Quiz 3 Key Terms Flashcards
A person who lives in an electoral district and is represented by an elected official
Constituent
Publicly funded projects secured by legislators to benefit their home districts or states
Pork
A small legislative committee within a larger, standing committee; do much of the work of reviewing legislation
Subcommittee
A temporary committee formed either by the house or debate to investigate a specific problem
Special/select committee
A permanent committee of legislators from both the house and senate that deals with matters of common interest such as economic policy
Joint committee
A temporary committee of legislators from both house and senate created to work our differences in bills passed by both chambers
Conference committee
A formal charge of wrongdoing against the president or other public official, first step in removal from office
Impeachment
A formal approval of an agreement, treaty or constitution
Ratification
Funds allocated by a legislature for a stated purpose as part of a budget or spending bill
Appropriations
An official statement issued by both houses of congress, once signed by the president, it has the force of law
Joint resolution
Personal services provided by members of Congress to their constituents, often to help their constituents with problems they are having with the federal bureaucracy
Casework
A high school junior who works as a messenger and errand-runner in the House or Senate
Congressional page
The tradition that a congressional committee members seniority, the number of years of unbroken service in a committee, determined that members position on the committee
Seniority rule
A meeting of lawmakers to hear testimony and gather information on a proposed piece of legislation
Legislative hearing
A meeting of a legislative committee at which members amend a bill before putting it to a vote
Markup session
A condition placed on a bill by the house rules committee that severely limits floor debates and amendments, allows bill to move through house quickly with few changes
Closed rule
A condition placed on a bill by the house rules committee that permits floor debate and amendments, allows opponents to change a bill or even kill it
Open rule
The power of the house speaker f senate majority leader to grant permission to speak on the house or senate floor, no member may address the chamber without being recognized by the leader
Power of recognition
The tactic of using endless speeches on the senate floor to delay or prevent passage of legislation, not permitted in the house
Filibuster
The process used to end a filibuster in the senate, needs at least 60 votes
Cloture
A number of votes greater than a simple majority, sometimes required to pass a particular notion or proposal
Supermajority
Request by senator to delay action on a bill
Hold
An amendment attached to a bill that has little or no relation to the subject of the bill
Rider
A bill with so many riders attached to it that it seems to offer something for everyone
Christmas tree bill
A method of voting in congress in which members call out their vote as a group, individual votes are not recorded
Voice vote
A method of voting in congress in which members stand up as a group, individual votes are not recorded
Standing vote
A method of voting in congress in which members register their vote individually
Roll call vote
To choose not to cast a vote on a bill
Abstain
The trading of votes among legislators to ensure the passage of various bills in which they have a special interest
Logrolling
The members of a congressional conference committee
Conferees
A direct vote on a bill in the full house or senate, must be approved or rejected as is, with no further amendments or delays
Up or down vote
What benefits the incumbents use to keep in touch with their voters and districts
Office resources
Individuals and organizations give money in larger amounts to incumbents than to challengers
Campaign funds
Incumbents can point to federally funded projects that they have won for their districts (use their “pork”)
Bragging rights
Has more power than anyone else in congress, nominated by majority party, presides over the house, assigns bills to committees and appoints members to special committees and commissions
Speaker of the house
Majority party’s second in command (under speaker of house)
Majority leader
Minority party’s overall leader and main strategist
Minority leader
Assistant floor leaders responsible for keeping the leadership informed and persuading party members to vote along party lines
Majority and minority whips
Official presiding officer of this body, Vice President of US usually only used to break tie vote
President of the senate
Senior senator of the majority party, may preside over senate sessions when the VP is not there “For the time being”
President of the senate pro tempore
Permanent committee of legislators from either house or senate responsible for specific policy areas, such as foreign affairs or agriculture
Standing committees
Case where elastic cause was stretched, whether congress had exceed it’s authority to control interstate commerce when it passed violence against women act
United States vs Morrison
Congress oversees executive agencies to make sure they carry out the laws it has passed
Oversight
Senate must confirm or approve key officials appointed by the president
Confirmation
Voting to reverse a presidents veto of legislation
Override
Proposal to change to constitution
Amendment
President Johnson’s ability to convince others to see things his way by using tactics such as jabbing fingers and leaning on others
The johnson treatment
