Chapter 13

Question 1

Partisan polarization

Answer 1

A vote, in which a majority of democratic legislatures oppose a majority of Republican legislatures

Question 2

Bicameral legislature

Answer 2

A lawmaking making body made up of two chambers or parts

Question 3

Filibuster

Answer 3

In attempt to defeat, a bill in the Senate by talking in definitely, thus preventing the Senate from taking action on the bill

Question 4

Marginal districts

Answer 4

Political districts in which candidates elected to the House of Representatives win in close elections typically by less than 55% of the vote

Question 5

Safe districts

Answer 5

Districts in which incumbents win by margins of 55% or more

Question 6

Conservative coalition

Answer 6

An alliance between Republicans and conservative Democrats

Question 7

Representational view

Answer 7

Congressmen vote to please their constituents for upcoming re-elections

Question 8

Organizational view

Answer 8

If voters don’t have insight on congressional actions, congressmen will vote to please fellow party members, or leaders with similar political ideologies

Question 9

Attitudinal view

Answer 9

Congressmen vote on their own personal views and beliefs, due to external and internal pressures canceling each other out

Question 10

Incumbent

Answer 10

A congressman who is currently serving as an official

Question 11

Majority leader

Answer 11

The legislative leader, elected by party members, holding the majority of seats in the House or the Senate

Question 12

Minority leader

Answer 12

The legislative leader, elected by party members, holding a minority of seats in the House or the Senate

Question 13

Whip

Answer 13

Senator or a representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking

Question 14

Speaker

Answer 14

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives and the leader of his or her party in the House

Question 15

Party vote

Answer 15

There are two measures of such voting. By the stricter measure a party vote occurs when 90% or more of the Democrats in either house of Congress vote together against 90% or more of the Republicans. A looser measure counts as a party vote any case where at least 50% of the Democrats vote together against at least 50% of the Republicans.

Question 16

Caucus

Answer 16

An association of congressional members created to advance a political ideology, or a regional, ethnic, or economic interest

Question 17

Standing committees

Answer 17

Permanently established legislative committees that consider, and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area

Question 18

Select committees

Answer 18

Congressional committee is appointed for a limited time, and purpose

Question 19

Joint committees

Answer 19

Committee in which both senators and representatives serve

Question 20

Conference committee

Answer 20

Joint committee is appointed to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of the same bill

Question 21

Simple resolution

Answer 21

An expression of opinion, either in the house or senate to settle procedural matters in either body

Question 22

Concurrent resolution

Answer 22

An expression of opinion, without the force of law that requires the approval of both the house, and the senate, but not the president

Question 23

Joint resolution

Answer 23

A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of Congress and by the president; constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president

Question 24

Discharge petitions

Answer 24

A device by which any member of the House, after a committee has has the bill for 30 days, may petition to have it brought to the house floor

Question 25

Restrictive rule

Answer 25

In order from the House Rules Committee that permits certain kinds of amendments, but not others to be made into a bill on the floor

Question 26

Closed rule

Answer 26

In order from the house rules committee that set a time limit on debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor

Question 27

Open rule

Answer 27

In order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor

Question 28

Quorum

Answer 28

The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress (1/2)

Question 29

Riders

Answer 29

Amendments made by the Senate on matters unrelated to a bill that are added to an important bill so that they will “ride” to passage through the Congress. When a bill has many riders, it is called a Christmas tree bill.

Question 30

Cloture rule

Answer 30

A rule used by the Senate to end or limit debate

Question 31

Double tracking

Answer 31

A procedure to keep the Senate going during a filibuster in which the disputed bill is shelved temporarily, so that the Senate can get on with other business

Question 32

Voice vote

Answer 32

Congressional voting procedure where members show yes or no at once; permits members to quickly decide anonymously on bills

Question 33

Division/Standing Vote

Answer 33

A congressional voting procedure in which members stand and are counted

Question 34

Roll Call vote

Answer 34

Congressional voting procedure that consist of members answering yes or no when their names are called

Question 35

Teller vote

Answer 35

Congressional voting procedure in which members passed between tellers yeas first in the nays second

Question 36

Veto

Answer 36

President may forbid a bill (can be overridden by 2/3 vote of each house)

Question 37

Divided government

Answer 37

One party controls, the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress

Question 38

Unified government

Answer 38

The same party controls the White House and both houses

Question 39

Earmarks

Answer 39

Hidden congressional provisions that direct the federal government to find specific projects, or that exempt specific persons or groups from paying specific federal taxes or fees

Question 40

Pork-barrel legislation

Answer 40

Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return

Question 41

Franking privilege

Answer 41

The ability of members to mail letters to their constituents, free of charge by substituting there facsimile signature for postage