Ch 13 Flashcards

1
Q

Caucus

A

An association of Congress members created to advance a political ideology or a regional, ethnic, or economic interest.

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2
Q

Closed Rule

A

An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor.

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3
Q

Cloture rule

A

A rule used by the senate to limit or end debate

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4
Q

Concurrent resolution

A

An expression of opinion without the force of law that requires the approval of both the House and the Senate, but not the president.

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5
Q

conference committees

A

A joint committee appointed to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of the same bill.

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6
Q

Conservative coalition

A

An alliance between republicans and conservative democrats

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7
Q

Discharge petition

A

A device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had a bill for thirty days, may petition to have it brought to the floor.

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8
Q

Divided government

A

One party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress.

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9
Q

One party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress.

A

A congressional voting procedure in which members stand and are counted.

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10
Q

Double tracking

A

A procedure to keep the Senate going during a filibuster in which the disputed bill is shelved temporarily so that the Senate can get on with other business.

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11
Q

Earmarks

A

Hidden” congressional provisions that direct the federal government to fund specific projects or that exempt specific persons or groups from paying specific federal taxes or fees.

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12
Q

Filibuster

A

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

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13
Q

Franking privilege

A

The ability of members to mail letters to their constituents free of charge by substituting their facsimile signature for postage.

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14
Q

Joint committee

A

A committee on which both senators and representatives serve.

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15
Q

Joint resolution

A

A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of Congress and by the president; constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president.

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16
Q

Majority leader

A

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

17
Q

Marginal districts

A

Political districts in which candidates elected to the House of Representatives win in close elections, typically by less than 55 percent of the vote.

18
Q

Minority leader

A

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

19
Q

Multiple referral

A

A congressional process whereby a bill may be referred to several committees.

20
Q

Open rule

A

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

21
Q

Party polarization

A

A vote in which a majority of Democratic legislators oppose a majority of Republican legislators.

22
Q

Pork barrel legislation

A

Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return.

23
Q

Private bill

A

A legislative bill that deals with specific, private, personal or local matters.

24
Q

Public bill

A

A legislative bill that deals with matters of general concern

25
Q

Quorum

A

The minimum number of members required to be in attendance for Congress to conduct official business.

26
Q

Quorum call

A

A roll call in either house of Congress to see whether the minimum number of representatives required to conduct business is present.

27
Q

Restrictive rule

A

An order from the House Rules Committee that permits certain kinds of amendments but not others to be made to a bill on the floor.

28
Q

Roll call vote

A

A congressional procedure that consists of members answering “yea” or “nay” to their names.

29
Q

Safe districts

A

Districts in which incumbents win with margins of 55 percent or more

30
Q

Select committees

A

Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose

31
Q

Sequential referral

A

A congressional process by which a Speaker may send a bill to a second committee after the first is finished acting.

32
Q

Simple resolution

A

An expression of opinion, either in the House or Senate, to settle procedural matters in either body.

33
Q

Standing committees

A

Permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area

34
Q

Teller vote

A

A congressional voting procedure in which members pass between two tellers, the “yeas” first and the “nays” second.

35
Q

United government

A

The same part controls the White House and both parts of congress

36
Q

Voice vote

A

A congressional voting procedure in which members shout “yea” in approval or “nay” in disapproval, permitting members to vote quickly or anonymously on bills.

37
Q

Whip

A

A senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking.

38
Q

Bicameral Legislature

A

A lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts.