Exam 2, Column #1

Question 1

Gerrymandering

Answer 1

The apportionment of voters in districts in such a way as to give unfair advantage to one racial or ethnic group or political party
Ch 10 pg 305

Question 2

Impeachment

Answer 2

The formal charge by the House of Representative that a government official has committed “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors”
Ch 10 pg 326

Question 3

Pork Barrel

Answer 3

Appropriations made by legislative bodies for local projects that often not needed but that are created so that local representatives can win re-election in their home districts

Question 4

Filibuster

Answer 4

A tactic used by members of the senate to prevent action on legislation they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down; once given the floor, senators have unlimited time to speak, and it requires a vote of three-fifth of the Senate to end a filibuster

Question 5

Conference Committee

Answer 5

Joint committees created to work out a compromise on House and Senate versions of a piece of legislation

Question 6

Sociological Representation

Answer 6

A type of representation in which representatives have the same racial, gender, ethnic, religious, or educational backgrounds as their constituents; it is based on the principle that if two individuals are similar in background, character, interest, and perspectives, then one can correctly represent the other’s views

Question 7

Incumbency

Answer 7

Holding the political office for which one is running

Question 8

Executive Agreement

Answer 8

an agreement, made between the president and another country, that has the force of a treaty but does not require senate’s “advice and consent”
pg 338

Question 9

Expressed Powers

Answer 9

Specific powers granted by the Constitution to Congress (Article I, Section 8) and to the president (Article II) ch 11 pg 336

Question 10

Pocket Veto

Answer 10

A presidential veto that is automatically triggered if the president does not act on a given piece of legislation passed during the final 10 days of a legislative session ch 11 pg 340

Question 11

Apportionment

Answer 11

The process, occurring after every decennial census, that allocates congressional seats among the 50 states pg 304

Question 12

Term Limits

Answer 12

A legal restriction that limits the number of terms an officeholder may serve in a particular elected office

Question 13

Writ of Certiorari

Answer 13

A decision of at least four of the nine Supreme Court justices to review a decision of a lower court; certiorari is Latin, meaning “to make more certain”
Ch 13 pg 412