AP Government Ch 11 Edwards

Bicameral legislature

A legislature divided into two houses. The U.S. Congress and all state legislatures except Nebraska's are structured this way.

Bill

A proposed law, drafted in legal language.

Casework

Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals, particularly by cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to get.

Caucus (congressional)

A group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic. Many are composed of members from both parties and from both houses.

Committee chairs

The most important influencers of the congressional agenda. They play dominant roles in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills when they are brought before the full house.

Conference Committees

Congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms. Party leadership appoints members from each house to iron out the differences and bring back a single bill.

Filibuster

A strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation use their right to unlimited debate to prevent the Senate from ever voting on a bill. Sixty members present and voting can halt a filibuster.

House Rules Committee

The committee in the House of Representatives that reviews most bills coming from a House committee before they go to the full House.

Incumbents

Those already holding office. In congressional elections, they usually win.

Joint committees

Congressional committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership drawn from both houses.

Legislative oversight

Congress's monitoring of the bureaucracy and its administration of policy, performed mainly through hearings.

Majority leader

The principal partisan ally of the Speaker of the House, or the party's manager in the Senate. They are responsible for scheduling bills, influencing committee assignments, and rounding up votes on behalf of the party's legislative position.

Minority leader

The principal leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives or the Senate.

Pork barrel

Federal projects, grants, and contracts available to state and local governments, businesses, colleges and other institutions in a congressional district.

Select committees

Congressional committees appointed for a specific purpose, such as the Watergate investigation.

Seniority system

A simple rule for picking committee chairs, in effect until the 1970's. The member who had served on the committee the longest and whose party controlled the chamber became the chair, regardless of party loyalty, mental state or competence.

Speaker of the House

An office mandated by the Constitution. They are chosen in practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant.

Standing committees

Separate subject-matter committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas.

Whips

Party leaders who work with the majority leader or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party.