Chapter 13 congress part 3

Major function of legislators staff

Major function of legislators staff

help constituents solve problems and thereby help that member in congress get reelected

Senator on average serves…

2 committees and 7 subcommittees

Staff agencies

give congress specialized knowledge equivalent to what the president has by virtue of his or her position as chief of executive branch.

Congressional research service (CRS)

library of congress, neutral

The General Accountability Office (GAO)

investigates policies and makes recommendations on almost every aspect of government

The Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

advises congress on the likely impact of different spending programs and attempts to estimate future economic trends

Who can introduce a bill?

both the house by handing it to a clerk or dropping it in a box and the senate by being recognized by the presiding officer and announcing the bills introduction.

Simple resolution

an expression of opinion either in the House or Senate to settle procedural matters in either body

Concurrent resolution

An expression of opinion without the force of law that requires the approval of both the House and the Senate, but not the president

Joint resolution

A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of congress and by the president; constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president

A joint resolution is also used to…

propose a constitutional amendment (⅔ vote both houses needed, but no signature from president)

Who refers a bill to a committee for consideration?

the speaker of the house or the senate's presiding officer

Appropriations bills

bills that direct the spending of money

Way and means committee

the committee that handles tax bills

Discharge petition

a device by which any member of the house, after a committee has had the bill for 30 days, may petition to have it brought to the floor

Restrictive rule

an order from the house rules committee that permits certain kinds of amendments but not others to be made into a bill on the floor

Closed rule

an order from the house rules committee that sets a time limit on debate;forbids a bill from being amended on the floor

Open rule

an order from the house rules committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor

Quorum

the minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in congress

Riders

amendments on matters unrelated to a bill that are added to an important bill so that they will “ride” to passage through the Congress. When a bill has many riders, it is called a christmas tree bill

Cloture rule

a rule used by the senate to end or limit debate

Double tracking

a procedure to keep the senate going during a filibuster in which the disputed bill is shelved temporarily so that the senate can get on with other business

How many votes needed to break a filibuster?

⅗ of all senators

Voice vote

a congressional voting procedure in which members shout “yea” in approval or “nay” in disapproval, permitting members to vote quickly or anonymously on bills

Division vote

a congressional voting procedure in which members stand and are counted

Roll Call vote

a congressional voting procedure that consists of members answering “yea” or “nay” to their names

Teller vote

a congressional voting procedure in which members pass between two tellers, the “yeas” first and the “nays” second

How does the senate vote?

by voice oro by roll call

How does the house vote?

voice vote, division vote, roll call vote (⅕ most request)

Veto

Literally “I forbid”, refers to the power of the president to disapprove a bill (it may be overridden by a ⅔ vote of each house of congress

Divided government

one party controls the white house and another party controls one or both houses of congress

Unified government

the same party controls the white house and both houses of congress

Earmarks

“hidden” congressional provisions that direct federal government to fund specific projects or that exempt specific persons or groups from paying specific federal taxes or fees

Pork Barrel legislation

legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return

Franking privilege

the ability of members to mail letters to their constituents free of charge by substituting their facsimile signature for postage