AP Gov Unit 2.1 Test

mark up

Revisions and additions to legislation made by committees and subcommittees. These changes are not part of a bill unless approved by the house of which the committee is a part.

minority leader

the legislative leader selected by the minority party as spokesperson for the opposition.

Bicameral

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses

Caucus

a private meeting of party leaders to choose candidates for office

President Pro Tempore

Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president

Cloture

A procedure used in the Senate to limit debate on a bill

select committee

a small legislative committee appointed for a special purpose.

conference committee

A special joint committee appointed to reconcile differences when bills pass the two chambers of Congress in different forms.

delegate

A person appointed or elected to represent others

Trustee

A legislator who acts according to her or his conscience and the broad interests of the entire society.

politico

Lawmaker who attempts to balance the basic elements of the trustee, delegate, and partisan roles

discharge petition

Petition that, if signed by majority of the House of Representatives' members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.

standing committee

A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area

suspension of the rules

One way of moving a piece of legislation to the top of the agenda in the House: debate on the bill is limited to forty minutes, amendments are not allowed, and the bill must pass by a two-thirds vote.

Filibuster

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.

unanimous consent

an agreement by every senator to the terms of debate on a given piece of legislation

logrolling agreement

exchanging political support for political favors, especially by members of Congress and other legislatures

majority leader

The legislative leader selected by the majority party who helps plan party strategy, confers with other party leaders, and tries to keep members of the party in line.

whip

a senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking

Casework

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

constituent

a person whom a member of Congress has been elected to represent

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.

House Rules Committee

An institution unique to the House of Representatives that reviews all bills (except revenue, budget, and appropriations bills) coming from a House committee before they go to the full House.

Incumbents are those

already in office

joint committee

A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.

legislative oversight

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

pork barrel

The use of government funds for projects designed to please voters or legislators and win votes.

seniority rule

A legislative practice that assigns the chair of the committee or subcommittee to the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on the committee.

Speaker of the House

An office mandated by the Constitution. The Speaker is 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.