APGOVCh.6.Hannah.Esparza

Question 1

bicameral legislature

Answer 1

a two-house legislature

-The legislature created by the Framers is considered a bicameral legislature.

Question 2

apportionment

Answer 2

the process of allotting congressional seats to each state according to its proportion of the population, following the decennial census
-After seats are apportioned, state legislatures must redraw congressional districts to reflect population shifts

Question 3

bill

Answer 3

a proposed law

-No bill can become law without the consent of both houses.

Question 4

impeachment

Answer 4

the power delegated to the House of Representatives in the Constitution to charge the president, vice president, or other “civil officers,” including federal judges, with “Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.” This is the first step in the constitutional process of removing government officials from office
-The House also has the power of impeachment.

Question 5

Edmund Burke

Answer 5

conservative British political philosopher of the 18th century who articulated the view that elected representatives should act as “trustees” and use their own best judgement when voting
-Edmund Burke also served in the British Parliament.

Question 6

trustee

Answer 6

role played by an elected representative who listens to constituents’ opinions and then uses his or her best judgement to make a final decision
-According to Burke, a representative should be a trustee

Question 7

delegate

Answer 7

role played by a representative who votes the way his or her constituents would want, regardless of personal opinions; may refer to an elected representative to the party convention
-True delegates are representatives who vote the way their constituents would want them to

Question 8

politico

Answer 8

an elected representative who acts as a trustee or as a delegate, depending on the issue
-A third theory of representation holds that a politico alternately dons the hat of a trustee or delegate.

Question 9

incumbency

Answer 9

already holding an office

-Incumbency helps members stay in office once they are elected.

Question 10

redistricting

Answer 10

the process of redrawing congressional districts to reflect increases or decreases in seats allotted to the states, as well as population shifts within a state
-Redistricting is a largely political process.

Question 11

gerrymandering

Answer 11

the drawing of congressional districts to produce a particular electoral outcome without regard to the shape of the district
-The redistricting procees often involves gerrymandering.

Question 12

majority party

Answer 12

the political party in each house of Congress with the most members
-The basic division in Congress is between majority and minority parties.

Question 13

minority party

Answer 13

the political party in each house of Congress with the second most members
-The basic division in Congress is between majority and minority parties.

Question 14

party caucus (or conference)

Answer 14

a formal gathering of all party members

-At the beginning of each new Congress, the members of each party formally gather in their party caucus (or conference).

Question 15

Speaker of the House

Answer 15

the only officer of the House of Representatives specifically mentioned in the Constitution; the chamber’s most powerful position; traditionally a member of the majority party

Question 16

majority leader

Answer 16

the head of the party controlling the most seats in the House of Representatives or the Senate; is second in authority to the Speaker of the House and in the Senate is regarded as its most powerful leader

Question 17

minority leader

Answer 17

the head of the party with the second highest number of elected representatives in the House of Representatives of the Senate

Question 18

whip

Answer 18

party leader who keeps close contact with all members of his or her party, takes vote counts on key legislation, prepares summaries of bills and acts as a communications link withina party