Unit 2 part 1

• Constituents


  A person who is represented politically by a designated government official or officeholder
• Reapportionment

  The process of determining how many Congressional seats each state receives after the U.S. census
• Redistricting


  The redrawing the boundaries of legislative districts
• Gerrymandering

  The drawing of legislative districts in an outrageously political manner
• Majority Leader

  The legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or Senate
• Minority Leader

  The legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority of seats in the House or the Senate
• Majority-Minority districts


  In the context of determining representative districts, the process by which a majority of the population is from the minority. Nora's note: Basically (I think, don't quote me on it) the majority of the people in the district are for the minority party
• Whip

  A senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking
• 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
• Open Rule

  An order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor
• Rider

  An unrelated provision added to a bill (in the Senate)
• Conference Committee

  Special joint committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the House and Senate
• Discharge petition

  A petition that, if signed by the majority of the House of Representatives' members, will allow a bill to skip the committee phase and bring it to the floor for consideration.
• 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
• Filibuster


  A lengthy speech designed to delay or kill the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate
• Incumbent

  An officeholder who is seeking reelection (for the same position)
• Delegate model

  The view that an elected representative should represent the opinions of his or her constituents
• Trustee Model


  A model of representation in which a member of the House or Senate follows his or her own conscience when deciding issue positions (don't vote in accordance with their constituents)
• Politico Model


  Members of Congress act as delegates or trustees depending on the issue
• Cloture Rule


  Prevents filibustering (16 signatures) and ends debate in the Senate, by a 3/5s vote of the Senate