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Senate

The upper chamber of a bicameral legislature in many countries, typically with fewer members than the lower house.

House of Representatives

The lower chamber of a bicameral legislature, responsible for representing the people in a democratic government.

Bicameral legislature

A legislative body with two separate chambers or houses, such as a Senate and a House of Representatives.

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer in the House of Representatives responsible for maintaining order, recognizing members to speak, and guiding legislative proceedings.

Majority leader

The leader of the majority party in a legislative body who is responsible for setting the legislative agenda and ensuring party members' cooperation.

Majority whip

A member of a legislative body responsible for ensuring party discipline and attendance during votes among members of the majority party.

Minority leader

The leader of the minority party in a legislative body, responsible for representing and coordinating the minority party's positions.

Minority whip

A member of a legislative body from the minority party responsible for maintaining party discipline and vote-counting among minority party members.

President of the Senate

In the United States, this position is held by the Vice President, who presides over the Senate but can only cast a tie-breaking vote.

President pro tempore

A senator elected by the Senate to preside over its proceedings in the absence of the Vice President.

Standing committees

Permanent committees in a legislative body responsible for considering bills and conducting oversight on specific policy areas.

Select committees

Temporary committees established in a legislative body for a specific purpose or issue.

Joint committees

Committees consisting of members from both chambers of a bicameral legislature.

Conference committees

Committees formed to resolve differences in legislation passed by both houses of a bicameral legislature.

Rules committee

A committee in the House of Representatives that determines the rules and procedures for considering bills on the floor.

Committee of the Whole

A parliamentary procedure where a legislative body, such as the House of Representatives, becomes a committee to debate and amend legislation more informally.

Quorum

The minimum number of members required to be present for a legislative body to conduct official business or hold a vote.

Discharge petition

A procedure in the House of Representatives to force a bill out of committee and onto the floor for consideration.

Cloture

A procedure in the Senate to end a filibuster and bring a debate to a vote.

Filibuster

Prolonged speech or other tactics used by a member of a legislative body to delay or block the passage of a bill.

Unanimous Consent

A parliamentary procedure that allows the quick passage of a bill without a formal vote, granted if no member objects.

Hold

A senator's objection to a unanimous consent request, delaying or preventing a vote on a bill or nomination.

Mandatory spending

Government spending that is required by law, such as entitlement programs like Social Security.

Discretionary spending

Government spending that is determined through the appropriations process and can be adjusted each fiscal year.

Earmarking

The practice of designating specific funds for a particular project or purpose in a government spending bill.

Pork barrel

Government spending that benefits a legislator's home district or state and is often seen as wasteful or unnecessary.

Log rolling

The practice of legislators supporting each other's projects or legislation to gain mutual support.

Trustee model

A model of representation where elected officials use their judgment to make decisions on behalf of their constituents.

Delegate model

A model of representation where elected officials act as proxies for their constituents, strictly following their preferences.

Politico model

A model of representation that combines elements of the trustee and delegate models, allowing officials to use their judgment while considering constituents' opinions.

Gerrymandering

The manipulation of electoral district boundaries to favor one political party or group.

Veto

The power of an executive, like a president, to reject a bill passed by a legislative body, preventing it from becoming law.

Pocket veto

When an executive effectively vetoes a bill by not signing it while the legislative session ends.

Executive agreements

International agreements made by the President of the United States without Senate approval, typically on matters of foreign policy.

Executive order

A directive issued by the President to manage the operations of the federal government.

Signing statement

A statement issued by the President when signing a bill into law, outlining their interpretation or concerns about the bill.

Bully pulpit

A term coined by President Theodore Roosevelt, referring to the President's ability to use their office and visibility to shape public opinion and influence policy.

Jurisdiction

The authority of a court or legislative body to hear and decide on specific cases or matters.

Precedent

A legal decision or ruling that serves as a reference for future similar cases.

Judicial activism

A judicial philosophy in which judges are more willing to interpret the law broadly and make policy decisions.

Judicial restraint

A judicial philosophy in which judges are more inclined to defer to legislative decisions and avoid making policy decisions.

Original jurisdiction

The authority of a court to hear a case for the first time, as opposed to appellate jurisdiction, which involves reviewing lower court decisions.

Bureaucracy

A system of non-elected government officials and agencies responsible for implementing and administering government policies and programs.

Patronage

The practice of appointing individuals to government positions based on political loyalty or support rather than merit.

Rule-making process

The process by which government agencies create and establish regulations to implement laws.

Rule-making authority

The power granted to government agencies to create and enforce regulations.

Discretionary authority

The flexibility and discretion government officials or agencies have in making decisions within the bounds of the law.