Studied by 34 PeopleTags & Description
caucuses
groups of like minded people
coalitions
working relationships - alliance for combined action
house of representatives
435 members, serves 2 years, the lower chamber of u.s. congress that makes and passes federal laws 435 members, serves 2 years
power of the purse
power to raise revenue - to tax
senate
represents the interests of the states in a deliberate assembly - upper house, 100 members, 6 year term
war powers act (1973)
requires the president to inform congress within 48 hours of committing u.s. forces to combat
cloture rule
rule 22, enabled and required a 2/3 supermajority to stop debate on a bill, thus stopping a filibuster and allowing for a vote
committee of the whole
state of operation in which rules are relaxed, 100 members - allows longer debate among fewer people and members to vote as a group rather than an individual roll call, more of a state operation
conference committee
created to iron out differences on a bill that passes both houses in slightly different forms
deficit
difference between spending and revenue
discharge petition
can bring a bill out of a reluctant committee with a simple majority to force onto house floor
discretionary spending
funding that congressional committees debate and decide how to divide up
filibuster
to block a nomination or to let the time run out on a deadline for voting on a bill
germane
amendments to a bill by members who may not speak for more than an hour and typically speaks for less
joint committees
unite members from the house and senate
logrolling
trading votes to gain support for a bill
mandatory spending
payment required by law, or mandated for curtain programs
omnibus bill
includes multiple areas of law and/or addresses multiple programs
pork-barrel spending
funds earmarked for specific purposes in a legislator's district
president of the senate
vice president, doesn't vote
president pro tempore
temporary president of the senate
rider
non germane amendments, often added to benefit a member's own agenda or programs or to enhance the political chances of the bill
rules committee
part of the house that can easily dispose of a bill or define the guidelines for debate because it acts as a traffic cop to the house floor.
select committees
temporary committees formed periodically for some particular and typically short-lived purpose
senate majority leader
chief legislator for the senate, the first person the chair recognizes in debate and the leader who sets the legislative calendar and determines which bills reach the floor for debate
speaker of the house
only house leadership position mentioned in the constitution, de facto leader of the majority party
sponsor
member who introduces a bill and typically assumes authorship
unanimous
approval of all senators
ways and means committee
committee exclusive to the house that determines tax policy
whip
deputy leader who is in charge of party discipline
baker vs carr
redraw state district lines to ensure one person - one vote principle
delegate model
used by members trying to reflect the will of their constituency
gerrymandering
illogical district lines drawn to give the advantage of one party
gridlock
the 'congestion' of opposing forces that prevents ideas from moving forward
"lame duck" president
executive who has not won reelection or who is closing in on the end of the second presidential term
"one person-one vote principle"
expanded democratic participation in the voting rights of minorities - established in baker vs carr
politico model
attempts to blend the delegate and trustee models in voting
shaw vs reno (1993)
discussed whether a congressional district designed for the purpose of assuring a majority black population violates the 14th amendment equal protection clause
swing district
marginal seats, closer elections
trustee model
representatives believe they're entrusted by their constituency to use their best judgement, regardless of how constituents may view an issue