Ch 11 Congress Flashcards
Vocabulary:
Bicameral Legislature
A lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts
V: Bill
A formally proposed law in the House or Senate
V: Concurrent Resolution
A resolution adopted by both houses of a bicameral legislature that does not have the force of law and does not require the signature of the chief executive
V: Congress
Term referring to both the Senate and House of Representatives collectively or to just the House
(i.e. “Congress and the Senate)
V: Constituents
Voters represented by a particular representative or senator
V:
House of Representatives
Half of the legislative branch of the United States government comprising proportional representation per state based on population
(435 members); sometimes called the Lower House
V: Franking Privilege
The right of members of Congress to send mail to their constituents at the government’s expense. Their signature is placed on the corner of the envelope where the stamp would usually be placed
V: Impeachment
Power reserved to the House of Representatives for the purpose of drawing up charges against a political figure
V: Iron Triangle
A close relationship between a government agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group
V: Joint Committee
A temporary committee on which both representatives and senators serve
V: Joint Resolution
A formal expression of Congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of Congress and by the President. Proposing constitutional amendment do not need to be signed by the president
V: Override
When the House and/or the Senate votes to pass a bill over a president’s veto; requires a 2/3 in both houses
V: Private Bill
A legislative bill that deals with specific, private, personal or local matter, like a bill pertaining to and individual becoming a naturalized citizen
V: Public Bill
A legislative bill that deals with matters of general concern, like defense expenditures
V: Resolution
A formal motion that may or may not have legal binding adopted by the House or Senate, or both
V: Revenue Bill
A bill concerning the raising or spending of money; all such bills must originate in the House of Representatives
V: Senate
Half of the legislative branch of the United States government comprising equal representation per state
( 2 members per state, 100 members
V: Simple Resolution
A legislative proposal that does not require action from the president that is used by a single house to take action affecting its own procedure
V: Amendment
A formal addition or change to a bill under consideration
V: Appropriations Bill
Any piece of legislation involving the funding of a particular program or government agency
V: Caucus
Meeting or organization of particular members of a political party in the House or Senate
(i.e. Congressional Black Caucus or Congressional Progressive Caucus)
V: Closed Rule
A rule set by the Rules Committee before a bill comes to the House of Representatives that states no additional amendments or substitutes to the bill may be offered from the floor
V: Committee Chair
The head of a committee appointed by the Speaker of the House
(always of the majority party)
V:
Committee of the Whole
A parliamentary device in which the House of Representatives is considered one large congressional committee but only requires 100 members to be present. This allows bills and resolutions to be considered without adhering to the formal House rules requiring a quorum of 218. Most bills are considered by the Committee of the Whole before they go before the full House for debate and vote.
V: Delegate (Representational) Model of Representation
A model of representative democracy in which the representatives sees her or his role as carrying out the will of the people who elected her or him
V: Discharge Petition
A device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had a bill for 30 days, may petition to have it brought to the floor. If a majority of members agree, the bill is discharged for the committee
V: Earmarks
A legislative provision that directs approved funds to be spend on certain projects, or that directs specific exemptions from taxes or mandated fees
V: Hopper
A box in which a bill to be considered by the legislation is dropped
V: House Appropriations Committee
Powerful House standing committee that oversees the allocation of funds to government agencies and programs
V: House Resolution
A formal motion or bill adopted by the House of Representatives
V: House Rules Committee
A special standing committee of the House of Representatives that has the authority to establish rules or methods for expediting legislative action, usually determining the date a bill is presented for consideration
V: House Ways and Means Committee
Considered to be the most powerful standing committee of the House of Representatives; makes recommendations to the House on all bills that would raise revenue
V: Germane Amendments
Changes to bills on the floor of the House that must relate directly to the bill being considered. Non-germane amendments are typically not permitted in the house
V: Majority Leader
The legislative leader elected by party members holding a majority of seats in the House of Representatives or Senate
V: Marginal Seat
A seat in the House of Representatives that is not considered to be safe for the incumbent in the next election (swing seat)
V: Minority Leader
A legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority of seats in the House of Representatives or the Senate
V: Motion to Recommit
With/Without Instructions
A formal motion in the House to send a bill back to the committee. With instructions means that the committee must reconsider the bill under a new set of guidelines. Without instructions means the committee must reconsider the bill under any circumstances
V: Multiple Referral
A congressional process in which a bill may be referred to several committees that consider it simultaneously in whole or in part.
V: Open Rule
An order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor
V: Oversight
Review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implantation by Congress. This includes authorization.
V: Cloture
Procedure in which debate is ended and immediate vote is taken on the matter. To succeed in ending debate ( Filibuster), a 3/5 majority
(60 senators must vote in favor of a cloture)
V: Double Tracking
A procedure to keep the Senate going during a filibuster, whereby disputed bill is temporarily shelved so that the Senate can go on with other business
V: Filibuster
(Senate Rule 22)
An attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely, preventing the Senate from taking action on the bill
