U.S. Congress: Key Terms and Procedures for Civics and Political Science

PARTY CAUCUS

FORMAL GATHERING OF ALL PARTY MEMBERS

GERRYMANDERING

DRAWING DISTRICTS TO PRODUCE A PARTICULAR OUTCOME

RIDER

AN ATTACHMENT TO A BILL THAT IS NOT RELEVANT TO THAT BILL

NON-PARTISAN

POLICY OR MEMBER WITH NO PARTY AFFILIATION

PARTISAN

POLICY OR MEMBER THAT IS AFFILIATED WITH A PARTY

POCKET VETO

WHEN THE PRESIDENT TAKES NO ACTION ON A BILL FOR 10 DAYS

RULES COMMITTEE

POWERFUL COMMITTEE THAT CONTROLS THE LENGTH OF DEBATE AND WHETHER THE BILL CAN BE AMENDED

WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE

TAX COMMITTEE

CASEWORK

LEGISLATOR'S DAILY WORK FOR CONSTITUENTS

JOINT COMMITTEE

INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE MADE UP OF BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS

STANDING COMMITTEE

COMMITTEE TO WHICH PROPOSED BILLS ARE REFERRED

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE

COMMITTEE TO RECONCILE BILLS PASSED BY HOUSE AND SENATE

APPORTIONMENT

ALLOTMENT OF CONGRESSIONAL SEATS BASED ON THE CENSUS

REDISTRICTING

PROCESS OF REDRAWING CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN A STATE

MINORITY LEADER

HEAD OF THE PARTY WITH THE 2ND MOST REPS IN HOUSE AND SENATE

WHIP

PARTY LEADER WHO TAKES VOTE COUNTS ON KEY LEGISLATION

PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

SENIOR MOST MEMBER OF THE MAJORITY PARTY

DISCHARGE PETITION

VOTE THAT GIVES HOUSE AUTHORITY TO BRING AN ISSUE TO THE FLOOR IN THE FACE OF COMMITTEE INACTION

SENIORITY

TIME OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE ON COMMITTEE

FILIBUSTER

FORMAL WAY OF HALTING SENATE ACTION ON A BILL BY UNLIMITED DEBATE

MAJORITY LEADER

HEAD OF PARTY CONTROLLING THE MOST SEATS IN HOUSE OR SENATE

SELECT COMMITTEE

TEMPORARY COMMITTEE APPOINTED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSE

SENATORIAL COURTESY

WHEN PRESIDENT ASKS FOR HELP IN SELECTING DISTRICT JUDGES

BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE

GOVERNMENT COMPRISED OF TWO CHAMBERS IN THE LEGISLATURE

MARGINAL DISTRICT

THE OUTCOME IS TOO CLOSE TO CALL BEFORE THE ELECTION

SAFE DISTRICT

THE OUTCOME OF THIS DISTRICT IN NOT IN DOUBT

CLOTURE RULE

MECHANISM REQUIRING SIXTY SENATORS TO VOTE TO CUT OFF DEBATE

VETO

PRESIDENT'S ABILITY TO REJECT A BILL

PORK BARREL LEGISLATION

LEGISLATION THAT BENEFITS A REPRESENTATIVE'S DISTRICT IN THE FORM OF MONEY OR JOBS

RANKING PRIVILEGE

FREE POSTAGE FOR AN INCUMBENT

DELEGATE

ROLE PLAYED WHEN ELECTED OFFICIALS LISTEN TO OPINIONS OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS

TRUSTEE

ROLE PLAYED WHEN ELECTED OFFICIALS VOTE BASED ON THEIR OWN JUDGEMENT

DIVIDED GOVERNMENT

DIFFERENT PARTIES IN CONTROL OF THE BRANCHES

UNIFIED GOVERNMENT

SAME PARTY CONTROLS ALL BRANCHES

GRIDLOCK

GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN DUE TO PARTISAN POLITICS

APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

COMMITTEE THAT ALLOCATES MONEY FOR BILLS

CHRISTMAS TREE BILL

BILL THAT IS LITTERED WITH RIDERS

CLOSED RULE

BILL THAT CANNOT BE AMENDED

OPEN RULE

BILL IN WHICH AMENDMENTS CAN BE ADDED

DOUBLE TRACKING

WHEN CONGRESS WORKS ON TWO BILLS SIMULTANEOUSLY