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incumbents
Current officeholders, especially in the context of elections.
majority leader
The head of the majority party in a legislative body.
legislative oversight
The process by which legislatures monitor the activities of executive agencies.
casework
Assistance provided by members of Congress to constituents in dealing with federal agencies.
whips
Members of Congress who assist party leaders in rallying support for legislation.
committee chairs
Leaders of congressional committees responsible for guiding the committee's work.
pork barrel
Legislation that provides funds for local projects, often viewed as wasteful spending.
minority leader
The head of the minority party in a legislative body.
seniority system
A system that gives priority to members of Congress based on their length of service.
bicameral legislature
A legislative body with two chambers, such as the U.S. Congress.
standing committees
Permanent committees in Congress that evaluate proposed legislation.
caucus
A meeting of members of a political party to discuss policies and select candidates.
House Rules Committee
A committee in the House of Representatives that establishes rules for other legislation.
joint committees
Committees made up of members from both the House and Senate.
bill
A proposed law that is submitted to a legislative body for approval.
filibuster
A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block legislation, often by speaking for extended periods.
conference committees
Committees formed for the purpose of reconciling differences in legislation passed by both chambers.
budget
A financial plan that outlines expected revenues and expenditures.
Social Security Act
A 1935 law that created a system of old-age benefits for workers.
Congressional Budget Office
A nonpartisan agency that provides economic data to Congress.
Speaker of the House
The presiding officer in the House of Representatives.
select committees
Temporary committees established for a specific purpose.
deficit
The amount by which expenditures exceed revenues.
Medicare
A federal program that provides health coverage for the elderly.
budget resolution
A legislative decision that sets spending limits for various programs.
expenditures
Money spent by the government in various areas.
incrementalism
A policy-making approach that involves small changes rather than large shifts.
reconciliation
The process of aligning the budget with actual spending and revenue.
revenues
The income that the government collects, primarily through taxes.
uncontrollable expenditures
Spending that is mandated by law and cannot be easily changed.
authorization bill
A law that establishes a federal program and sets its funding levels.
income tax
A tax based on an individual's income.
entitlements
Government programs that provide benefits to eligible individuals.
appropriations bill
A legislative proposal that allocates funds for government spending.
Sixteenth Amendment
The constitutional amendment that allows Congress to impose an income tax.
House Ways and Means
The committee responsible for tax and revenue-related legislation.
continuing resolutions
Legislation that allows agencies to continue operating under the previous year's budget.
national debt
The total amount of money that a country's government has borrowed.
tax expenditures
Revenue losses attributed to tax provisions that reduce tax liabilities.
Senate Finance Committee
The Senate committee that oversees issues related to taxation and revenue.
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