glossary list unit 14

Seniority

Length of time in office. Used as a determining factor in appointing congressional committees.

Safe Seat

An elected office, usually in a legislature, that is predictably won by one party or the other, so reelection is almost taken for granted.

Gerrymandering

Drawing an election district in such a way that one party or group has a distinct advantage.

Redistricting

The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.

Bicameralism

The principle of a two-house legislature.

President Pro Tempore

Official Chairperson in Senate when Vice President is absent. Selected by the majority party.

House Rules Committee

Committee that schedules House calendar of business.

Open Rule

A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that permits floor amendments within the overall time allocated to the bill.

Closed Rule

A procedural rule in the House of Representatives that prohibits any amendments to bills or provides that only members of the committee reporting the bill may offer amendments.

Filibuster

Device employing long drawn-out speeches that prevent Senate a vote on a controversial issue.

Cloture

A procedure for halting Senate debate (filibuster).

Speaker

Presiding officer of the House, formally elected by the whole house, but actually by majority party.

Whips

Important House members who serve as ‘go-betweens’ in the process involving general members and leaders.

Conference Committee

A committee composed of appointed members of both Houses to compromise different versions of a bill.

Joint Committee

Committee composed of members of both the House and Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.

Select or Special Committee

A congressional committee created for a specific purpose, sometimes to conduct an investigation.

Standing Committee

A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area.

Rider

A provision that may have little relationship to the bill it is attached to in order to secure its passage.

Discharge Petition

A petition signed by a majority of House members to pry a bill from committee.

Minority Leader

Party leader elected by the minority in each House to serve as an oppositional spokesperson.

Majority Leader

The legislative leader selected by the majority party, who helps plan strategy, confers with other party leaders, and tries to keep members of the party in line.

Pocket Veto

A veto exercised by the president after Congress has adjourned; if the president takes no action for ten days, the bill does not become law and is not returned to Congress for a possible override.

Override

An action taken by Congress to reverse a presidential veto that requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers.

Senatorial Courtesy

Presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from states in which the appointees reside.

Party Caucus or Conference

A meeting of the members of each party to select leaders and determine policy.

State Delegation

The senators and representatives from the same state.

Log Rolling

Mutual aid and vote trading among legislators.

Hold

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator temporarily blocks the consideration of a bill or nomination.

Delegate Role

The concept that a Congressperson should reflect the prevailing sentiment of the district.

Trustee Role

The concept that an elected representative should reflect independent judgment, rather than the current attitude of the district.

Veto

Rejection by a president or governor of legislation.

Item Veto

A measure passed by Congress in 1996 and ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in 1998 whereby the president was given the authority to strike specific spending proposals from the budget passed by Congress.

Simple Resolution

Passed by either the House or the Senate and is used in matters such as establishing the rules under which each body will operate. Not signed by the President.

Concurrent Resolution

Settles housekeeping and procedural matters that affect both houses. Not signed by the President.

Joint Resolution

Requires the approval of both houses and the signature of the President; it essentially is the same as law.

Public Bill

A bill pertaining to public affairs generally.

Private Bill

A bill pertaining to a particular individual, such as someone seeking special permission to become a naturalized citizen.