Bicameral legislature
A lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts
Caucus (Congressional)
An association of members of congress created to advocate a political ideology or a regional, ethnic, or economic interest
Closed rule
An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate and forbids a particular bill from being amended on the legislative floor
Cloture rule
A rule used by the senate to end or limit debate. Designed to prevent "talking a bill to death" by filibuster. For a bill to pass in the senate, 3/5 of the entire senate must vote for it
Concurrent resolution
An expression of congressional opinion without the force of law that requires the approval of both the housekeeping and procedural matters that affect both houses
Conference committee
Made up of representatives and senators appointed to resolve differences in the senate and house versions of the same piece of legislation before final passage
Congressional Budget Office
Created in 1974
Advises Congress on the likely impact of different spending programs and attempts to estimate future economic trends
Congressional Research Service
Part of the Library of Congress
Politically Neutral
Responds to requests by members of Congress for information and giving both sides arguments
Conservative coalition
An alliance between republicans and conservative democrats
Discharge petition
A device by which any member of the house,after a committee has had a bill for 30 days, may petition to have it brought to the floor
Divided Government
One party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress
Division vote (standing vote)
A congressional voting procedure in which members stand and are counted
Double tracking
A procedure to keep the senate going during a filibuster in which the disputed bill is shelved temporarily so that the senate can get on with other business
Earmarks
A provision in a law that provides a direct benefit to a client without the benefit of having been reviewed on the merits by all of congress.
Filibuster
An attempt to defeat a bill in the senate by talking it indefinitely, preventing the senate from taking action
Franking privilege
The ability of members to mail letters to their constituents free of charge by substituting their facsimile signature for postage
Government Accountability Office
A federal legislative agency that audits (investigates) other agencies of the federal government and reports it's findings to Congress (makes sure they are not spending more money than the government has appropriated for them).
Joint committee
Committees on which both representatives and senators serve
Majority leader
The legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the house or senate
Marginal District
Political districts in which candidates elected to the house of representatives win in close elections, typically less than 55%
Minority Leader
The legislative leader elected by the party members holding the minority of seats in the house or senate.
Open rule
An order from the house rules committees that permits a bill to be amended on the legislative floor
Partisan Polarization
A vote in which a majority of democratic legislators oppose a majority of republican legislators
Pork-Barrel Legislation
Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in hope of winning their votes in return
Quorum
The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in congress
Restrictive rule
An order from the house rules committee that permits certain kinds of amendments but not others to be made into a bill on the legislative floor
Rider
Unrelated amendments added to the bill
Roll-call vote
A congressional voting procedure that consists of members answering "yea" or "nay" to their names
Rules Committee
A committee of the house of representatives responsible for a specific area of policy, determining under what rules other bills will come to the floor
Safe district
Districts in which incumbents win by margins of 55% or more
Select committees
Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose
Simple resolution
An expression of opinion either in the House of Representatives or senate to settle housekeeping or procedural matters in either body
Speaker of the House
The presiding officer in the House and the leader of his party in the house.
Standing committees
Permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain area
Teller vote
A congressional voting procedure in which members pass between two tellers that "yeas" first and then "Nays
Unified Government
The same party controls the White House and both houses of Congress
Voice vote
A congressional voting procedure in which members shout yay in approval or nay and disapproval;allows members to vote quickly
Whip
A senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what the party members are thinking
Joint resolution
If formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of Congress and the president; constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president.
Veto
Literally, "I forbid": it refers to the power of a president to disapprove a bill; it may be overridden by 2/3 vote of each house of Congress
Party Vote
At least 50% of the Democrats vote together against at least 50% of the Republicans. The strict view is 90% together