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AP Government Chapter 11 Flashcards

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12652010888IncumbentsThose already holding office. In congressional elections, these people usually win.0
12652010889CaseworkActivities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals, particularly by cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to get.1
12652010890Pork BarrelFederal projects, grants, and contracts available to state and local governments, businesses, colleges, and other institutions in a congressional district.2
12652010891Bicameral LegislatureA legislature divided into two houses. The US Congress and all state legislatures except Nebraska's are this.3
12652010892House Rules CommitteeThe committee in the House of Representatives that reviews most bulls coming from a House committee before they go to the full House.4
12652010893FilibusterA strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation use their right to unlimited debate to prevent the Senate from ever voting on a bill. Sixty members present and voting can halt a filibuster.5
12652010894Speaker of the HouseAn office mandated by the Constitution. The Speaker is chosen inn practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant.6
12652010895Majority LeaderThe principal partisan ally of the Speaker of the House, or the party's manager in the Senate. The majority leader is responsible for scheduling bills, influencing committee assignments, and rounding up votes on behalf of the party's legislative positions.7
12652010896WhipsParty leaders who work with the majority leader or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party8
12652010897Minority LeaderThe principal leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate.9
12652010898Standing CommitteesSeparate subject-matter committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas.10
12652010899Joint CommitteesCongressional committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership drawn from both houses.11
12652010900Conference CommitteesCongressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different form. Party leadership appoints members from each house to iron out the differences and bring back a single bill.12
12652010901Select CommitteesCongressional committees appointed for a specific purpose, such as the Watergate Investigation.13
12652010902Legislative OversightCongress's monitoring of the bureaucracy and its administration of policy, performed mainly through hearings.14
12652010906Committee ChairsThe most important influences of the congressional agenda. They play dominant roles in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills when they are brought before the full house.15
12652010907Seniority SystemA simple rule for picking committee chairs, in effect until the 1970's. The member who had served on the committee the longest and whose party controlled the chamber became chair, regardless of party loyalty, mental state or competence.16
12652010908Caucus (congressional)A group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic. Many are composed of members from both parties and from both houses.17
12652010909Billa proposed law, drafted in legal language. anyone can draft a bill, but only a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate can formally submit a bill for consideration.18

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