Chapter 12 The Congress (Govt)

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A representative who primarily represents the wishes of his/her constituents is acting as a:

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Instructed Delegate

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The House Majority Leader:

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Fosters cohesion among party members

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Oversight is the process by which Congress:

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Follows up on the laws it has enacted

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After a bill has been introduced and referred to a committee:

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The committee may hold hearing to explore the merits of the bill

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Redistricting is:

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The redrawing of district boundaries within each state to ensure equal district populations

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A filibuster is:

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An attempt to prevent the passage of a bill through the use of unlimited debate

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If citizens were required to vote:

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The influence of uninformed uninterested citizens on the political process would be increased; possibly resulting in undesirable results

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Casework is:

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Constituent Service

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An important function of the House Leader is to:

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Act as a spokesperson for the majority party in the House

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Members of Congress are granted generous franking privileges that:

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Permit them to mail letters to their constituents without charge

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Appropriation

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The passage, by Congress, of a spending bill specifying the amount of authorized funds that actually will be allocated for an agency's use

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Authorization

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A formal declaration by a legislative committee that a certain amount of funding may be available to an agency . Some authorizations terminate in a year; others are renewable automatically, with out further Congressional action

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Bicameralism

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The division of legislature into 2 (two) separate assemblies

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Blue Dog Democrats

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Members of Congress from more moderate states or districts who sometimes "cross over" to vote with Republicans on legislation

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Conference Committee

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A special joint committee appointed to reconcile differences when bills pass the 2 (two) chambers of Congress in different forms

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Conservative Coalition

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An alliance of Republicans & Southern Democrats that can form in the House or Senate to oppose liberal legislation and support conservation legislation

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Constituent

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One of the persons represented by a legislature or other elected or appointed official

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Continuing Resolution

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A temporary funding law that Congress passes when an appropriations bill has not been decided by the beginning of the new fiscal year on Oct. 1

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Direct Primary

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An intra-party election in which the voters select the candidates who will run on a party's ticket in the subsequent general election

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Discharge Petition

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A procedure by which a bill of the House of Representatives may be forced (discharged) out of a committee that has refused to report it for consideration by the House. The petition must be signed by an absolute majority (218) of representatives and is used only on rare occasions.

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Earmarks

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Funding appropriations that are specifically designated for a named project in a members state or district

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Enumerated powers

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A power specifically granted to the National Government by the Constitution. The first 17 clauses of Article 1, Section 8, specify most of the enumerated powers of Congress

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Executive Budget

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The budget prepared and submitted by the president to Congress

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Fall Review

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The annual process in which the Office of Management and Budget, after receiving formal federal agency requests for funding for the next fiscal year, reviews the requests, makes changes, and submits it recommendations tot the President

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First Budget Resolution

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A resolution passed by Congress in May that sets overall revenue and spending goals for the following fiscal year

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Fiscal Year (FY)

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A 12-month period that is used for book keeping or accounting purposes. Usually, the fiscal year (FY) does not coincide with the calender year. The FY runs from Oct. 1 - Sept. 30

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Gerrymandering

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The drawing of legislative district boundary lines to obtain partisan or factinal advantage. A district is said to be gerrymandered when its shape is manipulated by the dominant party in the state legislature to maximize electoral strength at the expense of the minority party

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Hillstyle

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The actions and behaviors of a member of Congress in Washington D.C., intended to promote policies and the members own career aspirations

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Homestyle

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The actions and behaviors of a member of Congress aimed at the Constituents and intended to win the support and trust of the voters at home

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Joint Committee

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A legislative committee composed of members from both chambers of Congress

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Justiciable Question

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A question that maybe raised and reviewed in court

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Lawmaking

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The process of establishing the legal rules that govern society

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Logrolling

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An arrangement in which two or more members of Congress agree in advance to support each other's bill

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Minority Leader of the House

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The party leader elected by the minority party in the House

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Ombudsperson

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A person who hears and investigates complaints by private individuals against

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Party Identifier

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A person who identifies with a political party

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Pork

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Special projects or appropriations that are intended to benefit a members district or state; slang term for earmarks

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President Pro Tempore

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The temporary presiding officer of the Senate in the absence of the Vice President

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Reapportionment

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The allocation of seats in the House of Representatives to each state after each census

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Representation

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The function of members of Congress as elected officials representing the views of their constituents

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Rule

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The proposal by the Rules Committee of the House that states the conditions for debate for one piece of legislation

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Rules Committee

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A standing committee of the House of Representatives that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by the House

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Safe Seat

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A district that returns a legislator with 55% of the vote or more

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Second Budget Resolution

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A resolution passed by Congress in September that sets "binding" limits on taxes and spending for the next fiscal year

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Select Committee

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A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose

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Senate Majority Leader

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The chief spokesperson of the majority party in the Senate, who directs the legislative program and party strategy

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Senate Minority Leader

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The party officer in the Senate who commands the minority party's opposition to the policies of the majority part and directs the legislative program and strategy of his/her party.

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Seniority System

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A custom followed in both chambers of Congress specifying that the member of the majority party with the longest term of continuous service will be given preference when a committee chairperson (or holder of some other significant post) is selected

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Speaker of the House

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The presiding officer in the House of Representatives. The speaker is always a member of the majority party and is the most powerful and most influential member of the house

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Spring Review

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The annual process in which the Office of Management and Budget requires federal agencies to review their programs, activities, and goals and submit their requests for funding for the next fiscal year

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Standing Committee

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A permanent committee in the House or Senate that considers bills within a certain subject area

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Trustee

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A legislator who acts according to her/his conscience and the broad interests of the entire society

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Unanimous Consent Agreement

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An agreement on the rules of debate for proposed legislation in the senate that is approved by all members

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Whip

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A member of Congress who aids the majority leader of the House or the Senate

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The founders of the United States believed that much of the power to be exercised by the national government should be in the hands of:

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Congress

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All of the following EXCEPT ____ check the House of Representatives.

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the states

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The median age of members of Congress in 2006 was higher than the median age of the U.S. population.
T_F

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True

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The allocation of seats to each state in the U.S. House of Representatives after each census is know as:

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reapportionment

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Partisan redistricting almost inevitably works to the detriment of incumbents.
T_F

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False

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The typical Capitol Hill Senate office employs about:

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30 staffers

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Most actual legislative work is performed:

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by congressional committees and subcommittees

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When a member of Congress "trades" her vote on a particular bill with another member in exchange for the other member's votes on other legislation, it is know as:

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logrolling