US politics
Chapter 18 – US Congress definitions
Bicameral – a legislature made up of two chambers
Popular sovereignty – the principle that the
government’s majority is derived from the consent
of the people being governed which is the source
of political power
Election cycle – the time period over which
elections occur
Two-party system - only two parties have a
realistic chance of forming a government alone
Midterm elections – elections for congress that
take part midway through the president’s 4-year
term
Incumbency – the person who currently holds
political office, usually referring to the president, a
senator or a member of the house of
representatives
, Commerce clause – the clause in the US
constitution that allows congress regulatory power
over trade between the states
Subpoena – the ability of congress to order
someone to attend a hearing to compel them to
give evidence
Pigeon holing – a bill which is put into a
congressional but not given any hearings or further
action and effectively dies in committee
Filibuster – a prolonged speech given on the floor
of the senate aimed at preventing further action
from being taken on the legislation
Cloture motion – a procedure used to end a
filibuster requiring the agreement of 60 senators
except in the case of presidential appointments
which only requires 50
Partisanship – a political circumstance in which a
high degree of party loyalty can be seen in
congressional votes with members of congress
almost entirely voting for their own party
, Pocket veto -a president has 10 days to action a
bill once it has been sent to him, if the
congressional session ends during these 10 days
then the bill dies
Pork barrel politics – a inclusion of spending
additions to bills which benefit a member of
congress’ district in order to win favour and attract
popularity
Unanimous consent – procedures in the senate
may be set aside if no one objects, if a single
senator rejects then the request is rejected
Functional representation – representation of the
social or economic groups through the membership
of congress
Majority-minority district - a congressional district
within which a minority group makes up the
majority of the population
Congressional caucus – a group consisting of
members of congress who share similar political
beliefs or policy goals
Chapter 18 – US Congress definitions
Bicameral – a legislature made up of two chambers
Popular sovereignty – the principle that the
government’s majority is derived from the consent
of the people being governed which is the source
of political power
Election cycle – the time period over which
elections occur
Two-party system - only two parties have a
realistic chance of forming a government alone
Midterm elections – elections for congress that
take part midway through the president’s 4-year
term
Incumbency – the person who currently holds
political office, usually referring to the president, a
senator or a member of the house of
representatives
, Commerce clause – the clause in the US
constitution that allows congress regulatory power
over trade between the states
Subpoena – the ability of congress to order
someone to attend a hearing to compel them to
give evidence
Pigeon holing – a bill which is put into a
congressional but not given any hearings or further
action and effectively dies in committee
Filibuster – a prolonged speech given on the floor
of the senate aimed at preventing further action
from being taken on the legislation
Cloture motion – a procedure used to end a
filibuster requiring the agreement of 60 senators
except in the case of presidential appointments
which only requires 50
Partisanship – a political circumstance in which a
high degree of party loyalty can be seen in
congressional votes with members of congress
almost entirely voting for their own party
, Pocket veto -a president has 10 days to action a
bill once it has been sent to him, if the
congressional session ends during these 10 days
then the bill dies
Pork barrel politics – a inclusion of spending
additions to bills which benefit a member of
congress’ district in order to win favour and attract
popularity
Unanimous consent – procedures in the senate
may be set aside if no one objects, if a single
senator rejects then the request is rejected
Functional representation – representation of the
social or economic groups through the membership
of congress
Majority-minority district - a congressional district
within which a minority group makes up the
majority of the population
Congressional caucus – a group consisting of
members of congress who share similar political
beliefs or policy goals
