Budris AP Gov Unit 2: CONGRESS SET 1

Senate

a 100 member chamber, with 6 year terms and equal representation across each state.

House of Representatives

a 435 member chamber, with 2 year terms, using proportional representation based on population.

Federal Budget

the spending plan for Federal revenues, proposed by the President and finalized by approval of both chambers of Congress.

Discretionary Spending

spending that is not required, included in the federal budget through the lawmaking process.

Mandatory Spending (Entitlements)

spending that is required by law, does not need to be approved annually through the lawmaking process (example: Social Security)

Discharge Petition

a device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had the bill for thirty days, may petition to have it brought out of the committee and on to the floor.

Speaker of the House

Leader of the majority party in the House, sets the voting agenda, influences committee assignments and is 3rd in line of Presidential succession.

House Minority Leader

legislative leader elected by party members holding the minority of seats in the House.

Party Whips

senator or representative who helps the party leader pressure their members to vote with party leadership.

Senate Majority Leader

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

Senate Minority Leader

legislative leader elected by party members holding the minority of seats in the Senate

Filibuster

attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely, thus preventing the Senate from taking action to the bill

Cloture

rule used by the Senate to end or limit debate, requires 60 votes.

Holds

a Senate rule that allows one or more Senators to prevent a motion from coming to the floor for consideration

Unanimous Consent

a request by a single Senator to change the normal process for lawmaking, in order to expedite the process. It can be blocked by a single Senator.

House Rules Committee

determines rules for debate, most specifically, the time limit on debates.

Joint Committee

committees on which both senators and representatives serve

Select Committee

congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose

Standing Committee

permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area

Conference Committee

joint committee appointed to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of the same bill