POLI 201 Exam 2 Flashcards

Key Terms and Definitions

• Constituency: A district from which an official is elected, representing the interests of local voters.

• Delegate: A representative who votes based on the preferences of their constituency.

• Agency Representation: Representatives are held accountable to their constituents; the electorate has the power to hire and fire elected officials.

• Casework: Efforts by Congress members to gain voter trust through personal services, notably assisting constituents with federal agency interactions.

• Pork-barrel Legislation: Funding appropriated for local projects that are often unnecessary, intended to help representatives secure votes in their home district during elections.

• Party Caucus (or Party Conference): A closed meeting held by a political group to make decisions on candidates, strategy, or legislative matters.

• Speaker of the House: The leading officer of the House of Representatives, responsible for overseeing proceedings and representing the House.

• Majority Leader: The elected leader of the party that holds the majority of seats in either the House or Senate.

• Minority Leader: The leader of the party with less than a majority in the House or Senate.

• Standing Committees: Permanent committees in Congress that focus on specific legislative areas.

• Gatekeeping Authority: The power to determine whether a policy change will be considered by a legislative body.

• Conference Committee: A special committee formed to resolve differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

• Oversight: Congress's efforts to monitor and control executive agencies' actions through investigations and hearings.

• Closed Rule: A House Rules Committee provision that forbids amendments during debate on a bill.

• Open Rule: Allows for floor debate and amendments to be made to a bill during consideration in the House.

• Filibuster: A Senate tactic where a member speaks to delay legislative action, requiring a cloture vote of three-fifths to end.

• Cloture: A rule permitting a supermajority in Congress to set time limits on debates surrounding bills.

• Logrolling: Agreements between lawmakers to support each other's proposals or legislation.

Powers of Government

• Expressed Powers: Powers explicitly outlined in the Constitution.

• Delegated Powers: Powers granted to one government agency but executed by another with permission.

• Inherent Powers: Powers claimed by the president that aren't stated in the Constitution but are inferred.

• War Powers Resolution: A 1973 law mandating presidential consultation with Congress before military action and requiring withdrawal after 60 days unless authorized by Congress; seen as unconstitutional by some presidents.

• Line-item Veto: A presidential power to selectively veto parts of a spending bill; this power was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

• Veto: The authority of the chief executive to reject legislation passed by Congress.

• Pocket Veto: A situation in which the president allows a bill to die by not signing it within 10 days while Congress is adjourned.

• Executive Orders: Directives issued by the president to manage the operations of the federal government.

Prepare for your POLI 201 Exam with these flashcards. Each card presents key terms and definitions that are essential for understanding the concepts related to constituencies and representation. Study effectively and boost your knowledge before the exam!