U.S. Congress and Legislation: Key Terms and Concepts, Congressional Terms: Logrolling, Redistricting, and Legislative Procedures, U.S. Congress: Committees, Laws, and Supreme Court Cases

2005 Consolidated Appropriations Act

Act for funding the government that consolidated multiple appropriations bills into a single act. It determined the government spending plan for 2005.

provided ~$388 billion in discretionary budget authority

0.80% cut on non-defense and non-homeland security spending

appropriation(s)

Federal agencies' legal authority to spend money for specific purposes, as granted by Congress.

Baker v. Carr

Tennessee had not redrawn their districts in over 60 years despite population growth, causing unequal representation.

Supreme Court ruled that federal courts could hear cases challenging state legislative apportionment based on the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause

Opened the door to examine other district appointments in other states

caucuses (in Congress, not as in elections)

An informal group that gets together to discuss common issues and goals in Congress. Their goal is to influence policy, build coalitions, etc. through common ideas and opinions.

"Christmas-Tree Bill"

A bill with many, often unrelated, amendments attached to it, like how ornaments are additions that decorate a Christmas tree.

cloture (motion)

A vote in the Senate that ends a filibuster. It ends debate and forces a vote on the bill, but requires a 3/5 majority (60 votes) to pass.

Closed rule

Ensures a bill is voted on in the House as it was originally written with no additions. It strictly limits debate and the introduction of new amendments to the bill.

Committee of the Whole

All members meet as a single committee to debate and consider a bill. It allows for open discussion and more relaxed rules.

conference committees

A temporary committee of the House and Senate formed. Its goal is to create an identical version of a bill that can pass in both Chambers to make it easier to then pass on to the President to be signed.

congressional oversight

The power of Congress to oversee the implementation of public policy. It's a key check on the other branches and federal agencies practiced through committee hearings, legislative actions, etc.

Discharge Petition

A procedure in the House of Representatives that allows members to force a bill out of committee and onto the floor for a vote if a majority (218 members) sign it.

Earmark

A provision in a spending bill that directs funds to a specific project or district, often used by members of Congress to benefit their home states or constituencies.

Elastic Clause (Necessary and Proper Clause)

Found in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution; gives Congress the power to make all laws necessary and proper for carrying out its duties basis for implied powers.

Filibuster

A tactic used in the Senate to delay or block legislation by extending debate. It can be ended only by a cloture vote (60 senators).

Franking Privilege

The right of members of Congress to send mail to constituents without paying postage, using their signature instead used to communicate with voters.

Germane Amendments

Amendments that are directly related to the subject of the bill being considered; required in the House but not in the Senate.

Gerrymandering

Drawing congressional district boundaries to favor one political party or group, often used to increase a party's electoral advantage.

Joint Committee

A committee made up of members from both the House and Senate that focuses on specific issues like the economy or taxation.

Lame Duck Session

The period after an election when the outgoing president or members of Congress still hold office before the new officials take over, often a time of reduced influence.

Line-Item Veto

The power to reject specific parts of a bill (usually spending items) without vetoing the whole bill, unconstitutional for the president, but some governors have it.

Logrolling

a metaphor also known as legislative reciprocity in which legislators trade votes to approve each others' legislative proposals. These types of large budget bills are sometimes called Christmas Tree bills because so many small ornaments and gifts (small budget items) come along with the large legislation making its way through congressional approval

Majority-minority leaders

the top leaders of their respective political parties in each chamber of Congress. They manage legislative agendas and strategy for their parties.

majority-minority redistricting

process of drawing electoral district boundaries so that a majority of the population in a district is made up of racial or ethnic minorities, often to ensure fair representation under the Voting Rights Act.

malapportionment

When legislative districts are drawn with unequal populations, giving some voters more representation than others, which violates the "one person, one vote" principle.

"marking up"

The process by which congressional committees review, amend, and rewrite proposed legislation before it goes to the floor for a vote.

party whips

Members of Congress who help party leaders count votes, persuade members to vote along party lines, and ensure attendance for key votes.

pigeonholing

When a congressional committee chair sets a bill aside and refuses to consider it, effectively killing the bill.

pocket veto

A type of veto that occurs when the President takes no action on a bill within 10 days (excluding Sundays) and Congress adjourns during that time, preventing it from becoming law.

pork barrel legislation

Government spending projects that benefit a specific district or group, often added to bills to gain political support from local representatives.

president pro tempore

A senior member of the majority party in the Senate who presides over the Senate in the Vice President's absence.

ranking member & ranking minority member

-ranking member: most senior member of the majority party on a committee

-ranking minority member: most senior member of the minority party on that committee

-Responsibilities:

1) Advocates for the minority party's perspectives and interests.

2)Helps shape the committee's agenda by presenting the minority's views.

3) Guides the selection of minority witnesses for hearings.

4) Controls the minority party's portion of the committee's budget.

revenue bills

a type of legislation in which a new method is proposed for generating government income, through taxes, user fees, or customs duties.

rider (wrecking amendment/poison pill)

rider- term used when these amendments are attached to an unrelated but must-pass bill

wrecking amendment/poison pill- legislative amendment or rider that is intentionally designed to make a bill so objectionable that it will be defeated

-added to a bill by someone who disagrees w/ its core principles

- goal is to sabotage and kill the bill than vote against it directly

select committee

opposite of a standing committee- a temporary committee that is formed for a specific purpose

Seniority System

where the system grants privileges and benefits, like job security, promotions, and committee assignments, according to one's(typically an employee) length of service

Shaw v. Reno

-majority-minority

-States can use race as a consideration, but it is not the main factor

-racial gerrymandering-districts drawn to favor one racial group over another

-Case was argued on the merits of the equal protection clause of the 14th Amendment

-Shaw: Shaw's group argued equal protection clause WAS violated because districts were drawn only w/ race in mind

-Reno: argued equal protection clause WAS NOT violated because districts were drawn w/ the intention of helping black residents who had been the object of historic discrimination

-Court ruled against Reno+Justice Department

-while these districts may have been drawn w/ noble intentions, districts drawn only based on race were unconstitutional b/c it set a dangerous precedent

-Therefore the equal protection clause of 14th Amendment WAS violated by these strange districts

signing statement

a written comment issued by the President when signing a bill into law

Speaker of the House

-The leader of the majority party who serves as the presiding officer of the House of Representatives

-second in line of presidential succession following the V.P.

standing committee

-remains from congressional session to congressional session

-deals w/ issues that are always present

-Appropriations Committee(Senate)

-biggest and most powerful

-Ways and Means Committee(House)

Wesberry v. Sanders

-A case that ordered house districts to be as close to equal as possible, promoting the principle of one man- one vote