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| Distribution among the states based on the population of each of the states |
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| Redistribution of Congressional seats after the census determines changes in population distribution among the states |
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| Congressional Districting |
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| The drawing by state legislatures of congressional districts for those states with more than one representative |
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| Drawing Congressional districts to favor one political party or group over another |
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| The tendency of those already holding office to win reelection |
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| Helping constituents solve problems involving government and the bureaucracy |
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| The people that an elected official represents |
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| The presiding officers and most powerful member of the House |
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| Serves as the major assistant to the Speaker in the House of Representatives, in the Senate he is the majority party spokesperson and most influential leader |
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| A senior member of the majority party chosen to preside in the absence of the Senate president |
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| Both the Majority and Minority Floor Leaders are the ones that lead their respective parties in the Senate |
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| System used in Congress where the majority party member with the longest lengh to committee service is chosen as chairperson |
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| A permanent committee that deals with specific policy matters (agriculture, energy and natural resources, veterans' affairs) |
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| A temporary committee appointed for a specific purpose. Most are formed to investigate a particular issue, such as the Senate Watergate Committee |
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| Made up of members of both houses of Congress. It may be a select committee (Iran-Contra Committee) or perform routine duties (Joint Committee on the Library of Congress) |
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| A temporary committee of members from both houses of Congress, created to resolve the differences in House and Senate versions of a bill |
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| Informal groups formed by members of Congress who share a common purpose or set of goals (Congressional Black Caucus, Women's Caucus) |
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| After listening to constituents, members vote based on their own opinions |
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| Allows members of Congress to send mailings to constituents postage free |
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| The power of Congress to investigate matters falling within the range of its legislative authority |
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| Proposed laws that may begin in either house, except revenue bills, which must begin in the House of Representatives |
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| Only in the House of Representatives, it sets terms of debate for bills |
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| Unlimited debate in the Senate in an attempt to stall action on a bill |
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| A petition to end a filibuster in the Senate, it requires 60 or more votes |
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| An attempt to provide funds and projects for a member's home district or state |
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| An attempt by members to gain the support of other members in return for their support on the member's legislation; "I'll support your bill, if you will support mine" |
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| Additions to legislation which generally have no connection to the legislation; generally legislation that would not pass on its own merit; when a bill has lots of riders it becomes a "Christmas tree bill" |
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| Additions or changes to legislation that deal specifically with the legislation |
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| Trying to influence members of Congress to support or reject legislation |
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| The rejection of a presidential or executive branch action by a vote of one or both houses of Congress, declared unconstitutional in 1983 |
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| The slow process of policymaking that results in only small changes |
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| Recognizing an issue as a problem that must be addressed as a part of the political agenda and bringing it to the polical agenda by citizens, interest groups, the media, or governmental entities |
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| Items that are brought up by citizens, interest groups, and the media as being worthy of political discussion |
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| Finding ways to solve the problem; exploring alternative plans of action and developing proposals to solve the problem |
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| Adopting a plan of action to solve the problem; may require the passage of legislation |
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| Executing the plan of action by the appropriate agency or agencies |
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| Analysis of policy and its impact upon the problem; judging the effectiveness of the policy and making adjustments if necessary |
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| Environmental Impacts Statements |
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| Required studies and reports of likely environmental impacts that need to be filed with the Environmental Protection Agency |
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| Spending about which government planners may make choices, while nondiscretionary spending is required by existing laws for current programs |
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| The amount of the negative balance the national government has with regards to spending being larger than revenue |
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| Programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) that address the needs of society |
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| Programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid in which one automatically receives benefits if they meet minimum program qualifications |
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| The amount of money the federal government expects to receive and authorizes government spending for a fiscal (12-month period) year |
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| 12 month period in which the federal government bases its budget upon, it runs from October 1st to September 30th |
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| Money that is allocated or appropriated by Congress for government programs |
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| NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) |
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| Trade agreement between the United States, Canada, and Mexico that reduced trade barriers between those three nations |
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| Money in the federal budget that is required to be spend each year |
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| The study of law that deals with the Constitution and Bill of Rights |
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