Chapter 11 Quiz Flashcards
(11 cards)
Incumbents
An incumbent is a person who is already in a political job and is running for re-election to keep that job
Casework
Casework is when a member of Congress helps a person in their district deal with the government, like fixing problems with Social Security, immigration, or veterans’ benefits
Bicameral Legsilature
A bicameral legislature is a type of government where the legislature (the group that makes laws) is divided into two separate chambers or houses.
For example, in the United States, Congress is bicameral because it has:
The House of Representatives (lower house)
The Senate (upper house)
Speaker of the house
The Speaker of the House is the leader of the U.S. House of Representatives. They run meetings, help decide what laws get voted on, and are third in line to be president
Majority leader
The majority leader is the main leader of the political party that has the most members in the House of Representatives or the Senate. They help plan what laws to work on and guide their party’s goals
Whips
Whips are members of Congress who help their party leaders by making sure other members vote the way the party wants. They also count votes and keep everyone informed
Minority leader
The principal leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate.
Seniority system
A simple rule for picking committee chairs, in effect until the 1970s. The member who had served on the committee the longest and whose party controlled the chamber became chair, regardless of party loyalty, mental state, or competence.
Bill
A proposed law, drafted in legal language. Anyone can draft a bill, but only a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate can formally submit a bill for consideration.
Legislative oversight
Congress’s monitoring of the executive branch bureaucracy and its administration of policy, performed mainly through committee hearings.
Filibuster
A strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation use their right to unlimited debate to prevent the Senate from ever voting on a bill. Sixty members present and voting can halt a filibuster on legislation.
