The Legislative Branch Flashcards
Appropriation
money that Congress has allocated to be spent.
Appropriations Committee
congressional committee that deals with federal spending.
Bill
proposed law under consideration by a legislature.
Casework
personal work done by a member of Congress for his constituents.
Closed Rule
Rules Committee rule that bans amendments to a bill.
Cloture
Senate motion to end a filibuster that requires a 3/5 vote.
Conference Committee
works out a compromise between differing House-Senate versions of a bill.
Constituents
the people who are represented by elected officials.
Discharge petition
a motion to force a bill to the House floor that has been bottled up in committee.
Filibuster
nonstop Senate debate that prevents a bill from coming to a vote.
Franking Privilege
allows members of Congress to send mail postage free
Gerrymandering
redrawing district lines to favor one party at the expense of the other.
Impeachment
House action that formally charges official with wrongdoing. Conviction requires 2/3 vote in the Senate.
Incumbency Effect
The tendency of those already holding office to win reelection.
Legislative Oversight
congressional monitoring of the executive branch to ensure that the latter complies with the law.
Legislative Veto
process in which Congress overturned rules and regulations proposed by agencies. Struck down in 1983.
Lobbying
act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government
Logrolling
when two members of Congress agree to vote for each other’s bill.
Mark Up
committee action to amend a proposed bill
Open Rule
House Rules Committee rule that allows amendments to a bill.
Pork Barrel
wasteful congressional spending, e.g. funding for a Lawrence Welk museum in North Dakota.
Reapportionment
reallocation of House seats on the basis of changes in state populations, as determined by the census.
Redistricting
redrawing of congressional district boundaries by the party in power of the state legislature.
Rider
amendment to a bill that has little to do with that bill. Also known as a nongermane amendment.
Rules Committee
the “traffic cop” of the House that sets the legislative calendar and issues rules for debate on a bill.
Senatorial Courtesy
tradition in which the President consults with the senators within a state in which an appointment is to be made.
Seniority System
tradition in which the Senator from the majority party with the most years of service on a committee becomes the chairman of that committee.
Standing Committee
the permanent congressional committees that handle legislation.
Sunset Laws
laws that automatically expire after a given time.
Ways and Means Committee
House committee that handles tax bills.
