Ap Gov Unit 4 Vocab

Front 1

Reapportionment

Back 1

The process of reallocating seats in the HoR every 10 years based on census data

Front 2

Gerrymandering

Back 2

Process of establishing electoral districts to create a political advantage

Front 3

Redistricting

Back 3

Drawing electoral district boundaries made necessary by population change

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Constituency Service

Back 4

What politicians do to serve and represent their constituents

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Pork Barrel

Back 5

Federal projects, grants, and contracts available to state and local governments businesses colleges and other institutions in a congressional district

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Franking

Back 6

Postage like stamps used for postal servicing, free for congress

Front 7

Committee System

Back 7

Dividing into special groups that hear bills first before they hit the floor and perform other special functions(hearings, investigations, etc.)

Front 8

Seniority

Back 8

Simple rule for picking committee chairs where the member who sits on committee longest and who's party owns the majority is selected as the head regardless of ability or competence

Front 9

War powers resolution

Back 9

Law passed in 70s in reaction to Vietnam and Cambodia that requires presidents to consult with Congress whenever possible prior to using military force and to withdraw troops after 60 days unless war is declared or extension granted.

Front 10

Filibuster

Back 10

Strategy unique to senate where opponents of legislation use their right to unlimited debate to prevent the senate from voting on a bill. 60 present voters can end a filibuster

Front 11

Cloture

Back 11

(in legislative assembly) a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote

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Incumbency

Back 12

those already holding office. Usually win in congressional races.

Front 13

Legislative Veto

Back 13

vote in congress to override a presidential decision. (The war power resolution asserts this authority.)

Front 14

Senatorial Courtesy

Back 14

An unwritten tradition where by nominations for state level federal judicial posts are usually not confirmed if they are opposed by a senator or the presidents party from the state which the nominee will serve.

Front 15

Executive orders

Back 15

Regulations originating with the executive branch. They are one method presidents can use to control the bureaucracy.

Front 16

National Security Council

Back 16

committee that links the president's foreign and military policy advisers. Its formal members are the president, vice president, secretary of state, and secretary of defense, and is managed by the president's national security assistant.

Front 17

Executive privileges

Back 17

The principle that members of the executive branch of government cannot legally be forced to disclose their confidential communications when such disclosure would adversely affect the operations or procedures of the executive branch.

Front 18

Impeachment

Back 18

The political equivalent of an indictment in criminal law, prescribed by the Constitution. The House of Representatives may impeach the president by a majority vote for "Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Front 19

Pocket Veto

Back 19

A type of veto occurring when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the President, and the President simply let's the bill die by neither signing it or vetoing it.

Front 20

Cabinet

Back 20

A group of Presidential advisers not mentioned in the Constitution, although every president has had one. Today the cabinet is composed of 14 secretaries, the attorney general, and others designated by the president.

Front 21

Bicameral legislature

Back 21

a legislature divided into 2 houses. US Congress and all state legislatures except Nebraska are bicameral

Front 22

House Rules of Committee

Back 22

the committee in the House of Representatives that reviews most bills coming from a House committee before they go to the full House

Front 23

Speaker of the House

Back 23

an office mandated by the Constitution. The Speaker is chosen in 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

Front 24

Majority Leader

Back 24

The 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 position

Front 25

Whips

Back 25

officials whose primary purpose is ensuring party discipline in a legislature

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Minority leader

Back 26

the principal leader of the minority party in the house or senate

Front 27

Standing committees

Back 27

separate subject-matter committees in each house of congress that handle bills in different policy areas

Front 28

Joint committees

Back 28

congressional committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership drawn from each house of congress (senate and the house)

Front 29

Conference committees

Back 29

joint committees of a bicameral legislature, which are appointed by, and consist of, members of both chambers to resolve disagreements on a particular bill.

Front 30

Select Committees

Back 30

Congressional Committees appointed for a specific purpose, such as the Watergate investigation.

Front 31

Legislative Oversight

Back 31

Congress's monitoring of the bureaucracy and it's administration of policy, performed mainly through hearings.

Front 32

Bill

Back 32

A 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.

Front 33

Caucus (congressional)

Back 33

A group of members of Congress sharing some interest. Many are composed of members from both parties and houses.

Front 34

Presidential Coattails

Back 34

occur when voters cast their ballots for congressional candidates of the President's party because they support the President. Few races are won this way

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Budget

Back 35

A policy document allocating burdens (taxes) and benefits (expenditures).

Front 36

Deficit

Back 36

An excess of federal expenditures over federal revenues.

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Expenditures

Back 37

Government spending. Major areas of federal spending are social services and national defense.

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Revenues

Back 38

The financial resources of the government. Individual income tax and social security tax are two major sources of the federal government’s revenue.

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Tax Expenditures

Back 39

Revenue losses that result from special exemptions, exclusions, or deductions allowed by federal tax law.

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Medicare

Back 40

A federal government social insurance program that guarantees access to health insurance for people like elderly, disabled or diseased people.

Front 41

Social Security Act

Back 41

A social welfare legislative act which created the Social Security system in the United States.

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Uncontrollable expenditures

Back 42

expenditures that can't be changed unless new law is enacted because they are built into the law.
-almost 2/3 of the federal budget is uncontrollable.
-Some groups are automatically eligible for benefits

Front 43

Entitlements

Back 43

Guarantees of access to something, such as to welfare benefits, based on established legislation