel legislation | legislation that directly benefits a member's constituents | |
| 120813097 | franking privilege | free delivery postage | |
| 120813098 | representational view (DELEGATE) | when a congressman votes with his/her constituents | |
| 120813099 | attitudinal view (TRUSTEE) | when a congressman votes based on his/her own opinion | |
| 120813100 | partisan (party polarization) | "party-affiliated" | |
| 120813101 | non-partisan | not "party-affiliated" | |
| 120813102 | veto | president voting to block passed legislation | |
| 120813103 | pocket veto | when the president holds onto a bill for ten days and Congress adjourns | |
| 120813104 | Rules Committee | committee in the House that controls the length and time of debate on a bill | |
| 120813105 | non-germane amendments | another term for "rider" | |
| 120813106 | Ways and Means Committee | a tax committee in the House | |
| 120813107 | Appropriations Committee | the committee that allocates all funding | |
| 120813108 | gridlock | when the government stops due to partisan behavior | |
| 120813109 | divided government | when parties each have control of one of the chambers/branches | |
| 120813110 | unified government | when one party controls the chambers/branches | |
| 120813111 | (BONUS) germane | (BONUS) relevant | |
| 120813112 | (BONUS) log-rolling | (BONUS) the process of congressmen exchanging votes | |
| 120813113 | (BONUS) case-work | (BONUS) the daily work of a congressman |
