Chapter 12. Congress Vocabulary For A.P. Government

Definition: Those already holding office. In congressional elections, incumbents usually win. Significance: We as voters know what the incumbent did the term prior to the one he/she is running, and agree or disagree with their beliefs.

Definition:Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals; cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to get. Significance: What we believe in gets taken into notice.

Definition:The mighty list of federal projects, grants, and contracts available to cities, businesses, colleges, and institutions available in a congressional district. Significance: This is beneficial to us because we have our own do to the fact that we live in a city.

Definition:A legislature divided into two houses. The U.S. Congress and every American state legislature except Nebraska's are bicameral. Significance: One can choose what house they want join.

Definition: 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. Significance: Their opinion is taken into consideration.

Definition: A strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation try to talk it to death, based on the tradition of unlimited debate. Significance: We can see what all they have to say about the certain topic.

Definition:An office mandated by the Constitution. The Speaker is chosen in practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant. Significance: This position was not just created like most other positions but mandatory because it is stated in the constitution and we must follow it.

Definition:The principal partisan ally of the Speaker of the House or the party's manager in the Senate. The majority leader is responsible for scheduling bills, influencing committee assignments, and rounding up votes in behalf of the party's legislative positions. Significance: Must be from the majority party not just based on peoples opinion.

Definition: Party leaders who work with the majority leader or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party. Significance: Might not be a job as important like the speaker of the house but is still significant.

Definition:The principal leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate. Significance: There has to be a leader for the minority party even though it is not as powerful as the majority leader.

Definition:Separate subject-matter committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas. Significance: Makes the job easier for the each house of Congress because without it, it would be a mess.

Definition:Congressional committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership drawn from both houses. Significance: Does not give the opinion only from one house but from both because of their special membership.

Definition:Congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms. Party leadership appoints members from each house to iron out the differences and bring back a single bill. Significance: Created to make things easier and agree on only one bill.

Definition:Congressional committees appointed for a specific purpose, such as the Watergate investigation. Significance: So they won't need to focus on other subjects, only the one they are assigned.

Definition:Congress' monitoring of the bureaucracy and its administration of policy, performed mainly through hearings. Significance: Specifying only on bureaucracy.

Definition:The most important influencers of the congressional agenda. They play dominant roles in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills when they are brought before the full house. Significance: Very significant do to the fact they have much power in Congress.

Definition:A simple rule for picking committee chairs, in effect until the 1970s. The member who had served on the committee the longest and whose party controlled Congress became chair, regardless of party loyalty, mental state, or competence. Significance: Respect is given for serving the committee for the longest.

Definition: A group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic. Most are composed of members from both parties and from both houses. Significance: They come together to both agree in what they believe.

Definition:A proposed law, drafted in precise, legal language. Anyone can draft one of this, but only a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate can formally submit it for consideration. Significance: The key is to be able to propose a bill for consideration but not anyone can do that unless they have the sufficient power that is needed.