reapportionment
The assigning by Congress of congressional seats after each census. State legislatures reapportion state legislative districts.
redistricting
The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.
gerrymandering
The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent.
safe seat
An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other, so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted.
incumbents
The current holders of elected office.
bicameralism
The principle of a two-house legislature.
enumerated powers
The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution.
Speaker
The presiding officer in the House of Representatives, formally elected by the House but actually selected by the majority party.
majority leader
The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy, confers with other party leaders, and tries to keep members of the party in line.
minority leader
The legislative leader selected by the minority party as spokesperson for the opposition.
whip
Party leader who is the liaison between the leadership and the rank-and-file in the legislature.
party caucus
A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy. Called a conference by Republicans.
closed rule
A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendments to bills or provides that only members of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments.
open rule
A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill.
president pro tempore
Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president.
hold
A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of a bill or nomination.
fillibuster
A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.
cloture
A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate.
senatorial courtesy
Presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work.
standing committee
A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area.
special or select committee
A congressional committee created for a specific purpose, sometimes to conduct an investigation.
joint committee
A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.
seniority rule
A legislative practice that assigns the chair of a committee or subcommittee to the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on the committee.
conference committee
Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.
delegate
An official who is expected to represent the views of his or her constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the role of the legislator.
trustee
An official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances; one interpretation of the role of the legislator.
attentive public
Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully.
logrolling
Mutual aid and vote trading among legislators.
discharge petition
Petition that, if signed by a majority of the members of the House of Representatives, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.
rider
A provision attached to a bill - to which it may or may not be related - in order to secure its passage.
pocket veto
A veto exercised by the president after Congress has adjourned; if the president takes no action for ten days, the bill does not become law and is not returned to Congress for a possible override.
override
An action taken by Congress to reverse a presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds majority in each chamber.
centralization
Quick, decisive power that comes at the expense of the power of individual congressmen and citizens. Centralization requires a strong leadership, restrictions on debate, few stalling tactics, minimal committee interference, and minimal public scrutiny.
decentralization
Power that involves longer debate and protects individual voices and constituents, requires weak leadership, few restrictions on debate, many opportunities for the minority, powerful committees and intense public scrutiny.
rules committee
A committee in the House whose members are chosen by the Speaker. The committee decides the rules under which certain House business will proceed.
17th Amendment
Allowed for the direct election of senators.
adjournment
The end of a congressional term.
sessions
Terms are two years long, divided into year long________
recesses
Breaks from congressional service.
revenue bills
Must originate in the House.
line of succession
Predetermined list of who reaches the presidency if the president dies or becomes incapacitated.
majority party
Party with the most seats in either house.
parliamentary procedure
The rules by which congressional business is conducted.
US Term Limits vs. Thornton
1995 Supreme Court case that said term limits imposed by state legislatures are unconstitutional.
President of the Senate
The Vice President's traditional role.
docket
The bills up for consideration. Influenced by the Speaker.
pork barrel
Projects congressmen secure for their home state that often waste federal money but secure votes.
27th Amendment
Prevents salary raises for congressmen from having immediate effect.
Honoraria
Speaking fees. Banned for congressmen.
franking privilege
Congressmen can mail for free.
legislative immunity
Cannot be arrested on the way to a vote.
census
A constitutionally-mandated counting of American citizens every ten years.
packing
Concentrations of the opposing party into a few districts in gerrymandering.
cracking
Dispersion of opposing party into districts to dilute power.
Baker vs. Carr
One man, one vote" for legislative districts in states, correcting overrepresentation of rural areas.
malapportionment
Shifts within the 10 years.
Racial gerrymandering
Moving voters of the same race into the same district.
Shaw vs. Reno
Prohibits racial gerrymandering.
Miller vs. Johnson
Race cannot be the primary factor in gerrymandering.
institutional powers
Relate to checks and balances. Ratification of treaties by Senate, House votes for impeachment, etc.
censure
Official punishment of a sitting member.
ex post facto laws
After the fact laws.
bills of attainder
Legislative act pronouncing someone's guilt/punishment without trial.
habeas corpus
Cannot be suspended unless a time of invasion or rebellion.
watchdog
Media role over monitoring congress.
authorization
Allows for a program.
appropriation
Pays for a program.
reported out
Action taken if a bill passes through committee successfully.
mark up
Session when a bill is amended in committee.
earmarks
Spending placed by committee members.
pigeonhole
Postpone indefinitely in committee.
line-item veto
Deemed unconstitutional, process of eliminating individual parts of a bill.
Clinton v. NY
Declared line-item veto unconstitutional.
seniority system
Ranking of who has been in the congress longest.
Ways and Means
House committee dealing with tax bills.