7/27/2019 Chapter 11 Notes AP Government and Politics

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Chapter 11

Main Ideas:

The major powers of the

Congress is granted by the US

Constitution

Explain the differences

between the House of

Representatives and the

Senate with regard to their

constituencies, terms of office,

powers, and political processes

Describe the processes of

reapportionment and

redistricting

Notes: Constituent- One of the persons represented by a legislator or other elected or

appointed official

Homestyle-actions and behaviors of a member of Congress aimed at the

constituents and intended to win the support and trust of the voters at home

Hillstyle-the actions and behaviors of a member of Congress in Washington DC,

intended to promote policies and the members own career aspirations

Bicameralism-the division of a legislature into two separate assemblies

Lawmaking-the process of establishing the legal rules that govern society

Logrolling-an arrangement in which two or more members of Congress agree in

advance to support each others bills

Representation-the function of members of Congress as elected officials representi

the views of their constituents

Trustee-A legislator who acts according to her or his conscience in the broad intere

of the entire society

Instructed delegate-A legislator who is an agent of the voters who elect him or her

and his votes according to the views of the constituents regardless of personal beliefs

Casework-personal work for constituents doing by members of Congress

Ombudsperson-A person you hears and investigates complaints by private individu

against public officials or agencies

Oversight-the process by which Congress follows up on laws it has enacted to ensu

that they are being enforced and administered in the way Congress intended

Enumerated power- A power specifically granted to the national government by the

Constitution Rules committee-A standing committee of the House of Representatives that provid

special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by house

Rule-the proposal by the rules committee of the house that states the conditions for

debate for one piece of legislation

Unanimous consent agreement- An agreement on the rules of debate for those

legislation in the Senate that is approved by all the members

Filibuster-the use of the Senates tradition of unlimited debate as a delaying tactic t

block a deal

Unorthodox Lawmaking- use of out-of-the-ordinary parliamentary tactics to passlegislation

Direct primary-An intraparty election in which the voters select the candidate willrun the partys ticket in the subsequent general election

Party identifier-A person who identifies with a political party Reapportionment-the allocation of seats in the House of Representatives to each st

after each census

Redistricting-the redrawing of the boundaries of the congressional districts within

each state

Justiciable question-A question that may be raised and reviewed in court

Gerrymandering- the drawing of legislative district boundary lines to obtain partisa

or factional advantage

Franking-it policy that enables members of Congress to send material through the

mail by substituting their facsimile signature (frank) for postage

Discharge petition-A procedure by which he fill in the House of Representatives

maybe forced (discharged) out of a committee that has refused to report it forconsideration by the House

Standing committee-A permanent committee in the house or senate that considers

bills within a certain subject area

Select Committee-A temporary legislative committee established for a limited and

a special purpose

Summary:The functions of Congress include lawmaking, representation, and service to constituents, oversight, public

education, and conflict resolution. Congress has enumerated powers including the right to impose taxes, to

borrow money, to regulate commerce, and to declare war.

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Main Ideas:

Discuss the importance of

committees to the lawmaking

process into the ability of

members of Congress to do

their jobs

Describe the leadership

structure in each house of

Congress, noting the

differences between the houseand the senate

Demonstrate how a bill

becomes a law, and explain

how the different processes in

the house and the senate

influence legislating

Chapter 11

Notes: Joint committee-the legislature committee composed of members from both chamb

of Congress

Conference committee-A special joint committee appointed to reconcile difference

when bills passed the two chambers of Congress in different forms

Seniority system-A custom followed in both chambers of Congress specifying that

member of the majority party with the longest term of continuous service will be givpreference when a committee chairperson is selected

Safe seat-A district that returns a legislator with 55% of the vote or more

Speaker of the house-the presiding officer in the House of Representatives

Majority Leader of the house-A legislative position held by an important partymember in the House of Representatives

Minority leader of the house-the party leader elected by the minority party in the

house

Whip- A member of Congress who aids the majority or minority leader of the house

for the Senate

President Pro Tempore-the temporary presiding officer of the Senate in the absenc

of the vice President

Senate Majority Leader-the chief spokesperson of the majority party in the Senate

who directs the legislative program and party strategy

Senate Minority Leader-the party officer in the Senate who commands the minorit

partys opposition to the policiesof the majority party and directs the legislativeprogram and strategy of his or her party

Conservative coalition-an alliance of Republicans and southern Democrats thatconform in the house or the Senate to oppose liberal legislation and supportconservative legislation

Blue dog Democrats-members of Congress for more moderate states for districts w

sometimes crossover to vote with Republicans on legislation

Earmarks-funding appropriations that are specifically designated for a named projein a members state or district

Pork-special projections for appropriations that are intended to benefit a members

district or state; slang term for earmarks

Executive budget-the budget prepared and submitted by POTUS to Congress

Fiscal year-A 12-month. That is used for bookkeeping (accounting) purposes

Spring review-the annual process in which the office of management and budget

requires federal agencies to renew their programs activities and goals and submit therequest for funding for the next fiscal year

Fall review-the annual process in which the Office of Management and Budget, aftereceiving the form of federal agency requests for funding for the next fiscal year,reviews the requests, makes changes, and submits its recommendations to the Preside

Authorization-A formal declaration by a legislature committee that a certain amoun

of funding may be available to an agency

Appropriation-the passage, by Congress, of a spending bill specifying the amount o

authorized funds that actually will be allocated for an agencys use

First budget resolution-A resolution passed by Congress in May that sucks overall

revenue and spending goals for the following fiscal year

Second budget resolution-A resolution passed by Congress in September that sets

binding limit on taxes and spending for the following fiscal year

Continuing Resolution-A temporary funding the law that Congress passes one inappropriations bill has not been decided by the beginning of the new fiscal year on

October 1

Summary:Budget process for fiscal year begins with the preparation of an executive budget by the president. These is

reviewed by the office of management and budget and then sent to Congress, which is supposed to pass a

final budget by the end of September. Since 1978, Congress generally has not followed its own time rules.