POLS 1101 Exam #2 (UGA-Dr.Glas) |66 Q’s and A’s
Committee - -a group of people who meet together to discuss a topic
-standing committee - -Committees that are a permanent, unless explicitly disbanded, part
of the House or Senate structure, holding more importance and authority than other
committees.
-Special/Select Committee - -A congressional committee created for a specific purpose,
sometimes to conduct an investigation.
-joint committee - -A committee composed of members of both the House of
Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and
conduct investigations.
-conference committee - -Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber
to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.
-Casework - -The activity undertaken by members of Congress and their staffs to solve
constituents' problems with government agencies
-Cloture - -A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate.
-Agenda Control - -the capacity to set choices available to others, involves positive and
negative authority
-Filibuster - -A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish
the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.
-Gerrymandering - -Drawing legislative districts in such a way as to give one political
party a disproportionately large share of seats for the share of votes its candidates win.
-Party Leader - -the most powerful official within a political party
-Majority (minority) whip - -Majority (minority) party official in Congress charged with
managing communications between party leaders and members
-Committee Referral - -
-Open Rule - -A provision governing debate of a pending bill and permitting any germane
amendment to be offered on the floor of the House.
-Closed Rule - -An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate;
forbids a bill from being amended on the floor
, -Restricted Rule - -A provision that governs consideration of a bill and that specifies and
limits the kinds of amendments that may be made on the floor of the House of
Representatives.
-Pork Barrel Legislation - -legislation that provides members of congress with federal
projects and programs for their individual efforts
-Earmarks - -Money set aside by Congress in the federal budget to pay for projects in the
home district of a member of Congress.
-Unanimous Consent Agreement - -an agreement on the rules of debate for proposed
legislation in the Senate that is approved by all the members
-Two-stage electoral system - -a voting method used to elect a single winner, where the
voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate.
-constituency - -the people and interests that an elected official represents
-divided government - -Governance divided between the parties, as when one holds the
presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress.
-unified government - -the political condition in which the same political party controls
the presidency and Congress
-omnibus legislation - -a large bill that contains so many important elements that
members can't afford to defeat it and the president can't afford to veto it, even if the bill
contains elements they dislike
-log-rolling - -a legislator supports a proposal favored by another in return for support of
his or hers
-How popular is congress? - -It is unusual for a majority of Americans to approve of its
performance. The poor reputation of Congress is due to citizens' dislike of politicians and
pluralism, as "special interests" often win out over general interests.
-How popular are individual members of Congress? - -They are usually liked by citizens, as
they have higher approval ratings than the institution, and usually win reelection.
-What does it mean for a Congressperson to "bid for assignment" to a particular
committee? - -it helps their party possibly in their area to help get re-elected (like a
congress person in a rural area trying to get a bid for an agricultural committee to help the
interests of their constituents)
-How do the differences between the House and Senate reflect the competing interests of
small and large states? - -house- 435 members (based on state population)
senate- 100 members (2 senators per state)
Committee - -a group of people who meet together to discuss a topic
-standing committee - -Committees that are a permanent, unless explicitly disbanded, part
of the House or Senate structure, holding more importance and authority than other
committees.
-Special/Select Committee - -A congressional committee created for a specific purpose,
sometimes to conduct an investigation.
-joint committee - -A committee composed of members of both the House of
Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and
conduct investigations.
-conference committee - -Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber
to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.
-Casework - -The activity undertaken by members of Congress and their staffs to solve
constituents' problems with government agencies
-Cloture - -A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate.
-Agenda Control - -the capacity to set choices available to others, involves positive and
negative authority
-Filibuster - -A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish
the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.
-Gerrymandering - -Drawing legislative districts in such a way as to give one political
party a disproportionately large share of seats for the share of votes its candidates win.
-Party Leader - -the most powerful official within a political party
-Majority (minority) whip - -Majority (minority) party official in Congress charged with
managing communications between party leaders and members
-Committee Referral - -
-Open Rule - -A provision governing debate of a pending bill and permitting any germane
amendment to be offered on the floor of the House.
-Closed Rule - -An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate;
forbids a bill from being amended on the floor
, -Restricted Rule - -A provision that governs consideration of a bill and that specifies and
limits the kinds of amendments that may be made on the floor of the House of
Representatives.
-Pork Barrel Legislation - -legislation that provides members of congress with federal
projects and programs for their individual efforts
-Earmarks - -Money set aside by Congress in the federal budget to pay for projects in the
home district of a member of Congress.
-Unanimous Consent Agreement - -an agreement on the rules of debate for proposed
legislation in the Senate that is approved by all the members
-Two-stage electoral system - -a voting method used to elect a single winner, where the
voter casts a single vote for their chosen candidate.
-constituency - -the people and interests that an elected official represents
-divided government - -Governance divided between the parties, as when one holds the
presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress.
-unified government - -the political condition in which the same political party controls
the presidency and Congress
-omnibus legislation - -a large bill that contains so many important elements that
members can't afford to defeat it and the president can't afford to veto it, even if the bill
contains elements they dislike
-log-rolling - -a legislator supports a proposal favored by another in return for support of
his or hers
-How popular is congress? - -It is unusual for a majority of Americans to approve of its
performance. The poor reputation of Congress is due to citizens' dislike of politicians and
pluralism, as "special interests" often win out over general interests.
-How popular are individual members of Congress? - -They are usually liked by citizens, as
they have higher approval ratings than the institution, and usually win reelection.
-What does it mean for a Congressperson to "bid for assignment" to a particular
committee? - -it helps their party possibly in their area to help get re-elected (like a
congress person in a rural area trying to get a bid for an agricultural committee to help the
interests of their constituents)
-How do the differences between the House and Senate reflect the competing interests of
small and large states? - -house- 435 members (based on state population)
senate- 100 members (2 senators per state)
