Congressional Structure and Legislative Process

Vocabulary practice flashcards covering legislative terminology, committee structures, congressional procedures, and relevant constitutional court cases.

Joint committee

A stable committee organized in advance where members look at something together.

Conference committee

A committee at the end of the bill-making process where a bill goes back and forth to iron out the differences between the two bills.

Johnson rule

The rule that a member must get assigned to one committee before getting assigned to another one.

Shaw vs. Reno

A case concerning the 14th Amendment, equal protection under the law, and racial gerrymandering.

Standing committee

A long-term committee that has been there for a while and has oversight.

Filibuster

A procedure used in the Senate to stall a vote.

Marginal district

A district that might get its seat flipped.

Log rolling

An agreement where "if you vote for me, I'll vote for you."

Joint resolution

A measure passed by both the Senate and the House that passes through the president.

Simple resolution

A resolution that doesn't impact anyone else.

Multiple referral

The process of a bill being sent to multiple committees.

Appropriations and authorizations

The spending of money.

Sophomore surge

When candidates receive more votes and more support during their 2nd year.

President pro tempore

The official who holds the gavel when the vice president is not there.

Committee of committees

The body responsible for giving people committee assignments.

Rules committee

A committee found only in the House whose work is done before the bill goes to the floor.

Ways and means committee

A House committee that deals with bills of revenue.

Omnibus bill

Many bills combined together to make one big bill.

Riders

Additions attached to a bill to manipulate the process, speed it up, and get the president to sign it rather than veto it.

Malapportionment

A condition in which electoral districts are not in equal proportion.

Sunset provision

A provision stating that a law expires.

Rule 22 and cloture

The parliamentary procedure used to end a filibuster.

Temporary committee

A special or select committee.

Majority leader

The more important person in the Senate.

Baker vs. Carr

A court case based on the 14th Amendment equal protection clause that ends malapportionment.

Open rule

An order that allows members to change the bill on the floor.

Pigeon holed

The act of sticking a bill to the side.

Mark up

The process of adding to a bill.

Senatorial courtesy

Practice where the president asks advice from senators before putting people in positions.

Discharge petition

A petition used to pull a bill out after it has been pigeonholed.

Oversight

The responsibility of a standing committee to check on executive agencies under the president.

Germane amendment

An amendment pertaining directly to the bill, used when amendments are allowed in the House.

Line item veto

The executive power to remove parts of a bill and sign the rest.

Party whip

A party official whose role is to make sure everyone votes with the party.

Speaker of the house

The most powerful person on Capitol Hill.

Concurrent resolution

A resolution passed by both the House and the Senate that does not go to the president.