Appropriation
a legislative grant of money to finance government program or agency
Authorization
A formal declaration by a legislative committee that a certain amount of funding may be available to an agency. Some authorizations terminate in a year; others are renewable automatically without further congressional action.
Bicameral
composed of two legislative bodies
Caucuses
meetings of party leaders to determine party policy or to choose the party's candidates for public office
Christmas Tree Bill
a bill with many riders
Closed Rule
An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor.
Open Rule
an order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor
Cloture
terminate debate by calling for a vote (3/5 of entire Senate needed)
Committee of the Whole
A device that allows the House of Representatives to conduct its business with fewer restrictions on debate and a quorum of only 100 members.
Conference Committees
Congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms. Party leadership appoints members from each house to iron out the differences and bring back a single bill.
Discharge Petition
Petition that, if signed by majority of the House of Representatives' members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.
Easley v. Cromartie
Court said it was not an unconstitutional racial gerrymander -- race is not an illegitimate consideration in redistricting as long as it is not the dominant and controlling one.
elastic clause
the part of the Constitution that permits Congress to make any laws "necessary and proper" to carrying out its powers
Filibuster
a tactic for delaying or obstructing legislation by making long speeches
Franking Privilege
benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free
Germane Amendments
technical term for "relevant." The House requires at all times unless an exception is made by special rule while the Senate does not
Gerrymandering
the drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent
Incumbency
holding a political office for which one is running
Joint Committees
Congressional committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership drawn from both houses.
Logrolling
An agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each other's bills
Majority Leader of the House
A legislative position held by an important party member in the House of Representatives. The majority leader is selected by the majority party in caucus or conference to foster cohesion among party members and to act as spokesperson for the majority part
Majority Leader of the Senate
often the most influential person in the Senate, has the right to be the first Senator heard on the floor, dtermine's the Senate agenda and usually has much to say about committee assignments
Malapportionment
drawing the boundaries of legislative districts so that they are unequal in population
Marking Up
the process by which a U.S. congressional committee or state legislative session debates, amends, and rewrites proposed legislation
Minority Leader of the House
The party leader elected by the minority party in the House.
Minority Leader of the Senate
head of the minority party in the Senate who assists the majority leader in setting the agenda of the Senate
Minority/Majority Districting
Rearranging districts to allow a minority representative to be elected
Oversight
the effort by congress, through hearings, investigations, and other techniques, to exercise control over the activities of executive agencies
Party Whips
assists each floor leader, inform members when important bills will come up for a vote, do nose-counts for the leadership, and pressure members to support the leadership, used in both the House and Senate
Pigeonholding
When bills are tied up in committee and die.
Pork Barrel Legislation
legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return
President Pro Tempore
Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president
Simple Resolution
an expression of opinion either in the House or Senate to settle procedural matters in either body
Concurrent Resolution
an expression of opinion without the force of law that requires the approval of both the House and the Senate, but not the president
Joint Resolution
a resolution passed by both houses of Congress which becomes legally binding when signed by the chief executive (or passed over the executive's veto)
Revenue Bills
Tax bills for raising money and bills authorizing the spending of money.
Select Committees
Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose.
Seniority System
a system that gives the member of the majority party with the longest uninterrupted service on a particular committee the leadership of that committee
Shaw v. Reno
The Court ruled that although it was a legitimate goal for state legislatures to take race into account when they draw electoral districts in order ot increase the voting strength of minorities, they may not make race the sole reason for drawing district
Speaker of the House
the leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives
Standing Committees
permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area
Term Limits
laws that limit the number of terms elected officials can serve
Teller Vote
A congressional voting procedure in which members pass between two tellers, the "yeas" first and the "nays" second.
Division Vote
a congressional voting procedure in which members stand and are counted
Roll Call Vote
a congressional voting procedure that consists of members answering "yea" or "nay" to their names.
Electronic Vote
permits each member to insert a plastic card in a slot to record his or her vote, most common today
Wesberry v. Sanders
One person, one vote (in redistricting for federal elections, each congressional district was to be approximately the same) In Georgia, the 5th district had 3 to 4 times more people than did the other districts.
Voice Vote
A congressional voting procedure in which members shout "yea" in approval or "nay" in disapproval; allows members to vote quickly or anonymously on bills.