Chapter 7 Flashcards
simple resolution
covers matters affecting only one house of Congress and is passed by that house alone
joint resolutions (3)
- may correct an error in an earlier law
- appropriate money for a special purpose
- propose constitutional amendments
concurrent resolutions
covers matters requiring the action of the House and Senate, but on which a law isn’t needed
rider
a provision on a subject other than the one covered in the bill
how bills are introduced in the House
a rep drops the bill into the hopper, a box near the clerk’s desk
how bills are introduced in the Senate
the presiding officer must first recognize the senator who then formally presented the bill
hearing
the committee listens to testimony from witnesses who may include experts on the subject of the bill
markup session
decide what changes, if any, to make the bill
conferees
come from House or Senate and were commit members that handled the bill originally
conference report
a majority of the members of the conference committee from each house drafts the final bill
pocket veto
president can kill a bill passed during the last 10 days Congress is in session by refusing to act on it
line item veto
allows a leader to reject specific line of a bill while accepting the main body of the legislation
Clinton v. City of New York
ruled line item veto unconstitutional
Ways and Means Committee
decides whether to go along with presidential requests for tax cuts or increases
closed value
forbids members to offer any amendments to a bill from the floor
authorization bill
sets up a federal program and specifics how much money may be appropriated for that program
appropriates bill
provides the money needed to carry out the many laws Congress has passed
uncontrollables
the gov’t is legally committed to spend this money
entitlements
social programs that continue from one year to the next
Influences on Lawmakers (6)
- personality
- congressional staff members
- concerns of voters
- own political parties
- president
- special interest groups
Topics Democrats vote in favor for (3)
- social welfare programs
- job programs through public works
- tax laws that help people with lower income
gov’t regulation of business
Topics Republicans vote in favor for (4)
- lower taxes
- less gov’t spending
- local and state rather than federal solutions to problems
- support business
- less gov’t involvement
lobbyists
convince members of Congress to support policies favored by the groups they represent
lobbying
lobbyists’ effort to persuade officials to support their point of view
PAC
uses funds to support lawmakers who favor their positions on issues
caseworkers
handle requests for help
Purposes of Casework (3)
- help lawmakers get reelected
- Congress can oversee executive branch
- average citizen to cope with the huge national gov’t
pork barrel legislation
a member of Congress takes money from the federal treasury to use for a federal project for his or her district
logrolling
two or more lawmakers agree to support each other’s bills
