legislative branch study guide

 Oversight

Congressional committee hearings held to determine how well an agency is doing its job.

Filibuster

A procedure used in the Senate to talk a bill to death.

Motion for cloture

A vote by 60 senators to end a filibuster.

Pork barrel spending

A provision added to a bill that benefits a specific congressional district.

 Logrolling

When members of Congress trade votes for favors in order to get the bills they supported passed.

Casework

When congressional staff help a constituent solve a problem.

Bipartisan

When both parties work together to sponsor a bill.

Discharge petition

a method where a majority of members can force a bill in the House of Representatives out of a committee to the House floor for a vote.

 Constituents

the people who a member of Congress represents.

Trustee model

model of representation where a member of Congress votes how they want to even if it sometimes is against the wishes of the majority of their constituents.

 Delegate model

a model of representation where a member of Congress loyally votes in their constituent's interest even if they personally object.

 Politico model

a model where a member of Congress votes as a delegate on issues important to their constituents but as a trustee on less important or more complex issues.

Franking privilege

The free mail and electronic signature system used by members of Congress

Standing committee

a permanent committee in either chamber of Congress, usually focusing on a policy area like defense or education.

Select (special) committee

a congressional committee created for a specific purpose, sometimes to do an investigation.

Conference committee

a committee created by the House and Senate to reach a compromise when each chamber passes different versions of the same bill.