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Details Title: Midterm 3 Description: Chapter 11 Total Flash Cards: 26 Created: 12/01/2006 09:17:35	To study from this set of flash cards, or to create your own your own study flash cards, register HERE. If you are already a registered user, CLICK HERE.
Cards Term reapportionment Definition The assigning by Congress of congressional seats after each census (population count) State legislatures reapportion state legislative districts Term redistricting Definition The redreawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population Term safe seat Definition An elected office that is predictably won by one party, so the success of that party's candidate is almost taken for granted. Term incumbents Definition The current holders of elected office Term bicameralism Definition The principle of a 2 house legislature Term enumerated powers Definition The powers explicitly given to Congress in the Constitution Term Speaker Definition The presiding officer in teh House of Representatives, formally elected by the House but actually selected by the majority party. 3rd in line for presidency Term Majority leader Definition The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy, confers with other party leaders, and tries to keep memebers of teh party in line Term minority leader Definition The legislative leaders selected by the minority party as a spokesperson for the opposition Term whip Definition Party leader who is the liaison between the leadership and the rank-and-file in the legislature Term filibuster Definition A procedural practice int he Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of a bill or nomination Term cloture Definition A procedure for terminating debate/filibusters in the senate. requires 60 votes Term senatorial courtesy Definition Presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointess for approval to senatorys from the states in which the appointees are to work Term standing committee Definition A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area Term joint committee Definition A committee composed of members of both the House and Senate;such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations Term special or select committee Definition A congressional committee created for a specific purpose, sometimes to conduct an investigation Term seniority ruel Definition A legislative pract tha assigns that chair of a committee or subcommittee to the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on teh committee Term conference committee Definition Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form Term delegate Definition An official who is expected to represent the views of his constituents even when personally holding different views; one interpretation of the the role of a legislator Term trustee Definition An official who is expected to vote independently based on his or her judgment of the circumstances; one interpreation of the role of the legislator Term attentive public Definition Those citizens who follow public affairs carefully Term log rolling Definition Mutual aid and vote trading among legislators Term discharge petition Definition Petition that, if signed by a majority of the members of the House will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration Term rider Definition A provision attached to a bill, in order to secure its passage Term pocket veto Definition A veto exercised by the president after Congress has adjourned; if the president takes no action for 10 days, the bill does not become law and is not returened to Congress for a possible override Term override Definition An action taken by Congress to reverse a presidential veto, requiring a 2/3 majority in each chamber