gov

seniority

seniority

The system under which committee chairs are awarded to members who have the longest continuous service on the committee

Parliament

An assembly of party representatives that chooses a government and discusses major national issues

teller vote

Explanation of congressional voting which suggests members of Congress respond primarily to cues provided by their colleagues

conservative coalition

An alliance of conservative Democrats with Republicans for voting purposes

party polarization

Indicated by votes in which a majority of voting Democrats oppose a majority of voting Republicans

closed rule

A rule issued by the Rules Committee that does not allow a bill to be amended on the House floor

simple resolution

Resolution used for matters such as establishing the rules under which each body will operate

concurrent resolution

Resolution used for settling housekeeping and procedural matters that affect both houses

joint resolution

Resolution that is essentially the same as a law and is used to propose constitutional amendments

filibuster

A means by which senators can extend debate on a bill in order to prevent or delay its consideration

attitudinal view

Explanation of congressional voting which emphasizes the impact of personal ideology and party identification as a voting cue

cloture rule

A Senate rule offering a means for stopping a filibuster

restrictive rule

A rule issued by the Rules Committee that permits some amendments to a bill but not to others

markup

Committee revisions of a bill

congressional caucus

An association of members of Congress created to advocate a political ideology or a regional or economic interest

party whip

An individual who assists the party leader in staying abreast of the concerns and voting intentions of the party members

Committee on Committees

Assigns Republicans to standing committees in the Senate

representational view

Explanation of congressional voting that is based on the assumption that members want to get reelected and vote to please their constituents

House Rules Committee

The group that decides what business comes up for a vote and what the limitations on debate should be

discharge petition

A means by which the House can remove a bill stalled in committee

multiple referral

The process through which a bill is referred to several committees that simultaneously consider it in whole or in part

Steering Committee

Assigns Democrats to standing committees in the Senate

party caucus

A meeting of the members of a political party to decide questions of policy

party vote

The extent to which members of a party vote together in the House or the Senate

bicameral legislature

. A lawmaking body composed of two chambers or parts

marginal districts

Districts in which the winner got less than 55 percent of the vote

riders

Unrelated amendments added to a bill

safe districts

Districts in which the winner got more than 55 percent of the vote

sequential referral

The process through which a bill is referred to second committee after the first is finished acting

Millionaire's Club

A traditional, pejorative name for the United States Senate

majority leader

The legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or Senate

select committees

Congressional committees appointed for a limited time period and purpose

franking privilege

The ability of members of Congress to mail letters to their constituents free of charge

roll call vote

A congressional voting procedure that consists of members answering yea or nay to their names

minority leader

The legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority of seats in the House or Senate

joint committee

A committee on which both representatives and senators serve

public bill

Legislation that deals with matters of general concern

open rule

An order from the Rules Committee in the House that permits a bill to be amended on the legislative floor

voice vote

A method of voting used in both houses in which members vote by shouting yea or nay

double tracking

A procedure to keep the Senate going during a filibuster; the disputed bill is shelved temporarily

conference committees

A special type of joint committee appointed to resolve differences in the House and Senate versions of a piece of legislation

Christmas tree bill

A bill that has many riders

division vote

A congressional voting procedure in which members stand and are counted

standing committees

The permanent committees of each house with the power to report bills

private bill

Legislation that deals only with specific matters rather than with general legislative affairs

pork barrel legislation

Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in the hope of winning their votes

quorum call

A calling of the role in either house of Congress to determine whether the number of members in attendance meets the minimum number required to conduct official business

divided government

one party in control of the presidency and the other in charge of one or both chambers of Congress

organizational view

The theory of congressional voting behavior which assumes that members make voting decisions to please fellow members and obtain their goodwill

unified government

the same party controls the White House and both houses of Congress