Legislative Branch

Bicameral Legislature

Legislative system with two separate chambers or houses. Each chamber has its own set of powers and functions, providing checks and balances. Examples include the United States Congress (House of Representatives and Senate)

Bill

A legislative proposal that is introduced by a member of a legislative body, such as a congressman or senator, with the intention of becoming a law. Can address a wide range of issues, from social policies to economic matters, and must go through a series of steps and votes before becoming law.

Casework

refers to the response or services that Members of Congress provide to constituents who request assistance.

Speaker of the House

presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives

reconciliation

a congressional process through which program authorizations are revised to achieve required savings. It usually also includes tax or other revenue adjustments.

majority leader

The majority leader in the contemporary House is second-in-command behind the Speaker. They are the ones with the majority in the house, they are the spokesperson for their party.

minority leader

minority leader serves as the floor leader of the “loyal opposition,” and minority counterpart to the Speaker of the House. 

whip

To ensure party discipline in a legislature. ensuring that members of the party vote according to the party platform, rather than according to their own individual ideology or the will of their donors or constituents. Whips are the party's "enforcers".

house rules committee

It is responsible for the rules under which bills will be presented to the House of Representatives, unlike other committees, which often deal with a specific area of policy

caucus

a meeting or grouping of supporters or members of a specific political party or movement

pork barrel

spending that is intended to benefit constituents of a politician in return for their political support.

committee chair

someone who has been elected or appointed to lead a particular committee within their organization. The term “chair” implies authority and responsibility. This person is expected to take charge of the committee and ensure its smooth running.

standing committee

permanent committees established under the standing rules of the Senate and specialize in the consideration of particular subject areas.

select committee

 temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.jo

joint committees

a congressional committee consisting of both Senate and House members and having jurisdiction over matters of joint interest.

conference committee

a temporary joint committee created to settle differences in versions of a bill passed by each house of Congress

seniority system

the traditional practice in the House whereby certain prerogatives and positions are made available to those Members with the longest continuous service in the House or on committee.

legislative oversight

is oversight by the United States Congress over the executive branch, including the numerous U.S. federal agencies. Congressional oversight includes the review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implementation.

filibuster

political procedure in which one or more members of a legislative body prolong debate on proposed legislation so as to delay or entirely prevent a decision.

cloture

a method for ending debate and bringing a question to a vote.

incumbents

the current holder of an office or position, usually in relation to an election. Because the officeholder has name recognition, casework, campaign financing, and usually redistricting on his side, the incumbent usually has an advantage over his challenger.

trustee role

 when a member of the house or senate follows his or her own conscience when deciding issue positions.

delegate role

is the view that an elected representative should represent the opinions of his or her constituents

gerrymandering

is the political manipulation of electoral district boundaries with the intent to create undue advantage for a party, group, or socioeconomic class within the constituency.

appropriations bill

 is legislation to appropriate (allot) federal funds to specific federal government departments, agencies and programs. The money provides funding for operations, personnel, equipment and activities

authorization bill

they establish, continue, or modify federal programs, and they are a prerequisite under House and Senate rules (and sometimes under statute) for the Congress to appropriate budget authority for programs.

budget

a plan for making and spending money

budget resolution

a blueprint to guide Congressional action on budget-related legislation over the course of the year. It does not provide funding for federal programs or change tax law; rather, it sets overall spending and revenue targets

Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974

 an act designed to reform the budgeting process by making congress less dependent on the president’s budget; established a fixed budget calendar and a budget committee in each house.

Congressional budget office

The provide analysis of economic and budgetary decisions facing Congress regarding the Federal budget

continuing resolution

temporary spending bills that allow federal government operations to continue when final appropriations have not been approved by Congress and the President

deficit

when the federal government's spending exceeds its revenues.

entitlements

Federal programs that guarantee payments to individuals who meet certain criteria set by law

expenditures

the total sum of money a government uses to finance its activities and functions.

federal debt

the amount of money the federal government has borrowed to cover the outstanding balance of expenses incurred over time.

house ways and means committee

has the responsibility for raising the revenue required to finance the Federal Government. This includes individual and corporate income taxes, excise taxes, estate taxes, gift taxes, and other miscellaneous taxes.

income tax

a tax levied on the wages, salaries, dividends, interest, and other income a person earns throughout the year.

incrementalism

a method of achieving massive changes in public policy by implementing small changes slowly over time.

earmarks

a legislative provision that directs approved funds to be spent on specific projects, or that directs specific exemptions from taxes or mandated fees

revenue

 Income, the financial resources of the government. The individual income tax and social security tax are two major sources of the federal government’s revenue

16th amendments

The Congress shall have the power to lay and collect taxes on incomes

tax expenditures

provisions of the tax code that can reduce how much a taxpayer owes and therefore federal revenue. Examples include special tax credits, deductions, exclusions, exemptions, deferrals, and preferential tax rates.

uncontrollable expenditures

Expenditures that are determined not by a fixed amount of money appropriated by Congress but by how many eligible beneficiaries there are for a program or by previous obligations of the government.

social security act

created a social insurance program designed to pay retired workers age 65 or older a continuing income after retirement.

Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII)

 forbade discrimination on the basis of sex, as well as, race in hiring, promoting, and firing.

voting rights act of 1965

It outlawed the discriminatory voting practices adopted in many southern states after the Civil War, including literacy tests as a prerequisite to voting.

Americans with Disabilities act of 1990

prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in several areas, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications and access to state and local government' programs and services

Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002

established additional campaign contribution and spending rules in federal elections and set new standards for electioneering communications. Banned the use of soft money contributions and raised the limit on donations to $2000.