chapter 11 Flashcards
A lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts
bicameral legislature
An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debates
closed rule
Prevents Filibustering and ends debates in Senate by a 3/5 vote by states
cloture rule
Committee in each party that assigns Positions and Memberships
committee on committee
Expression of opinion without the force of law that requires the approval of Both house, but not the Presidents
concurrent resolution
Association or members of Congress based on party, interest, or social groups
congressional caucus
Alliance between republican & Consecutive democrats
Conservative Coalition
Petition to pry a bill from a committee and bring it to the floor for consideration
discharge petition
Tactic for delaying or obstructing legislation by making long speeches
filibuster
Committee for the House of Representatives that discuss bills before gong to the main house
House Rules Committee
Congressional Committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership drawn from Both Houses
joint committee
Speakers Top Assistant whose job is to help plan the Majority Partys legislature program, and to steer bills through the house
Majority Leader
Districts in which Election are won by a small margin (Around 55%
marginal districts
Process in which the US Congress debates, amends, and rewrites proposed legislation
Markup
Term used before the ratification of the 17th Amendment that described the US Senate. It consisted of rich citizens who bought their way into the House.
Millionaires Club
Legislative Leader elected by party Members holding a minority of seats in the House or Senate
minority leader
Congressional Process whereby a bill may be referred to several commmittees
multiple referral
A closed meeting of a party’s House or Senate members
party caucus
The Tendency of the Democratic Party to take more Liberal Positions and the Republican Party to take more Conservative Positions on Key Issues
party polarization
a roll-call vote in the House or Senate in which at least 50 percent of the members of one party take a particular position and are opposed by at least 50 percent of the members of the other party.`
party vote
Member who enforces or threatens party members to ensure they vote on an issue
party whip
Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes
pork barrel legislation
Legislative Bill that deals with only specific, private, personal, or local matters
private bill
Legislative Bill that deals with matters of general concern
Public Bill
An order from the house rules committee that permits certain kinds of amendments but not others to be made into a bill on the floor
restrictive rule
A clause that is attached to a legislative bill
riders
Districts in which incumbents win by margins of 55% or more
safe districts
years of service, which is used as a consideration for assigning committee members
seniority
Legislation that is sent to the first committee and then to an other
Sequential Referall
a committee that decides on the priorities or order of business of an organization
steering committee
