Term
|
Definition
| franking expenses are mailing costs. A frank is a facsimile of the member's signature which works like metered mail and appears where the stamp would be. Takes the place of a stamp. Helps each member increase name recognition. Members use it to send out mail to constituents without paying for mailing costs out of their pocket or using campaign funds |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The process of redistributing the 435 seats in the House of Representatives among the states based on population changes; occurs every 10 years based on the most recent census |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a mechanism for delay in the Senate in which one or more members engage in a continuous speech to prevent the Senate from voting on a bill |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| a congressional district whose boundaries are drawn so as to maximize the political advantage of a party or radical group; often such a district has a bizarre shape |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| free mailing privileges, computers and software to help them target letters to specialized groups of constituents, facilities to make video tapes and audio tapes to send to hometown media, better known to the people, public recognition, casework, media advantage, fund raising, pork barrel funding |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| the assistance members of congress provide to their constituents; includes answering questions and doing personal favors for those who ask for help (constituency service) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| funding for special projects, buildings, and other public works in the district or state of a member of congress. Members support such projects because they provide jobs for constituents and enhances the member's reelection chances, rather than because the projects are necessarily wise |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| congress's responsibility to make sure the bureaucracy is administering the federal program in accordance with congressional intent |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| budget legislation that provides agencies and apartments with legal authority to operate; may specify funding levels but do not actually provide the funding |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| budget legislation that specifies the amount of authorized funds that will actually be allocated for agencies and departments to spend |
|
|
Term
| Constitutional Requirements to serve in House/Senate |
|
Definition
| One must be 25 years old, be a citizen of 7 years to be elected to the House and 9 years to be elected to the senate, must reside in the states from which they were elected. House members do not need to reside in their own districts. |
|
|
