Congress and Legislation Terms

These flashcards cover essential terms related to Congress and legislation, helping students understand key concepts for their exam.

Casework

Assistance provided by members of Congress to constituents who encounter a grievance with a federal agency or the state government. Usually non-legislative work to earn favor of citizens.

Congressional caucus

A group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic.

Cloture

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate. Requires 60 (3/5) senate votes.

Conference committee

Congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms to iron out differences.

Constituent

A person who lives in an electoral district and is represented by an elected official.

Discharge petition

A device by which any member of the House may petition to have a bill brought to the floor after a committee has had it for 30 days. Requires majority (218) signatures.

Earmarks

Hidden congressional provisions in bills that direct the federal government to fund specific projects.

Electorate

All the people in a country or area who are entitled to vote in an election.

Filibuster

A strategy in the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation use their right to unlimited debate to prevent a vote.

Gridlock

A situation when there is difficulty passing laws that satisfy the needs of the people.

Joint committee

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

Logrolling

An agreement by two or more lawmakers to support each other's bills.

Majority leader

The principal partisan ally of the Speaker of the House or the majority party's manager in the Senate.

Minority leader

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

Marking up

The process by which a congressional committee debates, amends, and rewrites proposed legislation.

Party polarization

The division between the two major parties on most policy issues.

Pigeonhole

To set a congressional bill aside in committee without considering it to effectively kill it without discussion, debate, or voting.

Pork-barrel legislation

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

Rider

A provision attached to a bill—to which it may or may not be related—in order to secure the provision’s passage.

Speaker of the House

An office mandated by the Constitution; the chosen by the majority party and is second in line to the presidency.

President pro-tempore

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

Whip

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

Trustee model

Legislators consider the will of the people but act in ways they believe are best for the long-term interest of the nation.

Delegate model

Legislators adhere to the will of their constituents.

Politico model

Legislators follow their own judgment (trustee) until the public becomes vocal, at which point they follow constituent dictates (opinion of public). Used to aid reelection while using personal knowledge to make wise decisions.

Rules Committee

A House committee that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated and amended.

Standing committee

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

Select committee

Congressional committees appointed for a specific purpose and short time, such as an investigation. Don’t typically pass legislation.

Unanimous consent

An agreement on the rules of debate or really any decision in the Senate that is approved by all members to expedite its execution.

Interest groups

Organizations of people with shared policy goals entering the policy process to try to achieve those goals.

Lobbying/lobbyists

Engaging in activities aimed at influencing public officials and the policies they enact.

Grassroots

Political action on the local level by ordinary citizens.

Iron triangle

A mutually advantageous relationship between bureaucratic agencies, interest groups, and congressional committees.

Issue network

Loose relationships among interest groups, congressional committees, and agencies that share a common policy concern. May disband after.

Free rider problem

The problem of people not joining a group or paying for something because they can benefit from its activities without joining and hope others will pay to upkeep its condition.

Revolving door

Employment cycle where individuals work for government agencies and then for interest groups or businesses in the same field.

Bicameral

A legislature consisting of two parts, or houses.

Gerrymandering

The drawing of legislative district boundaries to benefit a party, group, or incumbent.

Safe district

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

Incumbent

Those already holding office.

Incumbency advantage

The relative infrequency with which members of Congress are defeated in reelection attempts.

Divided government

Governance divided between the parties, e.g., one party holds the presidency and the other controls a house of Congress.

Malapportionment

Drawing the boundaries of legislative districts so that they are unequal in population.

Linkage institution

structures that connect citizens to the government, allowing them to communicate their preferences to policymakers and influence public policy.