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incumbents

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those already holding office. In congressional elections, incumbents usually win.

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casework

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officeholders may have helped constituents solve problems involving government and the bureaucracy.

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bicameral legislature

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a legislature divided into two houses. The us congress and all state legislatures except Nebraska's are bicameral

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House Rules Committee

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An institution unique to the House of Representatives that reviews all bills (except revenue, budget, and appropriations bills) coming from a House committee before they go to the full House -most important committee in the house -set conditions for the debate

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filibuster

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a delay tactic used to try to prevent a vote on a bill (debating) only happen in the senate

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Speaker of the House

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-presiding officer and the most powerful member of the house. (can assign bills to committee, controlling floor debate, and appointing party members)

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majority leader

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serves as a major assistant to the speaker, helps plan the party's legislative program, and directs floor debate

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whips

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a senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking, rounds up members when important votes are to be taken, and attempts to keep a nose count on. -direct people on voting (all thing deal with voting)

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minority leader

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floor leader is the major spokesperson for the minority party and organizes opposition to the majority party.

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standing committees

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a permanent committee that deals with specific policy matters.

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joint committees

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made up of members of both houses of congress.

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conference committees

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temporary committee of members from both houses of congress, created to resolve the differences in the house and the senate versions of a bill. -it can also be called a compromise committee.

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select committees

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temporary committee that deals with specific policy matters. -formed to investigate a particular issue

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legislative oversight

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Congress' monitoring of the bureaucracy and its administration of policy, performed mainly through hearings

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committee chairs

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are members of the majority party of each house chosen by party caucus. -set agendas, assign members to subcommittees, and decide whether the committee will hold public hearings and which witnesses to call

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seniority system

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a rule that the majority member having the longest length of committee service is chosen as chairperson

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caucus

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informal groups of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic. Most are composed of members from both parties and from both houses.

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bill

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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

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pork barrel

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

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vice president

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presiding officer of the senate. -can only vote to break a tie and not debate.

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president pro tempore

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a senior member of the majority party chosen to preside in the absence of the senate president. -majority floor leader of the senate is the most influential member of the senate and is also the spokesperson

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personal staff

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work directly for members of congress in washington, and their district offices in their home states.

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committee staff

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work for committees and subcommittees in congress, researching problems and analyzing information

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apportionment

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distribution among the states based on the population of each state

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reapportionment

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the redistribution of congressional seats after the census determines changes in the population distribution among the states

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congressional districting

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the drawing of states legislatures of congressional districts for those states with more than one representative

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gerrymandering

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drawing congressional districts to favor one political party or group over another

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descriptive representation

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The idea that an elected body should mirror demographically the population it represents -if you're poor and you want to represent for the poor

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substantive representation

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Theory of representation that says that anyone can represent any group (ex. a rich white guy can represent the interests of poor black people).

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members of House and Senate are chosen by....

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House:chosen from districts within each state Senate: direct election of senators by the people in the state

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Incumbency effect

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-tendency for those already holding office to win reelections. -effect tends to be stronger for the House and weaker for the Senate.

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advantages of incumbents when running for reelection

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-name recognition -credit claiming -casework -franking: the privilege of sending official mail using the incumbent's signature as postage. -media exposure-incumbents are more likely to gain "free" publicity.

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Term limits

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-there are no term limits on the number of terms a member of congress may serve.

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delegate representation

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members vote based on the wishes of constituents, regardless of their own opinion -vote based on constituents

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trustee representation

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after listening to constituents, members vote based on their own opinions -vote based on own opinions

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policymaker

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make public policy through the passage of legislation

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constituent servant

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help constituents with problems

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politician/party member

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work to support their political party platform and get reelected

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Congress's privileges

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-allowances for offices in their home state or district -travel allowances -franking privilege allows members of congress to send mailings to constituents postage free -immunity from arrest while conducting congressional business -immunity from libel or slander suits for their speech debate in congress.

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congress's legislative powers: powers of make laws

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-expressed: found in article 1 section 8 -implied: article 1, section 8, clause 18 (elastic clause) -limitations: powers denied to congress in article 1, section 9 and tenth amendment.

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non legislative powers: duties other than making laws

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-selection of president or vice when there's a tie in voting -propose amendments -impeach president and civil officers -approve appointment and treaties -investigate matter that relate to its legislative authority (legislative oversight)

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the term bicameral, used to describe the us legislature, means that the legislature

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-has two members, or legislative bodies

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under the original US constitution, members of the senate, unlike members of the house, were elected by

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-state legislatures

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the purpose of a filibuster is to

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-delay action in the legislative body

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today, it takes____ members of the senate to cut off debate.

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-60

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the typical member of congress is an

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-middle-aged, white, protestant lawyer

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members of congress can influence legislation by

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-voting, conducting hearings, marking up bills in committee hearings, and offering amendments

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if you wished to study the real leadership office in the senate, you would most likely focus on the

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majority leader

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a member of the senate has just been elected to a position that requires him to keep the majority leader informed about opinions of the other party members. he has just elected

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-majority party whip

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members of house of representative must have been a citizen of the united states for at least

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7 years

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members of the senate must have been a citizen of the US for at least

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9 years

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the type of committee most likely to deal with a bill near the end of its legislative process is

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the conference committee

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where is the real work of congress is done

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in the committees in both houses

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the staff agency that advises congress on the probable economic effect of different spending programs and the cost of proposed policies is the

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congressional budget office (CBO)

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a bill can be introduced in congress by

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any member of congress

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______, which handle bills in different policy areas, are the most important kind of committees

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standing

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_____ is a congressional voting procedure in which members stand and are counted

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division voting

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quorum

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the minimum number of members who must be presented for business to be conducted in congree

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private bill

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A legislative bill that deals only with specific, private, personal, or local matters.

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roll call

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A congressional voting procedure that consists of members answering "yea" or "nay" to their names.

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pocket veto

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A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

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rider

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A provision attached to a bill - to which it may or may not be related - in order to secure its passage or defeat. -when a bill has a lot of riders it become a Christmas tree bill

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closed rule

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An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor

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cloture

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A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate.

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pork barrel legislation

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an attempt to provide funds and projects for the members' home district or state

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logrolling

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an attempt by members to gain support. (I'll support your bill, if you support mine"

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christmas tree bill

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a bill with many riders

AP Government Chapter 11 Vocab – Flashcards

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