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Appropriation

money that Congress has allocated to be spent.

Appropriations Committee

congressional committee that deals with federal spending.

Bicameral

A two-part legislature (like the U.S. Congress: House + Senate).

Bully pulpit

A powerful position that lets someone influence public opinion (Teddy Roosevelt’s term).

Casework

Help that members of Congress give to people in their districts.

Closed rule

A rule that stops any changes from being made to a bill.

Cloture

A vote in the Senate to end a filibuster (needs 60 senators).

Conference committee

A group that fixes differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.

Constituents

The people who are represented by elected officials.

Delegate

A representative who votes exactly how their voters want.

Discharge petition

A way to force a stalled bill to be voted on in the House.

Discretionary spending

Government spending that is optional (like defense or education).

Divided government

When the president and at least one part of Congress are from different parties.

Executive agreement

A deal between the president and another country that doesn’t need Senate approval.

Executive order

A rule made by the president that acts like a law.

Executive privilege

The president’s right to keep some conversations secret from Congress and courts.

Filibuster

A tactic in the Senate where a senator talks endlessly to block a vote.

Finance Committee

A Senate committee that deals with taxes.

Franking privilege

Allows Congress members to send mail for free.

Gerrymandering

Drawing voting district lines to help one party win.

Hold

A senator’s way to delay a bill or appointment.

Impeachment

When the House officially accuses a government official of wrongdoing.

Impoundment

When the president refuses to spend money that Congress approved.

Legislative oversight

Congress checking on the executive branch to make sure laws are followed.

Legislative veto

When Congress tried to block executive branch actions (but was ruled unconstitutional).

Line item veto

The power to remove parts of a bill instead of vetoing the whole thing (used briefly).

Logrolling

When two lawmakers agree to support each other’s bills.

Mark up

committee action to amend a proposed bill

Nuclear option

nickname for the action taken by the Senate in 2013 to eliminate the possibility of a filibuster on federal judicial nominations (except for the Supreme Court)

Open rule

House Rules Committee rule that allows amendments to a bill, A rule that allows changes to a bill.

Patronage

Giving government jobs to loyal supporters (also called the “spoils system”).

Pocket veto

When the president lets a bill die by doing nothing after Congress adjourns.

Policy agenda

The issues that the government is focused on solving, the goals of Congress and/or the president regarding what issues should be considered for legislation.

Politico

a model of representation in which a member of Congress follows his or her own party.

Pork barrel

wasteful congressional spending, e.g. funding for a Lawrence Welk museum in North Dakota

Quorum

minimum number of members needed for the House or Senate to meet

Ratification

the act of the Senate of giving formal consent to an agreement or treaty, making it official

Reapportionment

Reallocation of House seats to the states on the basis of changes in state populations, as determined by the census.

Redistricting

redrawing of congressional district boundaries by the party in power of the state legislature.

Revenue

income earned by the government from sources such as taxes

Rider (nongermane amendment)

amendment to a bill that has little to do with that bill

Rules Committee

the “traffic cop” of the House that sets the legislative calendar and issues rules for debate on a bill.

Senatorial courtesy

tradition in which the President consults with the senators within a state in which an appointment is to be made

Seniority system

tradition in which the Senator from the majority party with the most years of service on a committee becomes the chairman of that committee

Spoils system

same thing as patronage

Standing committees

the permanent congressional committees that handle legislation

Sunset laws

laws that automatically expire after a given time

Trial balloon

a tentative measure taken or statement made (by the president or a member of Congress) to see how a new policy will be received by the public.

Trustee

a model of representation in which a member of Congress follows his or her conscience when deciding issue positions and determining how to vote.

Ways and Means Committee

House committee that handles tax bills.