Congress & President

Question 1

constituency

Answer 1

a body of voters in a specified area who elect a representative to a legislative body

Question 2

coalition

Answer 2

an alliance for combined action, especially a temporary alliance of political parties

Question 3

Rules Committee

Answer 3

can speed up, slow down or kill a bill before it reaches the House floor

Question 4

filibuster

Answer 4

action such as a prolonged speech that obstructs progress in a legislative assembly

Question 5

caucus

Answer 5

members of a legislative body who belong to a particular party or faction

Question 6

Bipartisan

Answer 6

a group made up of members of both parties

Question 7

enumerated power

Answer 7

those specifically granted in the Constiution

Question 8

implied power

Answer 8

those necessary and proper for carry out the enumerated power

Question 9

“Power of the Purse”

Answer 9

bills for rasing revenue must originate in the House

Question 10

appropriate

Answer 10

to devote money for a specific purpose

Question 11

Majority and Minority Leaders

Answer 11

direct debate and guide discussion on their side of the isle

Question 12

Majority and Minority Whips

Answer 12

in charge of party discipline

Question 13

conference

Answer 13

committee for reconciling House and Senate bills

Question 14

House Ways and Means Committee

Answer 14

determines tax policy

Question 15

revenue

Answer 15

government income

Question 16

germane amendments only rule

Answer 16

in the House, amendments must relate to the subject matter

Question 17

discharge petition

Answer 17

simple majority can get a bill out of a committee and onto the floor for a vote

Question 18

Committee of the Whole

Answer 18

not really a committee; a relaxed way of proceeding in the House

Question 19

unanimous consent

Answer 19

required to end debate before voting on a bill ; if anyone object the bill is put on hold

Question 20

cloture rule

Answer 20

can be invoked with 3/5 vote to limit debate in senate to 1 hr per person

Question 21

impeachment

Answer 21

formal accusation against a president or other public offical

Question 22

sponsor

Answer 22

member who introduces a bill and assume authorship

Question 23

rider

Answer 23

nongermane amendment often added to benefit members agenda

Question 24

omnibus bill

Answer 24

includes multiple areas of law and/ or addresses multiple program

Question 25

pork barrel spending

Answer 25

funds earmarked for a specific purpose in a legislators district that "bring home the bacon"

Question 26

divided government

Answer 26

presidency is held by one party and the other party hold majority in one or both Houses

Question 27

lame-duck

Answer 27

an official who did not win reelection and is closing in on the end of their term

Question 28

gridlock

Answer 28

unwillingness to compromise that blocks bills from moving forward

Question 29

reapportionment

Answer 29

adjusting the split of the 435 House seats between states after each census

Question 30

redistricting

Answer 30

redrawing the boundary lines of districts within the state; done by state legislatures

Question 31

gerrymandering

Answer 31

to draw a districts boundaries to gain an advantages in elections

Question 32

packing

Answer 32

putting votes who tend to vote the same way together in a district

Question 33

cracking

Answer 33

dividing like votes across multiple districts until they are outnumbered by the majority of votes

Question 34

incumbent

Answer 34

candidate who already holds the elected position

Question 35

veto

Answer 35

check if the president on Congress

Question 36

"imperial presidency"

Answer 36

believed in a strong excecutive guided by a weaker Congress

Question 37

"stewardship theory"

Answer 37

president has the duty to act in the national interest unless action is prohibited under the Constitution

Question 38

22nd amendment

Answer 38

limits president to 2 terms

Question 39

Most important equality of an executive

Answer 39

their "energy" the ability to act quickly and decisively

Question 40

bully pulpit

Answer 40

term coined by Teddy Roosevelt- presidency is an "excellent pulpit"