US Government Terms

Budget reconciliation

Budget reconciliation

Process to make changes to spending and revenue levels

Open rule

Rule that allows for amendments and extended debate on a bill

Standing committee

Permanent committee in Congress that focuses on specific policy areas

Special/select committee

Temporary committee in Congress created for a specific purpose

Joint committee

Committee in Congress with members from both the House and Senate

Conference committee

Committee in Congress to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill

Bicameral legislature

Legislature with two separate chambers

Midterm election

Election held in the middle of a president's term

Congressional Budget Office

Federal agency that provides budgetary and economic information

Filibuster

Tactic used to delay or block a vote on a bill

Cloture

Procedure to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote

Congressional oversight

Power of Congress to oversee the executive branch

Resolution

Formal expression of opinion or intent by a legislative body

Discretionary spending

Spending on programs that are not required by law

Mandatory spending

Spending on programs that are required by law

Gerrymandering

Manipulation of electoral boundaries to favor a political party

Hold

Procedure to delay a bill from reaching the floor for consideration

Incumbent

Current officeholder running for re-election

Elastic clause

Clause in the Constitution that grants Congress the power to make all laws necessary and proper

Closed rule

Rule that sets strict time limits on debate and restricts amendments

Pork/pork barrel

Government spending on projects that benefit a specific district or state

Logrolling

Practice of exchanging favors or support in politics

Appropriations

Process of allocating funds for government programs

Single member district

Electoral district represented by a single elected official

House Rules Committee

Committee in the House of Representatives that sets rules for debate on bills

Delegate model of voting

Voting based on the preferences of constituents

Trustee model of voting

Voting based on personal judgment and expertise

Politico model of voting

Voting based on a combination of delegate and trustee models

Impeachment

Process to remove a government official from office

Baker v. Carr

Supreme Court case that established the principle of one person, one vote

Shaw v. Reno

Supreme Court case that addressed racial gerrymandering

Override of veto

Congressional action to pass a bill into law despite a presidential veto

Lobbyist

Person who advocates for a specific interest or issue

Divided government

Government in which one party controls the executive branch and another party controls the legislative branch

Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974

Law that established the Congressional budget process