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House of Representatives
Members here serve two year long terms. There are 435 of them in total and the number that comes from each state is based on that state's population. All revenue bills are introduced here and they have the power to impeach public officials.
Senate
Members here serve six year long terms. There are 100 of them in total, two from each state. They have the power to approve federal appointments by the President and the power to ratify treaties. They can also hold impeachment trials and determine if an official needs to be removed from office.
bicameral legislature
a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts
Seventeenth Amendment
1913 constitutional amendment allowing American voters to directly elect US senators
Caucuses in Congress
Groups of like-minded people in Congress with shared interests around a certain topic or issue.
Enumerated Powers of Congress
Powers specifically given to Congress in the Constitution; including the power to collect taxes, coin money, regulate foreign and interstate commerce, and declare war.
Commerce Clause
The clause in the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1) that gives Congress the power to regulate all business activities that cross state lines or affect more than one state or other nations.
Power of the Purse
The constitutional power of Congress to raise and spend money. Congress can use this as a negative or checking power over the other branches by freezing or cutting their funding.
Necessary and Proper Clause
Clause of the Constitution (Article I, Section 8, Clause 3) setting forth the implied powers of Congress. It states that Congress, in addition to its express powers, has the right to make all laws necessary and proper to carry out all powers the Constitution vests in the national government
Advice and Consent Power
Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
Impeachment Process
Constitutional process for removing executive officers & judges for "treason, high crimes & misdemeanors". Two stages: (1) House must introduce the proceedings and vote to determine if a trial is needed; (2) Senate holds trial to convict and remove (2/3 majority needed).
Speaker of the House
An office mandated by the Constitution. This individual is chosen in practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant.
House Majority Leader
This officer in the House of Representatives is a floor leader and directs debate from the majority party. They also often negotiate with the minority party.
House Minority Leader
This officer in the House of Representatives is a floor leader and directs debate from the minority party. They also often negotiate with the majority party.
Whips
Party leaders who work with the majority leader or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party.
Senate Majority Leader
The chief spokesperson of the majority party in the Senate, who directs the legislative program and party strategy.
Senate Minority Leader
The party officer in the Senate who commands the minority party's opposition to the policies of the majority party and directs the legislative program and strategy of his or her party.
Vice President of the United States
Technically the "President of the Senate," this Constitutional officer does not oversee day-to-day activities but can preside over the Senate anytime he/she sees fit. This person's greatest power is in the ability to cast a tie-breaking vote.
President Pro Tempore of the Senate
the person who presides over the Senate when the Vice President is not present
standing committee
a permanent committee in Congress that meets regularly.
joint committee
A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate; such committees oversee the Library of Congress and conduct investigations.
select committee (aka special committee)
A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.
conference committee
Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.
House Rules Committee
the committee that determines how and when debate on a bill will take place
Ways and Means Committee
House committee that handles tax bills
House Appropriations Committee
Powerful House standing committee that oversees the allocation of funds to government agencies and programs.
Senate Judiciary Committee
Standing Senate committee charged with reviewing judicial affairs, including federal court nominations.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee
A standing committee of the United States Senate. It is charged with leading foreign-policy legislation and debate in the Senate.
Filibuster
A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.
Cloture
A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate.
discharge petition
Petition that, if signed by majority of the House of Representatives' members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.
unanimous consent
a motion by all members of the Senate who are present to set aside formal rules and consider a bill from the calendar
Omnibus Bill
One very large bill that encompasses many separate bills.
pork barrel spending (earmarks)
The appropriation of government spending for projects that are intended primarily to benefit particular constituents, such as those in marginal seats or campaign contributors.
Logrolling
vote trading; voting to support a colleague's bill in return for a promise of future support
Office of Management and Budget
An office that prepares the president's budget and also advises presidents on proposals from departments and agencies and helps review their proposed regulations.
mandatory spending
Federal spending required by law that continues without the need for annual approvals by Congress.
discretionary spending
Federal spending on programs that are controlled through the regular budget process
Gridlock
The inability of the government to act because rival parties control different parts of the government
Delegate Model
The view that an elected represent should represent the opinions of his or her constituents.
trustee model
a model of representation in which a member of the House or Senate follows his or her own conscience when deciding issue positions
Politico Model
Members of Congress act as delegates or trustees depending on the issue
Redistricting
The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population.
Gerrymandering
Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.
Baker v. Carr
Case that established one man one vote. This decision created guidelines for drawing up congressional districts and guaranteed a more equitable system of representation to the citizens of each state
Shaw v. Reno
The Court ruled that although it was a legitimate goal for state legislatures to take race into account when they draw electoral districts in order to increase the voting strength of minorities, they may not make race the sole reason for drawing district lines.
one person, one vote
The principle that each legislative district within a state should have the same number of eligible voters so that representation is equitably based on population
lame duck
An outgoing official serving out the remainder of a term, after retiring or being defeated for reelection
divided government
One party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress
bargaining and persuasion
an informal tool used by the president to persuade members of Congress to support his or her policy initiatives
Commander in Chief
The role of the president as supreme commander of the military forces of the United States and of the state National Guard units when they are called into federal service
executive agreement
an agreement between the president and the leader of another country
executive order
a rule or order issued by the president to the executive branch of the government and having the force of law.
Veto
Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature
signing statement
a presidential document that reveals what the president thinks of a new law and how it ought to be enforced
executive privilege
The power to keep executive communications confidential, especially if they relate to national security.
policy agenda
The stated policy goals of a president and their administration
Article 2 of the Constitution
Section of the Constitution laying out powers and responsibilities of the Executive Branch
pocket veto
A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.
Chief Diplomat
The role of the president in recognizing foreign governments, making treaties, and effecting executive agreements.
Cabinet
Advisory council for the president consisting of the heads of the executive departments, the vice president, and a few other officials selected by the president.
Federal Agencies
Special federal government organizations set up for a specific purpose such as the management of resources, financial oversight of industries or national security issues.
Bully Pulpit
the president's use of his prestige and visibility to guide or enthuse the American public
press secretary
the individual charged with interacting and communicating with journalists on a daily basis
State of the Union Address
A yearly report by the president to Congress describing the nation's condition and recommending programs and policies
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