Chapter 13 Vocabulary Terms D

Question 1

A lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts.

Answer 1

Bicameral Legislature

Question 2

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

Answer 2

Filibuster

Question 3

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

Answer 3

Marginal Districts

Question 4

Districts in which incumbents win by margins of 55 percent or more.

Answer 4

Safe Districts

Question 5

An alliance between Republican and conservative Democrats.

Answer 5

Conservative Coalition

Question 6

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

Answer 6

Majority Leader

Question 7

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

Answer 7

Minority Leader

Question 8

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

Answer 8

Whip

Question 9

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

Answer 9

Party Polarization

Question 10

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

Answer 10

Caucus

Question 11

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

Answer 11

Standing Committees

Question 12

Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose.

Answer 12

Select Committees

Question 13

Committees on which both senators and representatives serve.

Answer 13

Joint Committees

Question 14

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

Answer 14

Conference Committees

Question 15

A legislative bill that deals with matters of general concern.

Answer 15

Public Bill

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Private Bill

Question 17

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

Answer 17

Simple Resolution

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Concurrent Resolution

Question 19

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.

Answer 19

Joint Resolution

Question 20

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

Answer 20

Multiple Referral

Question 21

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

Answer 21

Sequential Referral

Question 22

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

Answer 22

Discharge Petition

Question 23

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

Answer 23

Closed Rule

Question 24

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

Answer 24

Open Rule

Question 25

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.

Answer 25

Restrictive Rule

Question 26

The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress.

Answer 26

Quorum

Question 27

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

Answer 27

Quorum Call

Question 28

A rule used by the Senate to end or limit debate.

Answer 28

Cloture Rule

Question 29

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.

Answer 29

Double-tracking

Question 30

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

Answer 30

Voice Vote

Question 31

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

Answer 31

Division Vote

Question 32

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

Answer 32

Teller Vote

Question 33

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

Answer 33

Roll-call Vote

Question 34

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

Answer 34

Pork-barrel Legislation

Question 35

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

Answer 35

Franking Privilege