Chapter 4 Flashcards
Bicameral
A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses.
Conference Committee
Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.
Advice and Consent
The power of the Senate to consult and approve the president’s treaties and appointments.
Discharge Petition
Petition that, if signed by a majority of the House of Representatives’ members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.
Coalitions
Alliances of various parties.
Joint Committee
A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.
Power of the Purse
Constitutional power given to Congress to raise and spend money.
Rules Committee
A standing committee of the House of Representatives that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by the house.
Caucuses
A closed meeting of a political or legislative group to choose candidates for office or to decide issues of policy.
Select Committee
A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.
Enumerated Powers
Powers given to the national government alone.
Whip
Party leader who is the liaison between the leadership and the rank-and-file in the legislature.
Implied Powers
Powers not specifically mentioned in the Constitution.
Deficit
An excess of federal expenditures over federal revenues.
War Powers Act
Act that grants emergency executive powers to president to run war effort.
Discretionary Spending
Federal spending on programs that are controlled through the regular budget process.
Cloture Rule
Prevents filibustering (16 signatures) and ends debate in the Senate, by a 3
Mandatory Spending
Required government spending by permanent laws.
Filibuster
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.
Delegate Model
The view that an elected representative should represent the opinions of his or her constituents.
Germane
Relevant.
Gerrymandering
Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.
Hold
A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of the bill or nomination.
Politico Model
Members of Congress act as delegates or trustees depending on the issue.
Logrolling
Vote trading; voting to support a colleague’s bill in return for a promise of future support.
Racial Gerrymandering
The drawing of election districts so as to ensure that members of a certain race are a minority in the district; ruled unconstitutional in Gomillion v. Lightfoot (1960).
Omnibus Bill
One very large bill that encompasses many separate bills.
Swing District
A district where no single candidate or party has overwhelming support.
Pork Barrel Spending
A provision in a bill that benefits a specific congressional constituency.
Trustee Model
A model of representation in which a member of the House or Senate follows his or her own conscience when deciding issue positions.
Rider
A provision attached to a bill - to which it may or may not be related - in order to secure its passage or defeat.
Shaw v Reno
No racial gerrymandering.
Baker v Carr
One man, one vote.
Sponsor
A person who introduces and supports a proposal for legislation.
Unanimous Consent
An agreement by every senator to the terms of debate on a given piece of legislation.
