Legistlation Flashcards
Bill
a draft of a proposed law presented to the legislature for consideration
Cloture (closer)
A procedure or action taken to end a debate (used to end a filibuster)
Who can propose/introduce a bill?
A member of The House or The Senate
List all the obstacles in a bill becoming a law.
1)The bill must be reviewed and passed by a committee
2)It must be reviewed, amended, and passed by BOTH chambers of congress
3)Must be signed by the president (who may use their presidential veto)
What is a Filibuster? Why can it only happen in the Senate?
Senators who Filibuster don’t stop talking during floor debate. They hold back the progression of a debate and force negotiation. It can only happen in the Senate because the Senate has the tradition of unlimited debate.
Lobbyists
a person who takes part in an organized attempt to influence legislators.
Senate
The upper chamber in the US bicameral legislature (consists of 2 senators from each state: total 100)
House of Representatives
The lower chamber of the US bicameral legislature (the representation from each state depends of population: total 435)
Who is the leader of the Senate and what do the do?
Vice President – President Pro tempore (Kamala Harris) Main purpose: Presides over the senate, can only vote to break a tie (generally powerless job)
Who is the leader of The House and what do the do?
Speaker- Nancy Pelosi
Main purpose: to appoint members of the Rules committee and preside over House sessions
Who is the House majority leader and what do they do?
House majority leader- Steny Hoyer Main purpose: Helps Speaker plan party strategy
Who is the House majority whip and what do they do?
House Majority Whip- James Clyburn. Main purpose: to assist house maj, link between leadership and rack and file, persuade “defectors” to vote
Who is the House minority leader and what do they do?
House minority leader-Kevin McCarthy.
Main purpose: Plans strategy to get he minorities power back, and will be become speaker if they do
Who is the House minority whip and what do they do?
House Minority Whip- Steve Scalise
Main Purpose: to assist House min
Committees
a group of people appointed for a specific function, typically consisting of members of a larger group.
Standing Committees
A committee appointed with continuing responsibility in a general issue area or field of legislative activity.
Select Committees
a small legislative committee appointed for a special purpose.
Joint Committee
A committee composed of members from both chambers.
Conference Committee
A committee composed of members from the two houses specifically appointed to reconcile the differences between House and Senate versions of a bill or bills.
Enrolled
the process of changing a bill passed by both chambers into its final format for transmission to the governor.
Engrossed
the process by which a bill is updated–that is, how adopted amendments and other changes are incorporated into a bill—as it makes its way through the Senate or House.
Presidential Option
Cause Effect
Sign and pass the bill. Bill becomes a law
Refuse to sign/veto the bill. bill is sent back to the chambers who may hold the
bill to another vote and can override the veto
Do nothing aka Pocket Veto If congress is in session: Bill becomes a law in 10 days
If congress is not in session: the bill won’t become a law
Presidential Option
Cause Effect
Sign and pass the bill. Bill becomes a law
Refuse to sign/veto the bill
bill is sent back to the chambers who may hold the bill to another vote and can override the veto
Do nothing aka Pocket Veto
If congress is in session: Bill becomes a law in 10 days
If congress is not in session: the bill won’t become a law
How many ways can the President make a law? What are they?
-They can sign a congress approved bill
-Executive Orders
How many ways can the President end a bill? What are they?
Veto and pocket veto
Who can write a bill?
Anyone
Who can propose/introduce a bill?
A member of The House or The Senate
What group discusses a bill first?
A committee
What is the difference between Floor and Committee Action?
Committee action takes place early in the bill to law process and floor action is much later when the bill is up for debate
How can Congress take decisions regarding bills out of the President’s hands?
They can override the presidential veto by holding a two-thirds vote in the Chambers.
What does it mean to table a bill?
To postpone consideration of a bill until certain amendments are made
Who sis the speaker of the house and what is their job
Nancy Pelosi
-Refers bills to relevant committee
-Appoints members of the rules committee
House majority leader
Steny Hoyer
-helps speaker to plan stratagey
House Majority Whip
James Clyburn
-Right hand man of Maj Leader
-checks who plans to vote and persuades them to vote in their favor
House Minority Leader
Kevin McCarthy
-plans minority stratagey to take back power
-will become speaker if they win
House Minority Whip
Steve Scalise
President of the Senate
VP -Kamala Harris
President Pro Tempore
Patrick Leahy
-longest serving member of the maj party
-can pass their jobs to under positions
Senate Majority leader
Charles Schumer
-pans party stratagey
-places bills on the calendar for voting
-speaks first on any bill
Senate Majority Whip
Dick Durbin
Senate Minority Leader
Mitch McConell
Senate Minority Whip
John Thune
Pork Barrel Spending
Setting side money and earmarking it for a specific purpose
-doesn’t go through typical spending authorization that others go through
-how congressmen “bring home the bacon”
-helps congressmen win re-election
