Unit 5 Flashcards
17th amendment
the process for electing senators
appropriations
Allotted congressional seats to each state following the decennial census according to their proportion of the population
conference committee
special joint committee created to reconcile differences in bills passed by the house and senate
caucuses
a group of congress members sharing some interest or characteristics
casework
specifically helping constituents get what they think they have a right too
“christmas-tree bill”
informal nomenclature for a bill on the Senate floor that attracts many, often unrelated, floor amendments. The amendments which adorn the bill may provide special benefits to various groups or interests.
incumbency
already holding an office
joint committee
standing committee that includes members from both houses to conduct investigations or special studies
constituents
voting members of a community or organization and having the power to appoint or elect
“elastic clause”
a statement in the U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 8) granting Congress the power to pass all laws necessary and proper for carrying out the enumerated list of powers
markup session
a session in which committee members offer changes to a bill before it goes to the floor
franking privilege
The privilege of sending certain matter through the public mails without payment of postage
Germane amendments
an amendment to a bill must be strictly relevant to the bill
president pro tempore
the official chair of the senate; usually the most senior member of the majority party
select committee
temporary committee appointed for a specific purpose, ex. Watergate, Benghazi
senatorial courtesy
a process by which presidents, when selecting district court judges, defer to the senators in whose state the vacancy occurs
speaker of the house
the chamber’s most powerful position, usually a member of the majority party
standing committee
committee to which proposed bills are referred; continues fro one congress to the next; handle bills in different policy areas, ex. education
malapportionment
describes a distribution of representatives within a legislative body that is unequal or unfair
oversight
The review, monitoring and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities and policy implementation
party whips
party leader who keeps close contact with all members of the party, takes vote counts on key legislation, prepares summaries of bills and acts as a communications link within a party
pigeonholing
to put something off for a while
revenue bills
a bill (as for imposing a tax) for raising money for any public purpose. The Constitution requires all bills for raising revenue to originate in the HoR
seniority system
describes the practice of granting privileges to members of Congress (Senators and Representatives) who have served the longest
cloture
a motion generally used in the senate to end a filibuster; requires a 3/5 vote of the full senate; if invoked, further debate is limited to 30 hours
bicameral
a two house legislature
filibuster
an informal term for extended debate or other procedures used to prevent a vote on a bill in the senate
gerrymandering
the drawing of congressional districts to produce a certain electoral outcome without regard to the shape of the district
hold
a tactic by which a senator asks to be informed before a bill is brought to the floor to signal leadership that a member may have objections and should be consulted before continuing
joint committee
standing committee that includes members from both houses of congress to conduct investigations or special studies
logrolling
vote trading; voting to support a colleague’s bill in return for a promise of future support
majority leader
the head of the party controlling the most seats
minority leader
the head of the party controlling the second most seats
pork barrel legislation
legislation that allows reps to to bring money and jobs to their districts in the form of public work projects, military bases or other
trustee v. rep
voting for a trustee is voting for someone who knows better than you while voting for a rep is voting for someone who will represent you
