Macgruder Chapter 10+12 Flashcards
bicameral
an adjective describing a legislative body composed of two chambers
term
two year period of time during which congress meets
session
period of time during which, each year, Congress assembles and conducts business
conveve
to begin a new session of Congress
adjourn
suspend, as in a session of congress
recess
a time when both houses of Congress temporarily suspend business
prorogue
adjourn, as in a legislative session
special session
an extraordinary session of a legislative body, called to deal with an emergency situation
apportion
distribute, as in seats in a legislative body
reapportion
redistribute seats in a legislative body every ten years
off-year elections
congressional election that occurs between presidential election years
single-member district
electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office
at-large election
election of an officeholder by the voters of an entire government unit (state or country) rather than the voters of a district or subdivision
gerrymandering
drawing electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group
incumbent
current office holder
continuous body
governing unit (US senate) whose seats are never all up for election at the same time
constituency
the people and interests than an elected official represents
delegate
representatives, members of congress who cast votes based on the wishes of their constituents
Trustees
law maker who votes based on his or her conscience and judgement, not the views of his or her constituents
Partisan
law maker who owes their 1st allegiance to political party and votes according to party laws
politico
law maker who attempts to balance basic elements of trustee, delegate, and partisan roles
bill
proposed law presented to a legislative body for consideration
floor consideration
the process by which proposed laws are considered and acted upon by the full membership of the house or senate
oversight function
review by legislative committees of the policies and programs of the executive branch
franking privlege
benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free
speaker of the house
presiding officer of the House of Representatives, chosen by and from majority party in House
President of the senate
the presiding officer of a senate; in congress; the vice president of the united states; in a State’s legislature, either the lieutenant governor or a senator
President Pro Tempore
member of US senate chosen to preside in absence of president of the senate
party caucus
closed meeting of a party’s House or Senate members; also called party conference
floor leaders
members of the house and senate picked by their parties to carry out party decisions and steer legislation action to meet party goals
majority leader
floor leader of the party that holds the majority of seats in each house of congress
minority leader
floor leader of the party that holds the minority of seats in each house of congress
whips
assistants to the floor leaders in the House and Senate, responsible for monitoring and marshaling votes
committee chairmen
member who heads a standing committee in a legislative body
seniority rule
unwritten rule in both houses of congress, reserves top posts in each chamber for members with longest record of service
standing committee
permanent committee in a legislative body to which bills in a specified subject-matter area are referred
subcommittee
division of existing committee that is formed to address specific issues
select committee
legislative committee created for a limited time and for a specific purpose
joint committee
legislative committee composed of members of both houses
conference committee
temporary join committee created to reconcile any differences between the two housess’ versions of a bill
joint resolution
proposal for action that has the force of law when passed
concurrent resolution
statement of position on an issue used by the House and Senate acting jointly; does not have force of law, does not require Presidential signiture
resolution
a measure relating to the business of either house, or expressing an opinion; doesn’t have force of law, doesn’t require president signiture
rider
unpopular provision added to an important bill certain to pass so it will ride through the legislative process
pigeonholed
expression describing how most bills introduced in congress are put away, never to be acting upon
discharge petition
procedure enabling members to force a pigeonholed bill onto the floor for consideration
quorum
least number of members who must be present for a legislative body to conduct business
engross
print a bill in its final form
filibuster
various tactics (usually long speeches) aimed at defeating a bill in a legislative body by preventing a final vote
cloture
procedure that may be used to limit or end floor debate in legislative body
veto
chief executive power to reject a bill passed by a legislature
pocket veto
type of veto a chief executive may use after a legislative body has adjourned, when chief executive does not sign or reject a bill within the allotted time period
