Congress Vocab Flashcards
Incumbents
People who hold seats in office and must run for re-election to keep their seat
Casework
Working to achieve the desires of constituents, doing favors for the people you represent
Pork barrel
Projects, grants, and contracts that are available for local use from the federal government
Bicameral Legislature
The division of legislature into two houses (like our Congress)
House Rules Committee
A committee that reviews bills and gives them a “rule”, which schedules it, specifies its amendments, and allocates its debate time before it reaches the house floor
Filibuster
A senate strategy that sends legislation into unlimited debate, preventing it from being voted on
Speaker of the House
The most important member of the house, selected by a majority. Holds legislative power and is third in line for presidency
Whips
People who work with majority and minority leaders to count votes and report views/complaints of the party
Standing committees
Committees within congress that handle bills in different policy areas
Joint Commitees
Committees in Congress that work on the economy and taxation
Conference Committees
Committees formed when house and senate pass similar bills to compromise the bill
Select Committees
Temporary committees created for specific purposes
Legislative Oversight
The monitoring of executive branch policy from the legislative branch
Committee chairs
Important members of committees that schedule hearings, hire staff, and manage bills
Each part has a…
Minority and Majority Leader
Sonority System
The system of giving chairs to people who have been in a committee for the longest
Congressional Caucus
A group of congress members with similar beliefs, essentially a faction within congress
Bill
A proposition to pass a law, can be drafted by anyone but only officially submitted by House or Senate
Congressional Budget Office
An office that analyzes the economy and budgets to support congress
Delegate Model of Representation
Model where people elect delegates to represent their direct needs
Trustee Model Of Representation
Model where representatives/senators follow their own belief rather than people’s — people put their trust on a person
Politico Model of Representation
A hybrid of both models, representatives/senate act as either delegate or trustee based on the situation
