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.