Congress

Front 1

Constituency

Back 1

The district making up the area from which an official is elected.

Front 2

Delegate

Back 2

A representative who votes according to the preferences of his or her constituency.

Front 3

Trustee

Back 3

A representative who votes based on what he or she thinks is best for his or her constituency.

Front 4

Agency Representation

Back 4

The type of representation according to which representatives are held accountable to their constituents if they fail to represent them properly. That is, constituents have the power to hire and fire their representatives.

Front 5

Bicameral Legislature

Back 5

A legislative assembly composed of two chambers, or houses.

Front 6

Money Bill

Back 6

A bill concerned solely with taxation of government spending.

Front 7

Incumbency

Back 7

Holding the Political Office for which one is running.

Front 8

Casework

Back 8

An effort by members of Congress to gain the trust and support of constituents by providing personal services. One important type of casework consists of helping constituents obtain favorable treatment from the federal bureaucracy.

Front 9

Patronage

Back 9

The resources available to higher officials, usually opportunities to make partisan appointments to offices and confer grants, licenses, or special favors to supporters.

Front 10

Pork-Barrel Legislation

Back 10

The appropriations made by legislative bodies for local projects that often aren't needed, but are created so that local representatives can carry their home district in the next election.

Front 11

Gerrymandering

Back 11

The apportionment of voters in districts in such a way as to give unfair advantage to one political party.

Front 12

Party Caucus/Conference

Back 12

A normally closed meeting of a political of legislative group to select candidates or leaders, plan strategy, or make decisions regarding legislative matters.

Front 13

Speaker of the House

Back 13

The chief presiding officer of the House of Representatives. The Speaker is elected at the beginning of every Congress on as straight party vote. He or she is the most important party and House leader.

Front 14

Minority Leader

Back 14

The elected leader of the Party holding less than a majority of the seats in the House or Senate.

Front 15

Majority Leader

Back 15

The elected leader of the party holding a majority of seats in the House or Senate.

Front 16

Standing Committee

Back 16

A permanent legislative committee that considers legislation within its designated subject area; the basic unit of deliberation in the House and Senate.

Front 17

Gatekeeping Authority

Back 17

The right and power to decide if a change in policy will be considered.

Front 18

Proposal Power

Back 18

The capacity to bring a proposal before the full legislature.

Front 19

After-The-Fact Authority

Back 19

The authority to follow up on the fate of a proposal once it has been approved by the full chamber.

Front 20

Conference Committee

Back 20

A joint committee created to work out a compromise for the House and Senate versions of a piece of legislation.

Front 21

Oversight

Back 21

The effort by Congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies.

Front 22

Seniority

Back 22

The priority or status given to an individual on the basis of length of continuous service on a congressional committee.

Front 23

Agency Loss

Back 23

The difference between what a principal would like an agent to do, and the agent's performance.

Front 24

Staff Agencies

Back 24

The agencies responsible for providing Congress with independent expertise, administration, and oversight capability.

Front 25

Congressional Caucus

Back 25

An association of members of Congress based on party, interest, or social characteristics such as gender or race.

Front 26

Closed Rule

Back 26

The provision by the House Rules Committee that prohibits the introduction of amendments during debate.

Front 27

Open Rule

Back 27

The provision by the House Rules Committee that permits floor debate and the addition of amendments to a bill.

Front 28

Filibuster

Back 28

A tactic used by members of the Senate to prevent action on legislation they oppose by continually speaking until the majority backs down. Once given the floor, senators have an unlimited time to speak, and it requires a cloture vote of 3/5 of the Senate to end a filibuster.

Front 29

Cloture

Back 29

A rule allowing a supermajority of the members of a legislative body to set a time limit on debate over a given bill.

Front 30

Veto

Back 30

The President's power to turn down acts of Congress within 10 days of their passage while Congress is in session.

Front 31

Pocket Veto

Back 31

A veto that is effected when Congress adjourns during the time a president has to approve a bill, and the president takes no action on it.

Front 32

Distributive Tendency

Back 32

The tendency of Congress to spread the benefits of a policy over a wide range of members' districts.

Front 33

Party Vote

Back 33

A roll call vote in the House or Senate in which at least 50 percent of the members of one party take a particular opposition and are opposed by at least 50 percent of the members of the other party.

Front 34

Roll-Call Votes

Back 34

Votes in which each legislator's yes or no vote is recorded.

Front 35

Whip system

Back 35

A communications network in each House of Congress. Whips poll the membership to learn their intentions on specific legislative issues and assist the majority and minority leaders in various tasks.

Front 36

Logrolling

Back 36

A legislative practice wherein reciprocal agreements are made between legislators, usually in voting for or against a bill. Logrolling unites parties that have nothing in common but their desire to exchange support.

Front 37

Executive Agreement

Back 37

An agreement between the President and another country that has the force of a treaty but does not requires the Senate's "advice and consent."

Front 38

Impeachment

Back 38

The charging of a government official with "Treason, Bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors," and bringing him or her before Congress to determine guilt.