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79 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
franking privilege
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members of Congress can send out mail without without an actual postage stamp.
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unicameral
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one legislative body.
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bicameral
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two legislative bodies.
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Speaker of the House
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the presiding officer of the House of Representatives.
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Newt Gingrich
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58th Speaker of the House from 1995-1999, lead the Republican Revolution.
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Nancy Pelosi
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current minority leader of the House, 60th Speaker of the House from 2007-2011, first woman to hold position.
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Harry Reid
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majority leader of the Senate since 2007.
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party caucus
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a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement.
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Rules Committee
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a committee of the House of Representatives that is in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the floor.
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filibuster
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an attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely.
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Seventeenth Amendment (1913)
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direct election of senators through popular vote.
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Rule 22
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rule that overrides filibustering.
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cloture
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a rule used by the Senate to limit or end debate.
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term limits
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limits the number of terms a person can serve in a particular office.
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U.S. Term Limits Inc. v. Thornton (1995)
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Supreme Court ruled that states cannot impose qualifications for prospective members of the U.S. Congress stricter than those specified in the Constitution. |
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marginal districts
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districts where elections are won by less than 55%.
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safe districts
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districts where elections are won by 55% or more.
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House Banking Scandal
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the House of Representatives allowed members to overdraw their House checking accounts without risk of being penalized by the House bank.
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House Post Office Scandal
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the discovery of corruption among various Congressional Post Office employees and members of the House of Representatives, climaxing in the conviction of chairman Dan Rostenkowski.
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reapportionment
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redrawing to maintain equal population in each district.
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redistricting
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redrawing of local, state, and federal political boundaries every ten years.
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malapportionment
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drawing district boundaries to make unequal populations.
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gerrymandering
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drawing district boundaries in unusual shapes to favor one party.
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majority-minority districts
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a majority of the constituents in a district are racial minorities.
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Wesberry v. Sanders (1964)
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Supreme Court rules districts have to be approximately equal in population.
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Baker v. Carr (1962)
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Supreme Court rules that judges can intervene on apportionment if questions arise.
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"one man, one vote"
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slogan used for universal suffrage.
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Shaw v. Reno (1993)
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Supreme Court rules that redistricting must be conscious of race to be in compliance with the Voting Rights Act.
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descriptive representation
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elected representatives represent preferences of constituents.
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substantive representation
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representatives advocate for certain groups.
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sophomore surge
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an increase in votes for candidates who first run for re-election.
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privileged speech
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legal immunity against civil or criminal liability.
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Edmund Burke
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British politician who supported American revolutionaries.
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representational theory
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people are directly represented by elected leaders.
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organizational theory
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how Congress organizes themselves to create law.
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attitudinal theory
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Congress reflects attitudes of people.
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President Pro Tempore
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highest ranking senator who presides when vice president is absent.
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majority/minority leaders
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leaders elected by party members holding the majority or minority of seats in the House or Senate.
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party whip
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ensures party discipline in a legislature.
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Steering Committee (D)
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assigns fellow party members to their other House committees and advises party leaders on policy.
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Committee on Committees (R)
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recruits servicemen for committees and improves on structure.
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policy committee
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a small group which discusses plans for the way in which something will be done.
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party polarization
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divisions in party opinion.
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caucus
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a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement.
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Congressional Black caucus
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an organization representing the black members of Congress.
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Blue Dog democrats
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congressional representatives from the Democratic party who identify themselves as moderates.
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standing committees
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permanently established committee responsible for certain legislation.
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select committees
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committees appointed for a limited time and purpose.
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joint committees
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committees on which both senators and representatives serve.
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conference committees
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joint committee appointed to resolving difference between both houses.
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seniority system
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granting privileges to members who have served the longest.
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Congressional Research Service
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Congress's think tank, does public policy research.
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General Accounting Office (GAO)
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the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of Congress.
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Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
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provides economic data to Congress.
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simple resolution
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resolution passed by only either the Senate or the House.
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concurrent resolution
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resolution passed by both houses lacking force of law.
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joint resolution
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resolution from both houses presented to president like a bill.
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multiple referral
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sending legislation to be considered by more than one committee.
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sequential referral
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sending legislation to be considered by one committee at a time.
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discharge petition
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bringing a bill out of committee and to the floor for consideration without a report from a Committee and usually without cooperation of the leadership.
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closed rule
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open rule
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restrictive rule
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quorum
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minimum amount of members necessary to conduct business.
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quorum call
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parliamentary procedure used to summon absent members of quorum.
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cloture rule
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rule to end filibustering.
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double-tracking
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roll-call vote
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vote in which the names of those voting for and against a motion may be recorded.
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rider
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additional provision attached to a bill.
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Christmas tree bill
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bill that attracts many, often unrelated, floor amendments.
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Committee of the Whole
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device in a legislative body is considered one, large committee.
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pork-barrel
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appropriation of government spending to bring money to a representative's district.
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earmarks
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directs approved funds to be spent on specific projects.
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congressional courtesy
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.
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logrolling
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trading of favors.
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nongermane amendment
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an additional provision, like a rider.
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unanimous consent
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no one present objects to a proposal.
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holds
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packing and kidnapping
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