Chapter 8: Legislative Branch

: A method of bringing a bill out of committee and to the floor for consideration without a report from the committee.

Discharge petition

help floor leaders by directing party members in voting and keeping track of vote counts.

Whips

Since 1913, the allows for the direct election of senators by the people of the state.

Seventeenth Amendment

The is the tendency of those already holding office to win reelection.

incumbency effect

: Additions to legislation that generally have no connection to the legislation.

Riders

Gerrymandering can be based on , incumbents, or race.

partisanship

on committees reflects the overall percentage of Democrats and Republicans in each house, and members try to serve on committees where they can influence public policy relating to their district or state.

Membership

is the method by which the Senate limits a filibuster.

Cloture

: Additions or changes to legislation that deal specifically with the legislation.

Amendments

Redistricting may also be based on helping or hurting the candidates.

chances of minority

Lobbying: Trying to influence to support or reject legislation.

members of Congress

: May affect the wording and therefore the final intent of the legislation.

Conference committees

and interest groups: Often provide members with information on topics relating to their group's interest or possible financial support in future campaigns.

Lobbyists

: Members often take into consideration the opinions of their and voters back home in their district or state.

Constituents

Limitations on powers: powers denied to Congress by Article I, Section 9 and the .

Tenth Amendment

/oversight powers: Investigate matters falling within the range of its legislative authority; often involves the review of policies and programs of the executive branch.

Investigative

The president can call for special sessions if there is a(n) .

national emergency

occurs when district lines are drawn to prevent racial minorities from electing their chosen candidate.

Racial gerrymandering

The Constitution guarantees that "no state, without its consent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate "()

Article V

: Groups of legislators who form voting blocs based on shared interests or goals.

Caucuses

: The rejection of a presidential or executive branch action by a vote of one or both houses of Congress.

Legislative veto

are elected at- large from each state.

Senators

are created to prevent the weakening of minorities voting strength in compliance with the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and its amendments.

Majority minority districts

Pork : An attempt to provide funds and projects for a member's home district or state.

barrel legislation

President: Presidents often lobby members to support legislation through phone calls, invitations to the , or even appeals to the public to gain support from voters to bring pressure on members.

White House

In the Senate, the U.S. vice president is the presiding officer, and the president pro tempore is a(n) of the majority party who presides in the absence of the Senate president.

senior member

Gerrymandering is drawing to favor one political party or group over another.

congressional districts

: the House may bring charges, or , the president, vice president, or any civil officer.

Impeachment

refer to the strategies and methods used by Congress and others to block or pass legislation.

Legislative tactics

They allow for the among members and enable the study of legislation by specialists.

division of work

The is the tendency of those already holding office to win reelection.

incumbency effect

are chosen by the majority party in each house and have various duties, including setting agendas, assigning members to subcommittees, and managing floor debates.

Committee chairpersons

Logrolling: An attempt by members to gain the in return for their support on the member's legislation.

support of other members

help floor leaders by directing party members in voting, informing members of impending voting, keeping track of vote counts, and pressuring members to vote with the party.

Whips

is made up of two houses that meet every two years, starting on January 3 of odd- numbered years.

Congress

presiding officer and most powerful member of the House; assigns bills to committee, controls floor debate, and appoints party members to committees; elected by members of his or her political party within the House

Speaker of the House

senior member of the majority party chosen to preside in the absence of the Senate president; mostly ceremonial position lacking real power

President pro tempore

powers specifically granted to Congress by the Constitution, mainly found in Article I, Section 8

Expressed powers

powers denied to Congress by Article I, Section 9 and the Tenth Amendment

Limitations on powers

the House of Representatives selects the president and the Senate selects the vice president in the event of an electoral college failure to achieve a majority vote

Electoral powers

Congress may propose amendments by a two-thirds vote of each house or by calling a national convention to propose amendments if requested by two-thirds of the state legislatures

Amendment powers

The Senate shares the appointment and treaty-making powers with the executive branch; the Senate must approve appointments by majority vote and treaties by two-thirds vote

Executive powers of the Senate

Investigate matters falling within the range of its legislative authority; often involves the review of policies and programs of the executive branch

Investigative/oversight powers

A key mechanism for passing legislation; bills may fail if committees reject them or fail to act upon them

Committee system

A method of bringing a bill out of committee and to the floor for consideration without a report from the committee

Discharge petition

A filibuster is unlimited debate in an attempt to stall action on a bill

Filibuster and cloture

An attempt to provide funds and projects for a member's home district or state

Pork barrel legislation

An attempt by members to gain the support of other members in return for their support on the member's legislation

Logrolling

Trying to influence members of Congress to support or reject legislation

Lobbying

Members often take into consideration the opinions of their constituents and voters back home in their district or state

Constituents

Each party's platform takes a stand on major issues, and loyal members often adhere to the "party line."

Party influences

an increasing number of independent voters and an increase in split-ticket voting

Two factors increase the chances of divided government