Congress

Question 1

Single-member, simple plurality elections

Answer 1

a single person is elected per district and the candidate with the most votes wins

Question 2

Proportional representation

Answer 2

not used in the US but candidate wins 30% of votes get 30% of seats

Question 3

Primary Elections

Answer 3

decides who is on the ballot for a party

Question 4

Trustee vs. Delegate Models of Representation

Answer 4

Trustee: constitues elect trustees based off trust that they will do as they wish but they have full autonomy
Delegate: These delegates act only as a mouthpiece for the wishes of their constituency, and have no autonomy from the constituency.

Question 5

Substantive Representation

Answer 5

electing people who vote the same way as you

Question 6

Descriptive Representation

Answer 6

electing people who look the same way as you (gender, race, occupation, place of origin)

Question 7

Incumbency advantage

Answer 7

incumbents usually win through credit claiming, position taking, name recognition

Question 8

legislation

Answer 8

actually laws which congress is to pass

Question 9

Gerrymandering

Answer 9

drawing strangely shaped districts for a political advantage

Question 10

Speaker of the House

Answer 10

2nd in line for the president

Question 11

Committee Jurisdiction

Answer 11

specific committees make specific types of laws

Question 12

Seniority

Answer 12

the concept that a person takes precedent over the other due to their age or experience

Question 13

Filibuster and Cloture

Answer 13

Filibuster: hold the floor by talking
Cloture: a procedure for ending a debate and taking a vote.

Question 14

Closed vs. Open rule

Answer 14

open: amendments may be offered by any members in the house, closed; no amendments may be made

Question 15

Veto and Veto Override

Answer 15

president can veto any bill, senate and house can override with a 2/3 majority

Question 16

Party Discipline

Answer 16

pressuring party members to vote one way

Question 17

Congressional Polarization

Answer 17

cases where a member of congress’s individual opinion on something differs from that of their party

Question 18

Gridlock

Answer 18

when nothing is being passed in congress

Question 19

Logrolling

Answer 19

2 members supporting each others bills

Question 20

“advise and consent”

Answer 20

presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate

Question 21

Impeachment

Answer 21

the process by which a legislative body formally levels charges against a high official of government—– for treason, bribery or high crimes

Question 22

Conference Committee

Answer 22

both chamber committee specific to a bill

Question 23

Caucuses

Answer 23

groups of people coming together for a specific issue or interest

Question 24

Credit Claiming

Answer 24

when a member of congress claims responsibility for unilaterally making something happen

Question 25

Position taking

Answer 25

taking stands on issues and responding to constituents

Question 26

Particularized benefits (“pork-barrel”)

Answer 26

government spending which benefits only a small group of people

Question 27

Positive v. Negative agenda power

Answer 27

+—the power to pass bills and make things go through, - the power to stop bills, veto and slow legislation

Question 28

Gatekeeping

Answer 28

is the process through which information is filtered for dissemination

Question 29

Party Brand

Answer 29

the image the public has of a party