Chapter 13 Vocab Flashcards
Safe Districts
Districts in which incumbents win by margins over 55%
Conservative Coalition
An alliance between republican and conservative democrats
Majority Leader
The legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the house or the senate
Minority leader
Leader of the minority party in congress
Whip
A senator or rep who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking
Party Polarization
A vote in which a majority of democratic legislators oppose a majority of republican legislators
Caucus
An association of congress members created to advance a political ideology or a regional ethnic or economic interest.
Standing committees
Permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a subject area
Select Committees
Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose
Marginal Districts
Political districts in which candidates elected to the house win in close elections typically by less than 55%
Joint committees
Committees which have senators and reps
Conference committee
A joint committee appointed to resolve differences in the senate and house versions of the same bill
Public bill
A legislative bill that deals with matters of general concern
Private bill
A legislative bill that deals with specific private personal or local matters
Simple resolution
An expression of opinion either in the house or the senate to settle procedural matters in either body.
Concurrent resolution
An expression of opinion w/o the force of law that requires the approval of both house and senate but not the president
Joint resolution
A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses and the president; constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president
Multiple referral
A congressional process whereby a bill may be referred to several committees
Sequential referral
A congressional process by which a speaker may send a bill to a 2nd committee after the first is finished acting
Discharge petition
A device by which any member of the house, after a committee has had the bill for 30 days, may petition to have it brought to the floor
Closed rule
An order from the house rules committee that sets a time limit on debate. Forbids a bill from being amended on the floor
Open rule
An order from the house rules committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor
Restrictive rule
An order from the house rules committee that permits certain kinds of amendments but not others to be made on a bill on the floor
Quorum
The min number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in congress.
Quorum call
A roll call in either house to see wether the min number of reps are present
Cloture rule
A rule used by the senate to end or limit debate
Double tracking
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 stuff
Voice vote
A congressional voting procedure in which members shout yea in approval or nay in disapproval, permitting members to vote quickly (or anonymously)
Division vote
A congressional voting procedure in which members stand and are counted
Teller vote
A congressional voting procedure in which members pass between two tellers the yeas 1st and the nays 2nd
Roll call vote
A congressional voting procedure that consists of members answering yea or nay to their name
Pork barrel legislation
Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return
Franking privilege
The ability of members to mail letters to their constituents free of charge by substituting their facsimile signature for postage
