Ch 6

Question 1

Bill

Answer 1

A proposed law, drafted in legal language

Question 2

Discharge Petition

Answer 2

A petition that, if signed by the majority of the House of Representatives’ members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration

Question 3

Divided Government

Answer 3

Governance divided between the parties, especially when one holds the presidency and the other controls one or both houses of Congress

Question 4

Filibuster

Answer 4

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue

Question 5

Gerrymandering

Answer 5

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power

Question 6

House Committee on Rules

Answer 6

Influential “Rules Committee”
determines the scheduling and conditions, such as length of debate and type of allowable amendments, for all bills in the House of Representatives (but not in the Senate, where debate is less regulated)

Question 7

Joint Committee

Answer 7

A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations

Question 8

Logrolling

Answer 8

An agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each other’s bills

Question 9

Markup

Answer 9

A session where the bill can be edited before it is sent to be debated

Question 10

President pro tempore

Answer 10

The member of the Senate that presides when the Vice President is not available

Question 11

Reconciliation

Answer 11

A process where controversial issues relating to the budget are considered

Question 12

Select Committee

Answer 12

A type of congressional committee created for specific current issues

Question 13

Senatorial Courtesy

Answer 13

A procedure where presidents allow senators to block judicial nominations

Question 14

Standing Committee

Answer 14

A type of congressional committee to which bills are sent for consideration

Question 15

Whip

Answer 15

Specific party members check-up with party members to get the members’ opinions on the legislature, writes the summaries for bills and is the lead communicator within and for the party.

Question 16

Conference Committee

Answer 16

A committee composed of members from both houses of Congress to settle a difference in the bills passed by both houses