Congress Supplemental Vocabulary

Cloture

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate. Needs a 60/100 vote

veto

a constitutional right to reject a decision or proposal made by a law-making body.

Impeachment

A formal document charging a public official with misconduct in office

majority party

the party that holds the majority of legislative seats in either the House or the Senate

minority party

In both the House of Representatives and the Senate, the political party to which fewer than half the members belong

party caucus

A meeting of the members of a party in a legislative chamber to select party leaders and to develop party policy. Called a conference by the Republicans.

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.

expressed powers

powers directly stated in the constitution

enumerated powers

Powers given to the national government alone

implied powers

Powers inferred from the express powers that allow Congress to carry out its functions.

inherent powers

The powers of the national government in foreign affairs that the Supreme Court has declared do not depend on constitutional grants but rather grow out of the very existence of the national government. (i.e. powers given to the national government because it is the National government)

swing district

a district where no single candidate or party has overwhelming support

Shaw v. Reno

NO racial gerrymandering; race cannot be the sole or predominant factor in redrawing legislative boundaries; majority-minority districts.

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

delegate model of representation

a model of representation in which representatives feel compelled to act on the specific stated wishes of their constituents

trustee model of representation

a model of representation in which representatives feel at liberty to act in the way they believe is best for their constituents

politico model of representation

Legislators follow their own judgment until the public becomes vocal about a particular matter, at which point they should follow the dictates of constituents

divided government

one party controls the White House (party in power) and another party controls one or both houses of Congress

constituency

the people and interests that an elected official represents

mandatory spending

Required govt spending by permanent laws

August body

respected and impressive (prestigious and mature) refers to the Senate

President of the Senate

Vice President of the U.S.

germane

directly related to the topic of a bill

non-germane

additional bills (riders) that ride onto an unrelated bill, often to benefit a member's own agenda or programs to enhance political chances of the bill

sponsor

the member who introduces the bill

earmark

funds are direct to a very specific purpose, such as building a senior citizen center in a legislator's district.

pocket veto

an indirect veto of a legislative bill by the president or a governor by retaining the bill unsigned until it is too late for it to be dealt with during the legislative session

legislative oversight

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

senatorial courtesy

Presidential custom of submitting the names of prospective appointees for approval to senators from the states in which the appointees are to work.

Logrolling

An agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each other's bills (vote trading)

Rules Committee

A standing committee of the House of Representatives that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by the house.

advice and consent

Terms in the Constitution describing the U.S. Senate's power to review and approve treaties and presidential appointments.

continous body

governing unit whose seats are never all up for election at the same time (only 1/3 of them expire every 2 years)

President Pro Tempore

Officer of the Senate selected by the majority party to act as chair in the absence of the vice president (latin-president for the moment)

select committee

A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.

War Powers Act of 1973

Gave any president the power to go to war under certain circumstances, but required that he could only do so for 60 days before being required to officially bring the matter before Congress with the optional 30-day extension.

Apportionment

Distribution of representatives among the states based on the population of each state

Reapportionment

the process of reassigning representation based on population, after every census

Reapportionment Act of 1929

Set the House of Reps. at 435 members.

mark up session

After hearings are complete, a congressional subcommittee will usually determine a bill's future in final deliberations known as

Committee on Committees

Committees formed in each party conference and responsible for nominating the party senators to committee membership committee leadership positions. Nominations are subject to approval by the full party conference into a formal vote of the Senate

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.

line-item veto

an executive's ability to block a particular provision in a bill passed by the legislature

Malapportionment

drawing the boundaries of legislative districts so that they are unequal in population (Baker v. Carr, Wesberry v. Sanders)

simple resolution

an expression of opinion either in the House or Senate to settle procedural matters in either body

concurrent resolution

An expression of opinion without the force of law that requires the approval of both the House and the Senate, but not the president

joint resolution

A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of congress and by the president; constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president

incumbent

the current officeholder

franking privilege

Benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free

pigeonhole

To set a bill aside by a committee without considering it

Christmas tree bill

A bill that has many riders to increase its chances of being passed

Contract with America

In the 1994 congressional elections, Congressman Newt Gingrich had Republican candidates sign a document in which they pledged their support for such things as a balanced budget amendment, term limits for members of Congress, and a middle-class tax cut.

Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974

Established congressional budget committees.
Established CBO.
Extended budget process by three months.
Allows either house to override temporary impoundment (deferral).
Automatically voids permanent impoundment (rescission) unless both houses approve within 45 days.