Write down the term on the front Write your initials and the card number in the upper right hand corner Write the definition on the back If no flashcards: Fold a piece of paper in half the long way (hot dog style) Write the term on the left Write the definition on the right Flashcard Blitz Legislative Branch 267. Bicameral Legislature Congress is divided into TWO chambers House of Representatives Senate 268. Decentralization Spread out lawmaking power amongst many different members and steps I.e., Committees 269. Filibuster SENATE ONLY: The ability to make an official speech for an unlimited amount of time Used to DELAY (or kill) bills 270. Cloture (Senate Rule 22) SENATE ONLY: Vote to end debate Requires 60 votes 271. Incumbency Effect Advantage that OFFICE HOLDERS have in elections causing them to WIN 85%+ of the time 272. Marginal Districts House districts that have close elections (could go to either party) 273. Safe Districts House districts where the elections are overwhelmingly biased towards one party over the other 274. Reapportionment Re-distributing districts based on population changes Occurs every 10 years by the US Census
275. Gerrymandering State Legislatures draw the House Districts to benefit one party over another 276. Redistricting State Legislatures draw House Districts based on new US Census data 277. Wesberry v. Sanders States must make districts that have as close to equal population as possible
278. Majority Leader The head of the party with the most members Voice of the opinion of the party 279. Minority Leader The head of the party with fewer votes Voice of the opinion of the party
280. Whip Person ensuring party discipline Keeps the party in check 281. Party polarization When the two parties are fiercely divided Rarely compromise 282. Caucus (congressional) A group of congress members who group together on a particular legislative issue 283. Committee System Congress breaks down into smaller groups Specialize in particular pieces of legislation 284. Standing Committee A permanent committee that meets regularly 285. Select Committee A temporary committee that is created for a specific purpose 286. Joint Committee Committee with House AND Senate members together 287. Conference Committee A special committee that comes together to RECONCILE (bring together/fix) THE DIFFERENCES between the House and the Senate Bills 288. Committee Chair (& Their Powers) Leader of the Committee Sets the Agenda Runs the Meetings 289. Appropriations In charge of decided how much money each law gets VERY POWERFUL 290. Rules Committee HOUSE ONLY Makes the procedure for how bills get passed Chaired by the Speaker of the House 291. Ways and Means Committee HOUSE ONLY In charge of Taxes 292. Judiciary Committee (Senate) Interviews and approves of Presidents Judicial nominations Judges Supreme Court Justices 293. Constituency Service Congressional offices provide LEGAL SERVICES to their voters I.e., helping them apply for a business license 294. CRS (What it does) Congressional Research Service Provides Congress with legislative and policy advice by their request i.e., how a law will impact the US. NONBIASED 295. GAO Government Accountability Office Investigate money in congress to make sure it is being used legally Where it comes from Where it goes 296. CBO Congressional Budget Office Provides independent analysis of Budget proposals i.e., how much a law will actually cost NONBIASED 297. Public Bill A potential law that applies to everyone Most used 298. Private Bill A potential law that applies to a particular group or individual Used infrequently today Given to executive agencies 299. Simple Resolution Passed by EITHER the House or the Senate ONLY. Do NOT HAVE FORCE OF LAW Do NOT GO TO PRESIDENT Used for Rules of the Chamber 300. Concurrent Resolution A measure adopted by BOTH the House and Senate Does NOT CARRY THE FORCE OF LAW Does NOT GO TO THE PRESIDENT 301. Joint Resolution Approved by the House AND Senate Presented to the President Exactly the same as a regular bill Used for smaller issues & to declare war 302. Multiple referral When a bill is sent to more than one committee to be worked on 303. Sequential referral Bill is first sent to one committee, and when they are done it is sent to another committee to continue to be worked on 304. Bill mark up Adding, taking away or editing proposed legislation 305. Discharge Position A way to bring a bill to the floor without their voting on it BYPASSES COMMITTEE (Removes their power!) Requires 218 signatures 306. Closed Rule HOUSE ONLY No amendments (changes) may be made to the bill on the floor Simply vote yes or no Fast 307. Open Rule HOUSE ONLY Allows for any number of amendments to be made on the floor before the vote Slows process down 308. Restrictive Rule Permits certain kinds of amendments to be made, but not others (may restrict the # as well) 309. Quorum The minimum number of congressmen that must be present to make a vote valid. MAJORITY House: 218 Senate: 51 310. Quorum call Used to force congressmen to attend a vote (they go get them) if there arent enough members present to make it legitimate 311. Rider An amendment (addition) that is not GERMANE (off topic) i.e., a line about gun control on a bill about DC Statehood Used to limit the power of the president Forced to sign a law that includes something he doesnt like Forced to veto a law he mostly likes 312. Christmas Tree Bill A bill with lots of riders 313. Double tracking Procedure to keep the Senate going during a filibuster Allows them to work on other bills while the filibuster is going on 314. Voice vote Members show yea or nay Quick Anonymous Not very accurate Speaker of House or President pro. Tempore of Senate decide who won based on volume 315. Division Vote Members stand and are counted Yea Nay Anonymous Quick Somewhat accurate Group with the most people standing wins 316. Teller Vote A person stands at the front of the aisle and counts as members walk by Yea Nay Quick more accurate Anonymous Group with the most people wins 317. Roll-Call Vote Each members name is called out They shout yea or nay Every vote is recorded for public record Most accurate Used for Important votes that people want remembered 318. Pork-barrel legislation Bills that give DIRECT benefits (usually some type of building or project) to constituents (voters) in specific places i.e., a hospital in Nevada; a bridge in Alaska 319. Franking Privilege The ability of members of congress to mail letter to their constituents for free Supposed to INFORM the voters of what is going on Used for: Free advertising to ~550,000+ people! ~$247,500 per mailing! Groups Meeting Today Work on Study Guide, Flashcard Practice, Notes Review, etc. Fill out the Log sheet and give to Ms. Fuchs Group 7 3:15-4:15 in Ms. Fuchs Room Anayah Tim Alicia Lane Group 5 Lunch in Ms. Fuchs Room Greg OJ Kevionna Trevon Vincente
Group 3 3:30-4:30 @ Cafeteria TaVon Tasheanna DaVaughn Deandre Asia