Exam 2

Question 1

What is incumbency?

Answer 1

holding the political office for which one is running

Question 2

Steps to how a bill becomes a law

Answer 2

1) a bill is introduced
2) Goes to a committee action
3) reaches the house or the senate
4) reaches conference action
5) executive action

Question 3

pork-barrel spending

Answer 3

spending that benefits a legislator’s constituency

Question 4

constituency

Answer 4

People residing within the geographical area represented by an elected official

Question 5

open-seat election

Answer 5

election in which there is no incumbent in the race

Question 6

redistricting

Answer 6

the process of altering districts to make them as equal in population as possible

Question 6

reapportionment

Answer 6

the reallocation of U.S. House seats among states after each census as a result of population changes

Question 7

gerrymandering

Answer 7

political party in power draws legislative districts to make it easier for its candidates to win elections

Question 7

midterm election

Answer 7

congressional elections that occur in non-presidential election years

Question 8

party leaders

Answer 8

members of the U.S. House and Senate elected by their respective party caucuses to represent their caucuses

Question 8

party caucus

Answer 8

members of a political party in Congress that elect its party’s leadership, set policy goals and plan strategy

Question 9

standing committees

Answer 9

permanent congressional committees with responsibility for a particular public policy area

Question 10

conference committees

Answer 10

temporary committees formed to bargain over the differences in the U.S. House and Senate versions of a bill before the bill can go to the president

Question 11

seniority

Answer 11

a member of Congress’ consecutive years of service on a particular committee

Question 12

bill

Answer 12

a proposed law

Question 13

filibuster

Answer 13

minority of legislators prevent a bill from coming to a vote by holding the floor and talking until the majority gives in and the bill is withdrawn from consideration

Question 14

rider

Answer 14

amendment to a bill that deals with an issue unrelated to the content of the bill

Question 15

law

Answer 15

legislation passed by the U.S. House and Senate that is signed (or not vetoed) by the president

Question 15

cloture

Answer 15

parliamentary maneuver in the U.S. Senate that requires 60 votes to end a filibuster

Question 16

veto

Answer 16

the president’s rejection of a bill

Question 17

lawmaking function

Answer 17

the authority of Congress to write the laws necessary to carry out the government’s powers

Question 18

representation function

Answer 18

responsibility of members of Congress to represent various groups in society including their constituents and interest groups

Question 19

logrolling

Answer 19

trading of votes between legislators so that each gets what he or she most wants

Question 20

oversight function

Answer 20

supervisory power of Congress that centers on its constitutional responsibility to see that the executive branch carries out the laws faithfully and spends appropriations properly

Question 20

bicameral legislature

Answer 20

a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts

Question 21

Hastert Rule

Answer 21

majority of the majority rule; Republicans are in the majority, the Speaker brings a bill to the floor only when supported by a majority of House Republicans​

Question 21

Representation function

Answer 21

Representation of states and districts: focus on the local​, with parties focus on the big issues.

Question 21

Oversight function

Answer 21

seeing that the executive branch carries out the laws faithfully​