Studied by 10 peoplePartisan polarization
A vote in which majority of Democratic legislators opposes a majority of Republican legislators
Bicameral legislature
Lawmaking body with two chambers
Filibuster
A way to defeat a bill in the Senate with prolonged speech(s)
Marginal districts
Districts in where representatives win in close elections, meaning less than a margin of 55%
Safe districts
Districts in where representatives win by margins of 55% or more
Conservative coalition
Alliance between Republicans and conservative Democrats
Majority leader
Legislative leader elected by the majority party in the House or Senate
Minority leader
Legislative leader elected by the minority party in the House of Senate
Whip
Senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what their party members are thinking
Speaker
The presiding officer in the House and the leader of his/her party in the House
Party vote
90% or more Democrats in either chamber voter against 90% or more Republicans. Loose measure is when a party vote is at least 50%
Caucus
Association of congressional members to advocate a political ideology or to advance a specific interest
Standing committees
Permanent committees that are responsible for legislation in a certain subject matter
Select committees
Committees that are appointed for a limited time
Joint committees
Committees that have both representatives and senators
Simple resolution
Expression of opinion in either the House or Senate to settle procedural matters
Concurrent resolution
Expression of opinion without force of law that needs approval of both the House and Senate but not the president
Joint resolution
Formal expression that a congressional opinion needs to be approved by both chambers and by the President
Discharge petition
Anyone in the House can petition a bill on the floor after a committee has had the bill for 30 days
Restrictive
Order from the House Rules Committee that certain kinds of amendments are only allowed.
Closed
An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate
Open rule
An order from the House Rules Committee that allows a bill to be amended on the floor
Quorum
The minimum number of members who need to be present for business in Congress
Riders
Amendments that are unrelated to the bill
Cloture
A rule that ends the Senate filibuster (60 votes)
Double tracking
Procedure to keep the Senate filibuster going, and the disputed bill is temporarily shelved.
Voice vote
Members shout yea or nay to quickly vote
Division vote
Members stand and are being counted during the vote
Roll-call vote
Members answer yea or nay to their names - so the names of who voter in which way are recorded
Teller vote
Members pass between two tellers, the yeas first and then the nays
Veto
When the president does not approve a bill
Divided government
One party controls the White House, and another controls one or both chambers of Congress
Unified government
The same party controls the White House and both chambers of Congress
Earmarks
Provisions that direct the federal government to fund specific projects
Pork-barrel legislation
Gives tangible benefits to the constituents in districts in the hope of winning their votes in return
Franking privilege
Ability for members to mail letters free of charge by using their signature for postage
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