Article I
The United States constitution that created the US Congress and gives it power to make laws.
Pork Barrel Spending
Legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states.
Logrolling
Trading of votes on legislation by members of Congress to get their earmarks passed into legislation.
Earmarks
Funds in legislation that members of US Congress to specific projects in states or Congressional districts.
Oversight
Efforts by Congress to ensure that executive branch agencies, bureaus, and cabinet departments, as well as their officials, are acting legally and accordance within Congressional goals.
Apportionment
The process of determining the number of representatives for each state using census data.
Redistricting
States' redrawing of boundaries of electoral districts following each census.
Gerrymandering
The intentional use of redistricting to benefit a specific interest of group of voters.
Majority-Minority District
A district in which voters of a minority ethnicity constitute an electoral majority within that electoral district.
Baker v Carr
Case that federal courts can review unequal district boundaries created by state legislatures.
Malapportionment
The uneven distribution of the population among legislative districts.
Shaw v Reno
Case that ruled drawing voting districts based on race can violate the constitution.
Incumbent
Being already in office as opposed to running for the first time.
Incumbent Advantages
Institutional advantages held by those already in office who are trying to find off challengers in an election.
Franking Privilege
The rights of members of US Congress to send official mail to constituents without paying postage
Speaker of the House
The leader of the house of representatives, chosen by an election of its members.
Whip
A member of Congress, chosen by his or her party members, whose job is to ensure party unity and discipline.
Minority Leader
The head of the party with the second-highest number of seats in congress, chosen by the party's member
Senate Majority Leader
The person who has the most power in the Senate and is the head of the party with the most seats.
Committee Chair
Member of US Congress who leads a committee and control meetings and agenda.
Standing Committee
Committee that handles bills in a specific area like education or defence.
Conference Committees
Temporarily committee that resolves differences between house and state versions of a bill.
Select Commitees
Committee that focus public attention of an issue, gather information for the Congress, or help party leaders speed things along in the legislative process.
Discharge Petition
A motion filed by a member of Congress to move a bill out of committee and onto the floor of the house of representatives for a vote.
House Rules Committee
A powerful committee that determines when a bill will be subjected to debate and votes on the house floor, how long the debate will last, and whether amendments will be allowed on the floor.
Committee of the Whole
Consist of all members of the House and meets in the house chamber but is governed by different rules, making it easier to consider complex and controversial legislation.
Hold
A delay placed on legislation by a senator who objects a bill.
Unanimous Consent Agreement
An agreement in the Senate that sets the terms for consideration of a bill.
Filibuster
A tactic through which an individual senator may use the right of unlimited debate to delay a nation or postpone action on a piece of legislation
Cloture
A procedure through which senators can end a filibuster and proceed to action, provided 60 senators agree to it.
Office of Management and Budget
The executive branch office that assists the president on setting national spending priorities.
Entitlement Program
A program that provides benefits for those who qualify under the law, regardless of income.
Mandatory Spending
Spending required by law that is "locked in" the budget.
Discretionary Spending
Spending for programs and policies at the discretion of Congress and the president.
Budget Surplus
The amount of money remaining when the government gets in more than it spends
Budget Deficit
The annual shortfall when a government gets less money than it spends.
National Debt
The total amount of money owed by federal government.
Delegate
The duty of a member of Congress is to carry out constituents' wishes.
Trustee
Members of Congress should act as trustees, making decisions based on their knowledge and judgment.
Political
Representation where members of Congress balance their choices with the interest of their constituents' and parties in making decisions.
Bipartisanship
Agreement between the parties to work together in congress to pass legislation.
Gridlock
A slowdown in congress ability to legislate and overcome divisions, especially those based on partisanship.
Divided Government
Control of the presidency and one or both chambers of Congress split between the two major parties.
Lame Duck Period
Period at the end of a presidential term when Congress may block presidential term when Congress may block presidential initiatives and nominees.