Unit 2A Vocab

Question 1

General term for any power that is specifically granted in the Const.

Answer 1

Formal powers

Question 2

General term for any power that is developed through political practice, tradition, or legislation

Answer 2

Informal powers

Question 3

Two chambers/house of Congress

Answer 3

Bicamercal/bicameralism

Question 4

A list of items found in Article 1, Section 8 of the US Const. that set forth the powers of Congress

Answer 4

Enumerated powers

Question 5

Powers specifically listed in the Consitution

Answer 5

Expressed powers

Question 6

Unwritten powers of Congress that derive from the Necessary and Proper Clause of the Constitution

Answer 6

Implied powers

Question 7

Political parties become more ideologically pure; Liberal Democrats, Conservative Republicans, and a few moderates

Answer 7

Polarization

Question 8

Assumption that members of Congress base their votes on their own beliefs

Answer 8

Trustee Model

Question 9

Assumption that members of Congress base their votes on the wishes of the majority of their constituents

Answer 9

Delegate Model

Question 10

Assumption that members of Congree alternate between the Trustee and Delegate Model depending on the issue and whether or not their constituents care about the issue

Answer 10

Politico Model

Question 11

A procedural tactic in the US Senate to defeat or delay action on bill

Answer 11

Filibuster

Question 12

A motion in the US Senate to call an end to a filibuster; requires 60/100 senators to pass

Answer 12

Cloture

Question 13

A subgroup of legislators with specialized knowledge in the House or Senate that meets regularly to consider bills, hold hearings, and investigate matters within a certain policy area; most of the work of Congree in done here

Answer 13

Committee

Question 14

The leader of a committee with substantial power to schedule hearings or kill a bill

Answer 14

Committee Chair

Question 15

The process of revising and/or making changes to a bill in a committee

Answer 15

Mark-Up

Question 16

A small committee within a standing committee that is created for a specific purpose/topic

Answer 16

Subcommittee

Question 17

Members of Congree (and staff) become experts on certain topics over time (usually related to their committee assignment)

Answer 17

Specialization

Question 18

Political party that has more than half of the seats in either the House or Senate; dominates all committees

Answer 18

Majority party

Question 19

(not minor party)- Political party that has less than half of the seats in either the House or Senate

Answer 19

Minority Party

Question 20

Nickname for a conservative Democrat, usually from the South

Answer 20

Blue Dog Democrat

Question 21

Leader of the House of Representatives; assigns bills to committee; dominates the rules committee

Answer 21

Speaker of the House

Question 22

Informal leader of the Senate; sets the agenda for what gets voted on

Answer 22

Senate Majority Leader

Question 23

Leadership position in the House or Senate; counts votes and gathers support for a bill

Answer 23

Whip

Question 24

A meeting or session of a House or Senate committee to obtain information and opinions on proposed legislation, conduct an investigation, or evaluate/oversee the activities of a government department or the implementation of a Federal law

Answer 24

Committee hearings

Question 25

Members of Congress (or their staff) help citizens when they have a need or a problem with a government agency

Answer 25

Casework/Constituent Services

Question 26

Members of congress review, monitor, and supervise federal agencies, programs, and policy implementation; each standing committee is responsible for certain departments/agencies

Answer 26

Legislative oversight

Question 27

The Constitution allows the Senate to approve, or not approve of, the president’s nominations to federal courts, agencies, ambassadors, etc.; the Senate also ratifies treaties agreed to by the president

Answer 27

Advice and consent power

Question 28

Formal approval of an amendment, treaty, etc.

Answer 28

Ratify

Question 29

Congress has the “power of the purse,” meaning that they can block actions of the president or agencies by denying funding

Answer 29

Budgetary power

Question 30

To bring formal charges against the president or any government official (even if they aren’t removed)

Answer 30

Impeach

Question 31

Called for the direct election of senators (no longer chosen by state legislatures)

Answer 31

Seventeenth Amendment

Question 32

Free mail for members of Congress; official purposes only

Answer 32

Franking

Question 33

Cancelling out part, but not all of a law, typically wasteful spending; allowed for some state governors, but not for the president

Answer 33

Line-item veto

Question 34

A bill that has an effect on taxes, tariffs or anything else that brings money into the government; must start in the House of Representatives

Answer 34

Revenue bill

Question 35

Official government spending

Answer 35

Appropriations

Question 36

Committees with jurisdiction over certain areas write bills to create/continue an agency or program and recommend how much money should be spent; it does not actually appropriate the money

Answer 36

Authorization of spending

Question 37

Optional expenditures implemented by Congress through annual appropriations bills

Answer 37

Discretionary Spending

Question 38

Mandatory expenditures on programs that people have a right to benefit from, such as Social Security or Medicare; Congress does not vote on this annually

Answer 38

Entitlement spending

Question 39

Attempt by Congress to gain power over the president by requiring that any spending appropriated by Congress must actually be spent by the executive branch; the president may not refuse to spend the money

Answer 39

Budget and Impoundment Control Act

Question 40

When the president deliberately refuses to spend money that has been appropriated by Congress (Congress passed a law against this)

Answer 40

Impoundment

Question 41

Appropriations made by a legislature for projects that are not essential but are sought because they pump money, jobs, and resources into the local districts of the legislators; often times wasteful

Answer 41

Pork Barrel legislation

Question 42

Technique where two or more members of Congress support each other in their efforts to include earmarks, riders, or pork into the legislative process

Answer 42

Logrolling

Question 43

A federal agency within the legislative branch that provides economic/financial information to Congress; officially predicts how much proposed legislation might cost

Answer 43

Congressional Budget Office (C.B.O.)

Question 44

Indirect way for the president to stop a bill from becoming a law by letting it “lay on his desk” for 10 days when Congress IS NOT in session

Answer 44

Pocket Veto

Question 45

A policy-making alliance among specific congressional committees, bureaucratic agencies, and interest groups

Answer 45

Iron triangle

Question 46

The chamber where ALL of the members of the legislative body meet to debate and vote on a bill

Answer 46

Floor (of the House and Senate)

Question 47

The right to see a judge to be informed of the charges or reason for imprisonment

Answer 47

Writ of habeas corpus

Question 48

a system where more power or privileges go to members of Congress who have been serving longer

Answer 48

Seniority