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Legislative Branch Terms
bicameral legislature
Legislative body with two separate chambers
bill
Proposed law presented to the legislature for consideration
casework
Assistance provided by members of Congress to constituents
Speaker of the House
Presiding officer of the House of Representatives
Majority Leader
Leader of the majority party in the legislative chamber
Minority Leader
Leader of the minority party in the legislative chamber
whip
Member of Congress responsible for party discipline and vote counting
House Rules Committee
Committee responsible for determining the rules of debate in the House
caucus
Group of members of Congress sharing common interests or goals
pork barrel
Government spending on projects that primarily benefit a specific constituency
committee chairs
Members of Congress who lead committees
standing committee
Permanent committee in Congress that focuses on specific policy areas
select committee
Temporary committee in Congress created for a specific purpose
joint committees
Committees composed of members from both the House and the Senate
conference committee
Committee formed to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill
seniority system
System in Congress that gives preference to members with longer service
legislative oversight
Congressional review of the executive branch and its agencies
filibuster
Tactic used in the Senate to delay or prevent a vote on a bill
cloture
Procedure to end a filibuster and bring a bill to a vote
incumbents
Current officeholders running for re-election
trustee role
Role of a legislator to vote based on their judgment and conscience
delegate role
Role of a legislator to vote based on the preferences of their constituents
gerrymandering
Manipulation of electoral district boundaries to benefit a particular party
appropriations bill
Legislation that provides funding for government programs and activities
authorization bill
Legislation that establishes or continues a government program or agency
budget
Plan for government spending and revenue for a specific period
budget resolution
Congressional resolution setting overall spending and revenue targets
Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974
Law that established the congressional budget process
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
Nonpartisan agency that provides budgetary and economic analysis
continuing resolution
Temporary funding measure to keep the government running
deficit
Excess of government spending over revenue in a fiscal year
entitlements
Government programs that provide benefits to eligible individuals
expenditures
Government spending on goods, services, and transfer payments
federal debt
Total amount of money owed by the federal government
House Ways and Means Committee
Committee in the House of Representatives responsible for tax and revenue legislation
income tax
Tax on an individual's income
incrementalism
Approach to policy-making that involves small, gradual changes
earmarks
Funding provisions inserted into legislation for specific projects or interests
reconciliation
Process to bring revenue and spending levels in line with budget targets
revenues
Government income from taxes and other sources
Sixteenth Amendment
Amendment to the US Constitution authorizing the federal income tax
Social Security Act
Law that established the Social Security program
tax expenditures
Provisions in the tax code that reduce tax liability
uncontrollable expenditures
Government spending that cannot be easily changed
Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII)
Law that prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
Voting Rights Act of 1965
Law that prohibits racial discrimination in voting
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990
Law that prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act (McCain-Feingold Act) of 2002
Law that regulates campaign financing and political advertising
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