Our AP Government Game of FUN!

House of Representatives

• Elected by the people

• Part of Congress

• Currently seats 435 members

Senate

• Chosen by legislatures of the state

• Part of Congress

• Elections held every 2 years

Filibuster

• An assembly held by Senate

• No time limit

• Used to delay the action of an issue

Whip

• A specific type of senator

• Helps inform a party leader

• Gets a feel for how the note will turn out

Cloture

• Vote done by senate

• Only procedure that has a time limit

• Used to end a debate quickly

Majority Leader

• Member of the House

• Keeps members in line

• Determines party agenda

Minority Leader

• Member of House

• Maintains control of the house

• Elected every 2 years

Incumbency

• They have experience

• They have name recognition

• Has been in office before

Conservative Coalition

• Controlled Congress from 1939-1961

• It was a combination of the Rep & Dem parties

• It was a conservative movement

Standing Committee

• Make up most Legislative Committees

• Oversight responsibility

• A.K.A. Permanent Committee

Conference Committee

• Temporary Committee

• Deals only with the most important issues

• Resolves issues of House and Senate

Pork Barreling

• Type of government spending

• Benefits member of Congress

• Brings money to a representatives district

Franking Privilege

• Only available to members of Congress

• Signature required

• No postage stamp necessary

Census

• Taken every 10 years

• Records information concerning population

• Sampling Survey (one per household)

House Rules Committee

• Responsible for setting limits of debates on the floor

• Decides which bills are to be passed on to floor debate

• Controlled by majority party

Gerrymandering

• Modification of boundaries for electoral purposes

• Produces unusual shapes (ex: Dragon)

• Synonym: Redistricting

Oversight

• Monitoring/supervising federal programs and committees

• Implied power

• Used greatly in Committees

Pocket Veto

• Unsigned

• Still becomes law

• Gives president 10 days to review bill

Joint Committee

• Both houses of Congress

• Usually lack authority

• Narrow jurisdiction

Line-item Veto

• Done by president

• This action is no longer allowed

• Veto PART of an act

Pro-tempore

• Elected by Senate

• 2nd highest ranking official in the Senate

• Usually “most senior” senator

Bicameral

• Requires a concurrent majority to pass legislation.

• Defining feature of the classical notion of mixed government

• Practice of having two legislative or parliamentary chambers.

Impeachment Process

• Accused of unlawful activity

• Removal from office

• Has to face a second legislative vote which determines conviction

Enumerated Powers

• Found in Article 1, Section 8

• Enumerates the authority granted to the US Congress

• Specifically listed constitutional powers

Affirmative Action

• policies ranges from employment and education to public contracting and health programs

• Policies that take "race, color, religion, sex or national origin"

• Action taken to increase the representation of women and minorities

Necessary & Proper Clause

• Section 8, Clause 18

• A.k.a. Basket Clause

• A.k.a. Elastic Clause

Veto Override

• Example of checks and balances

• 2/3 majority vote

• Can override a presidents veto

Voting Rights Act of 1965

• Occurred in 1965

• Banned literary tests

• Outlawing discriminatory voting practices

Lobbyists

• Form of advocacy

• Intention of influencing decisions made by legislators.

• person who tries to influence legislation on behalf of a special interest or a member of a lobby

Speaker of the House

• The office was established in 1789 by Article 1, Section 2

• Second in the United States presidential line of succession

• Currently Nancy Pelosi