Studied by 0 peoplebill
a proposed law (legislative act) within congress or another legislature
cloture
manuever to defeat a filibuster through a 3/5ths vote through the entire senate
conference committees
formed if both houses can’t agree on a bill, temporary to bargain over differences between desired versions of each house
constituency
the people represented by an elected official
discharge petition
a petition used to take it out of a committee for the entire house to decide
earmark
a specific assigned purpose of a spending bill with a certain amount
filibuster
tactic to withdraw bill from the floor by minority house stalling and talking until majority house gives in
gerrymandering
when party in power draws district boundaries to benefit it’s candidates based on representation of consitutents
logrolling
the trading of votes between legislators for each others benefits; “scratching each others backs” through votes
oversight function
functions that allow congress to oversee the executive branch as an act of checks and balances
party caucus
group of the party’s members in the house or senate that serve the elect party’s leadership, set policy goals and plan party strategy
pork-barrel spending
spending whose tangible benefits are targeted at a particular legislators constituency
reapportionment
the reallocation of house seats after every census and population change
redistricting
the process of altering election districts for as much equality and proportion possible, happens every 10 years after the census
representation function
the responsibility of a legislature to represent various interest in society
rider
an amendment to a bill that deals with an issue unrelated to the content of the bill
seniority
the advantage of more consecutive years of service of a member of congress on a particular committee
standing committee
permanent congressional committee that deals with always present issues/public policy ; ex, foreign relations
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