18 concepts the spec wants you to use precisely, drawn from the Panther database. Read them, then test yourself.
In test mode, tap a concept to reveal its definition.
The concepts
Congressional caucuses(tap to reveal)- Groups of members of Congress who share a particular interest or political identity and meet to coordinate their work.
Congressional oversight(tap to reveal)- The power of Congress to monitor, investigate, and check the actions and spending of the executive branch.
Advice and consent(tap to reveal)- The Senate's power to approve or reject presidential nominations for cabinet positions, judges, and other senior officials.
Bicameralism(tap to reveal)- A legislature divided into two chambers, the US Senate and House of Representatives, each with different powers, composition, and constituencies.
Cloture(tap to reveal)- A parliamentary procedure used in the Senate to end debate and force a vote, requiring 60 votes to invoke.
Committee system(tap to reveal)- The formal organization of Congress into specialized committees responsible for drafting, debating, and advancing legislation in their policy areas.
Conference committees(tap to reveal)- Joint committees of House and Senate members created to resolve differences between versions of the same bill passed by each chamber.
Divided government (US)(tap to reveal)- When the President is from a different party to the majority in one or both chambers of Congress, making it much harder to pass laws.
Filibuster(tap to reveal)- A tactic in the US Senate where a senator gives a very long speech to delay or prevent a vote on legislation.
Gerrymandering(tap to reveal)- The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one party or disadvantage a particular group, affecting election outcomes.
Gridlock(tap to reveal)- When the US political system is so divided between President and Congress that little or no major legislation can be passed.
Impeachment(tap to reveal)- The process by which Congress charges a federal official with wrongdoing, with the House impeaching and the Senate conducting a trial.
Incumbency(tap to reveal)- The advantage held by the person already in office during an election: they are already known to voters and have established funding networks.
Logrolling(tap to reveal)- A legislative practice where members exchange support for each other's bills to ensure mutual passage, often trading votes for local benefits.
Mid-term elections(tap to reveal)- Congressional elections held two years into a presidential term, which often act as a public verdict on the President's performance.
Oversight (US)(tap to reveal)- The power of Congress to monitor, investigate, and hold accountable the executive branch and its agencies.
Partisan voting(tap to reveal)- Voting patterns where members predominantly support their own party's positions rather than voting individually on the merits of issues.
Partisanship(tap to reveal)- When politicians vote consistently along strict party lines rather than making independent judgements, making compromise very difficult.