Chapter 13 Flashcards
Bicameral legislator
A lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts
Filibuster
An attempt to defeat a bill in the senate by talking indefinitely, thus preventing the senate from taking action on the bill
Marginal districts
Political districts in which candidates elected to the house of Representiitves win in close elections, typically less than 55 percent of the vote
Safe districts
Districts in which incumbents win by margins of 55 percent or more
Conservative coaltion
An alliance between republican and conservative democrats
Majority leader
The legislative leader elected by party members holding majority seats in the house or senat
Minority leader
By holding minority of seats in senate
Whip
Helps party leaders stay informed of party member thoughts
Speaker
The presiding officer of the house of Representiitves and th leader of his or her party in the house
Caucus
An association of congressional members created to advance a political ideology a political ideology or a regional ethnic of economic interest
Standing committee
Permentaly established legislative committes that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area
Select committees
Congressional committees appointed for a limited time or purpose
Joint committee
Committes on which both senators and representatives serve
Conference committee
Joint committee appointed to resolve the difference in the Senate and the house’s version of the same bill
Partisan polarization
A vote on which a majority of democratic legislators oppose a ,adroitly of republican legislators
Simple resolution
An expression of opinion in these or senate to settle procedural matters in either body
Concurrent resolution
An expression of opinion without the force of law that requires the approval of house and senate but not the president
Joint resolution
Must be approved by president, senate, and the house to be approved
Discharge petition
A device where any member of the house after a committee has had a bill for thirty days can bring it to the floor
Restrictive
An order from the house rules committee that permits certain kinds of amendments but not other made into a bill on the floor
Closed rule
An order from the house rules committee that sets a time limit on debate; forbids a bill to be amended on the floor
Open rule
An order from the house rules committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor.
Quorum
The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in congress
Riders
Amendments on matters unrelated to a bill that are added to an important bill so they will ride the passage through congress. When a bill has many riders it is called a Christmas tree bill
Cloture rule
A rule used by the senate to end or limit debate
Cloture rule
A rule used by senate end or limit debate
Double tracking
A procedure to keep the senate going during a filibuster in which disputed bill is shelved temporarily so that the senate an go on with other business
Voice vote,
A comngressional voting procedure in which members say yay or nay for agree or disagree, permitting members to vote quickly and anon
Division vote
A congressional voting procedure in which members stand and are counted
Roll call vote
A congressional voting procedure that consist of members saying yay or nay when their name is called
Teller vote
A congressional voting in which members pass through two tellers and say yay or nay in passing
Veto
Literally “I forbid” it refers to the power of a president to disapprove of a bill. It may be overridden with 2/3 congressional vote
Divided government
One party controls White House while another party controls congress
Unified government
The same party is in control
Earmarks
Hidden congressional provisions that direct the federal government to fin specific projects or that exempt specific persons or groups from paying specific federal taxes or fees
Pork barrel legislation
Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituttnts in several districts of states in hope of winning their votes in return
Franking privilege
The Abbott of members to mail letters to their constituttnts free of charge by substituting their facsimile signature for postage
