Key Political Figures
This person leads the Senate and casts the tie-breaking vote.
Who is the Vice President?
This term describes the practice of creating districts that dilute the voting power of a particular racial group.
What is Racial gerrymandering?
This role involves a member of Congress considering the needs of the nation rather than just their district.
What is the "Trustee" role?
This term describes the practice of trading favors in the legislative process.
What is Logrolling?
The procedure in the House of Representatives that allows a bill to be brought to the floor without the approval of a committee, requiring a majority of members' signatures to proceed
What is a discharge petition?
This is the title for the leader of the House of Representatives.
What is the Speaker of the House?
This term refers to an electoral district that has a chance of changing party control.
What is a Marginal seat?
In this role, a member of Congress acts as a representative of their constituents' interests.
What is the "Delegate" role?
This legislation often involves funding projects that benefit specific constituents.
What is Pork barrel legislation?
The term describes a single legislative bill that combines multiple, often unrelated, measures into one large package, commonly used to pass complex budget or spending legislation.
What is an omnibus bill?
This person is responsible for managing the legislative agenda of the majority party in the House.
Who is the Majority Leader?
This type of seat is considered safe for the incumbent party.
What is a Safe seat?
This role combines the responsibilities of both a delegate and a trustee.
What is the "Politico" role?
This type of consent requires that no member of the Senate objects to a motion.
What is Unanimous consent?
A privilege allows members of Congress to send mail to their constituents at the government’s expense, often used to provide updates on legislative activities and issues.
What is the franking privilege?
This position in the Senate assists the Majority Leader in mobilizing votes.
Who is the Majority Whip?
This practice involves redrawing district lines to favor a particular political party.
What is Redistricting?
This term describes the behavior of a member of Congress who primarily represents the interests and policies of their political party when making decisions and voting.
What is the "Partisan" role?
This motion can end a filibuster with a three-fifths majority vote.
What is Cloture?
The annual speech delivered by the president to Congress, outlining the administration’s legislative goals and priorities for the coming year.
What is the State of the Union address?
This title refers to the leader of the Senate when the Vice President is unavailable.
What is the President Pro Tempore?
This constitutionally required action enables the federal government to adjust the distribution of seats in the House of Representatives every 10 years.
What is the Census?
A group of individuals that a member of Congress represents.
What is a Constituency?
This term refers to provisions added to legislation that direct specific funds to particular projects, often within a legislator's own district
What are earmarks?
Type of veto allows the president to indirectly reject a bill by not signing it within 10 days while Congress is adjourned, effectively preventing the bill from becoming law.
What is a pocket veto?