Ch 11 Congress

Question 1

Vocabulary:

Bicameral Legislature

Answer 1

A lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts

Question 2

V: Bill

Answer 2

A formally proposed law in the House or Senate

Question 3

V: Concurrent Resolution

Answer 3

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

Question 4

V: Congress

Answer 4

Term referring to both the Senate and House of Representatives collectively or to just the House
(i.e. “Congress and the Senate)

Question 4

V: Constituents

Answer 4

Voters represented by a particular representative or senator

Question 5

V:

House of Representatives

Answer 5

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

Question 6

V: Franking Privilege

Answer 6

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

Question 7

V: Impeachment

Answer 7

Power reserved to the House of Representatives for the purpose of drawing up charges against a political figure

Question 8

V: Iron Triangle

Answer 8

A close relationship between a government agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group

Question 9

V: Joint Committee

Answer 9

A temporary committee on which both representatives and senators serve

Question 10

V: Joint Resolution

Answer 10

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

Question 11

V: Override

Answer 11

When the House and/or the Senate votes to pass a bill over a president’s veto; requires a 2/3 in both houses

Question 12

V: Private Bill

Answer 12

A legislative bill that deals with specific, private, personal or local matter, like a bill pertaining to and individual becoming a naturalized citizen

Question 13

V: Public Bill

Answer 13

A legislative bill that deals with matters of general concern, like defense expenditures

Question 14

V: Resolution

Answer 14

A formal motion that may or may not have legal binding adopted by the House or Senate, or both

Question 15

V: Revenue Bill

Answer 15

A bill concerning the raising or spending of money; all such bills must originate in the House of Representatives

Question 16

V: Senate

Answer 16

Half of the legislative branch of the United States government comprising equal representation per state
( 2 members per state, 100 members

Question 17

V: Simple Resolution

Answer 17

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

Question 18

V: Amendment

Answer 18

A formal addition or change to a bill under consideration

Question 19

V: Appropriations Bill

Answer 19

Any piece of legislation involving the funding of a particular program or government agency

Question 20

V: Caucus

Answer 20

Meeting or organization of particular members of a political party in the House or Senate
(i.e. Congressional Black Caucus or Congressional Progressive Caucus)

Question 21

V: Closed Rule

Answer 21

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

Question 22

V: Committee Chair

Answer 22

The head of a committee appointed by the Speaker of the House
(always of the majority party)

Question 23

V:

Committee of the Whole

Answer 23

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.

Question 24

V: Delegate (Representational) Model of Representation

Answer 24

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

Question 25

V: Discharge Petition

Answer 25

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

Question 26

V: Earmarks

Answer 26

A legislative provision that directs approved funds to be spend on certain projects, or that directs specific exemptions from taxes or mandated fees

Question 27

V: Hopper

Answer 27

A box in which a bill to be considered by the legislation is dropped

Question 28

V: House Appropriations Committee

Answer 28

Powerful House standing committee that oversees the allocation of funds to government agencies and programs

Question 29

V: House Resolution

Answer 29

A formal motion or bill adopted by the House of Representatives

Question 30

V: House Rules Committee

Answer 30

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

Question 31

V: House Ways and Means Committee

Answer 31

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

Question 32

V: Germane Amendments

Answer 32

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

Question 33

V: Majority Leader

Answer 33

The legislative leader elected by party members holding a majority of seats in the House of Representatives or Senate

Question 34

V: Marginal Seat

Answer 34

A seat in the House of Representatives that is not considered to be safe for the incumbent in the next election (swing seat)

Question 35

V: Minority Leader

Answer 35

A legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority of seats in the House of Representatives or the Senate

Question 36

V: Motion to Recommit

With/Without Instructions

Answer 36

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

Question 37

V: Multiple Referral

Answer 37

A congressional process in which a bill may be referred to several committees that consider it simultaneously in whole or in part.

Question 38

V: Open Rule

Answer 38

An order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor

Question 39

V: Oversight

Answer 39

Review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implantation by Congress. This includes authorization.

Question 40

V: Cloture

Answer 40

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)

Question 41

V: Double Tracking

Answer 41

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

Question 42

V: Filibuster

(Senate Rule 22)

Answer 42

An attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely, preventing the Senate from taking action on the bill