Congress vocab part 2: terms 22-44

minority leader

The legislative leader elected by party members holding a
minority of seats in the House or the Senate.

Necessary and proper clause

Found in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution, this clause has been the constitutional basis for a wide variety of laws passed and powers assumed by Congress.

open rule

An order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to
be amended on the floor.

partisan polarization

A vote in which a majority of Democratic legislators oppose a
majority of Republican legislators.

politico

A legislator who makes a decision using a combination of the “trustee”
and “delegate” mindset.

party vote

There are two measures of such voting. By the stricter measure, a
party vote occurs when 90 percent or more of the Democrats in either
house of Congress vote together against 90 percent or more of the
Republicans. A looser measure counts as a party vote in any case where
at least 50 percent of the Democrats vote together against at least 50
percent of the Republicans.

pork barrel legislation

Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in
several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in
return.

quorum

The minimum number of members who must be present for
business to be conducted in Congress.

restrictive

An order from the House Rules Committee that permits certain
kinds of amendments but not others to be made into a bill on the floor.

riders

Amendments on matters unrelated to a bill that are added to an
important bill so that they will “ride” to passage through the
Congress. When a bill has many riders, it is called a
Christmas

roll

call vote

safe districts

Districts in which incumbents win by margins of 55 percent or
more.

select committees

Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and
purpose.

simple resolution

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

Speaker

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives and the
leader of his or her party in the House.

standing committees

Permanently established legislative committees that consider
and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject
area.

teller vote

A congressional voting procedure in which members pass
between two tellers, the “yeas” first and the “nays” second.

trustee

A legislator who makes decisions based on their own judgment of what
is best for the greater good of society or the country.

unified government

The same party controls the White House and both houses of Congress.

veto

Literally, “I forbid”: it refers to the power of a president to
disapprove a bill; it may be overridden by a two

voice vote

A congressional voting procedure in which members shout
“yea” in approval or “nay” in disapproval, permitting
members to vote quickly or anonymously on bills.

whip

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