POLS 400 Exam 2 Study Guide

Filibuster

What tactic in the Senate is used to delay or block legislation through extended debate, requiring 60 votes to end it?

Unanimous Consent Agreement (UCA)

What Senate agreement sets terms for debate and amendments and must be approved by all 100 senators?

Closed Rule

What House rule prohibits any amendments on the floor, limiting debate but speeding passage?

Open Rule

What House rule allows any member to offer amendments to a bill on the floor?

Structured Rule

What House rule limits the number or types of amendments that can be offered on a bill?

Conference Committee

What joint committee resolves differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill?

Committee Jurisdiction

What is the term for the specific policy area a committee is responsible for reviewing legislation on?

Committee of the Whole House

What is the House procedural device that allows faster debate with fewer rules and a lower quorum?

Amendment Tree

A structured chart used in the U.S. Senate to manage the order and placement of amendments to a bill, often limiting further changes once branches are filled.

Filling the Amendment Tree

What is the tactic where leadership fills all amendment slots to prevent others from offering changes?

H. Res or House Resolutions

What primarily deals with internal House rules or opinions and doesn't become law?

H. J. Res or House Joint Resolution

What is similar to a bill and can become law — often used for constitutional amendments or temporary laws?

Sunset Provision

What clause causes a law or section of law to expire after a set date unless renewed?

Severability Clause

What clause ensures that if one part of a law is struck down, the rest can still remain in effect?

Ranking Member

What is the title for the highest-ranking minority party member on a committee?

Authorization of Spending

What gives legal permission to create a program and set a maximum amount for spending?

Appropriation of Spending

What actually provides the funding for a program previously authorized?

Executive Order

What is a directive from the President that has the force of law without going through Congress?

Recess Appointment

What is it called when the President fills a vacant position while the Senate is on break?

Sponsor

Who is the member of Congress that formally introduces a bill?

Cosponsor

What do you call other members who sign onto a bill to show support, but didn’t introduce it?