What term best describes the practice of distributing benefits among various congressional districts?

The term that best describes the practice of distributing benefits among various congressional districts is indeed referred to as the distributive tendency. This concept highlights how lawmakers often seek to secure government spending and resources for their constituents by emphasizing policies that allocate tangible benefits, such as funding for local projects or programs, to different areas. This practice is common in legislative processes where representatives aim to bring back resources that can help their districts, creating a sense of investment and support for their constituents.

In contrast, the other terms relate to different legislative processes. For instance, a filibuster refers to a tactic used in the Senate to prevent a vote on a bill by extending debate, thereby delaying legislative action. Logrolling, while also involving trade-offs among legislators, specifically describes the practice of reciprocal voting—when one legislator agrees to vote for a bill in exchange for another legislator's promise to support their own legislation. Cloture is a procedure used in the Senate to end a filibuster, which allows the majority to bring the debate to a close and proceed to a vote. Understanding these distinctions is essential for grasping the nuances of how government operates and how different mechanisms influence legislative outcomes.