Keeping The Republic - Chapter 7

the efforts of elected officials to look out for the interests of those who elect them

the creation of policy to address the problems and needs of the entire nation

loyalty to a party that helps shape how members see the world, define problems, and identify appropriate solutions

the ideological distance between the parties and the ideological homogeneity within them

a commitment to party so strong it can transcend other commitments

the voters in a state or district

a congressional work to advance the issues and ideological preferences of constituents

congressional work to secure projects, services, and funds for the represented district

public works projects and grants for specific districts paid for by general revenues

legislative work on behalf of individual constituents to solve their problems with government agencies and programs

the privilege of free mail service provided to members of Congress

efforts of members of Congress to stand for American ideals or to identify with common constituency values

legislature with two chambers

a committee's investigation of the executive and of government agencies to ensure they are acting as Congress intends

a reallocation of congressional seats among the states every ten years, following the census

process of dividing states into legislative districts

redistricting to benefit a particular group

redistricting controlled by the majority party in a state's legislature, to increase the number of districts that party can expect to carry

redistricting to enhance or reduce the chances that a racial or an ethnic group will elect members to the legislature

office-seekers who base the decision to run on a rational calculation that they will be successful

the electoral edge afforded to those already in office

the added votes received by congressional candidates of winning a presidential party

the tendency for the presidential party to lose congressional seats in off-year elections

the idea that an elected body should mirror demographically the population it represents

the party with the most seats in a house of Congress

greater ideological (liberal vs. conservative) differences between the parties and increased ideological consensus within the parties

the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

the accumulation of power and authority in conjunction with the length of time spent in office

permanent committees responsible for legislation in particular policy areas

the committee that determines how and when debate on a bill will take place

committee appointed to deal with an issue or a problem not suited to a standing committee

combined House-Senate committees formed to coordinate activities and expedite legislation in a certain area

temporary committees formed to reconcile differences in House and Senate versions of a bill

informal rules that govern behavior in Congress

the slate proposals and issues that representatives think it worthwhile to consider and act on

practice of legislators becoming experts and taking leadership roles in specific policy areas

a vote to end a Senate filibuster; requires a three-fifths majority, or 60 votes

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

publicly recorded votes on bills and amendments on the floor of the House or the Senate

reversal of a presidential veto by a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress

presidential authority to kill a bill submitted within ten days of the end of a legislative session by not signing it