Unit 4

Question 1

The residents of a congressional district or state

Answer 1

Constituents

Question 2

the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census

Answer 2

Reapportionment

Question 3

redrawing of congressional district boundaries by the party in power of the state legislature

Answer 3

Redistricting

Question 4

the drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent

Answer 4

Gerrymandering

Question 5

An elected office that is predictably won by one party or the other, so the success of that party’s candidate is almost taken for granted

Answer 5

Safe seat

Question 6

the person already holding an elective office

Answer 6

Incumbant

Question 7

Federally funded local projects attached to bills passed through Congress

Answer 7

Earmarks

Question 8

The principle of a two-house legislature

Answer 8

Bicameralism

Question 9

The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution

Answer 9

Enumerated powers

Question 10

the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

Answer 10

Speaker of the House

Question 11

A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy

Answer 11

Party Caucus

Question 12

the legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or Senate

Answer 12

Majority leader

Question 13

The principal leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate

Answer 13

Minority leader

Question 14

a senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking

Answer 14

Whip

Question 15

An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor

Answer 15

Closed rule

Question 16

an order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor

Answer 16

Open rule

Question 17

Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president

Answer 17

President pro tempore

Question 18

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue

Answer 18

Filibuster

Question 19

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate

Answer 19

Cloture

Question 20

A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area

Answer 20

Standing committee

Question 21

A congressional committee created for a specific purpose, sometimes to conduct an investigation

Answer 21

Special/select committee

Question 22

A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate

Answer 22

Joint committee

Question 23

unwritten rule in both houses of Congress reserving the top posts in each chamber, particularly committee chairmanships, for members with the longest records of service

Answer 23

Seniority rule

Question 24

special joint committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate

Answer 24

Conference committee

Question 25

a motion to force a bill to the House floor that has been bottled up in committee

Answer 25

Discharge petition

Question 26

A provision attached to a bill - to which it may or may not be related - in order to secure its passage or defeat

Answer 26

Rider

Question 27

president's power to kill a bill, if Congress is not in session, by not signing it for 10 days

Answer 27

Pocket veto

Question 28

An action taken by Congress to reverse a presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds majority in each chamber

Answer 28

Override

Question 29

a congressman who votes based on what their constituents want

Answer 29

delegate

Question 30

A legislator who acts according to her or his conscience and the broad interests of the entire society

Answer 30

Trustee

Question 31

vote trading; voting to support a colleague's bill in return for a promise of future support

Answer 31

Logrolling

Question 32

those who follow politics and public affairs carefully

Answer 32

Attentive public

Question 33

legislation that allows representatives to bring money and jobs to their districts

Answer 33

Pork

Question 34

policy that results in government control over individuals and businesses

Answer 34

Regulatory policy

Question 35

Determine the basic operations of their chamber; in the House, has the responsibility of issuing rules to bills

Answer 35

Rules and Administration committee

Question 36

House & Senate standing committees that begins budget process in Congress by setting overall budget size and amounts that will be spent on different topics

Answer 36

Budget committee

Question 37

House and Senate committees that develop or authorize particular policies or programs through legislation

Answer 37

Authorizing committee

Question 38

deal with raising the money appropriating committees spend

Answer 38

Revenue committees

Question 39

broad powers to investigate the performance of government and to authorize programs for fixing government-wide management problems

Answer 39

General Oversight committees

Question 40

90% re-election rate (franking, name recognition, sponsors, ect.)

Answer 40

Incumbant advantage

Question 41

Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals

Answer 41

Caseworking

Question 42

An institution unique to the House of Representatives that reviews all bills (except revenue, budget, and appropriations bills) coming from a House committee before they go to the full House

Answer 42

House rules committee

Question 43

The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress

Answer 43

Quorum

Question 44

Benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free

Answer 44

Franking privilege

Question 45

Constitutional power given to Congress to raise and spend money

Answer 45

"power of the purse"

Question 46

House committee that handles tax bills

Answer 46

Ways and Means committee

Question 47

congressional committee that deals with federal spending

Answer 47

Appropriation committee

Question 48

Presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work

Answer 48

Senatorial courtesy

Question 49

A committee that consists of an entire legislative body

Answer 49

Committee of the whole

Question 50

constitutional provision that gives congress the power to collect taxes to provide for the general welfare

Answer 50

Spending clause

Question 51

One person, one vote

Answer 51

Baker v. Carr

Question 52

No racial gerrymandering

Answer 52

Shaw v. Reno