Exam 3# Presidency

House/Senate Minority Leader

Leader of the minority party who speaks for the party in dealing with the majority

Speaker of the House

the presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives, responsible for ensuring order and facilitating legislative proceedings and representing the House in all official capacities.

Whips

Members of congress who serve as informational channels between the leadership and the rank and file, conveying the leaderships views and intentions to the members and vice versa

Conference Committees

A group of representatives from both house and senate work to create a compromise version on a bill

Standing committees

Committee with fixed membership and jurisdiction, continuing from Congress to Congress

Party Caucus/ Conference

All respective members of the house or senate. members within elect party leaders, ratify choice of committee leader, and debate party positions on issues

Cloture

Motion to end a debate, 60 votes to pass

Authorizations Committee

a standing committee in the Senate or House of Representatives that has the power to establish, continue, or change federal programs and agencies

Appropriations

Responsible for distributing funding for most of the functions of the federal government

Instructed Delegate

A representative who follows the specific preferences of their constituents when voting on legislation.

Trustee

A representative who acts according to their own judgment and conscience rather than strictly following the wishes of constituents.

Divided Government

one party controls the executive branch, while another party controls one or both houses of the United States Congress

Unified Government

A situation in which one political party holds the majority in both the executive branch and both houses of Congress, allowing for streamlined legislative processes.

Unanimous Consent agreement

Agreement that sets forth the terms and conditions according to which the Senate will consider a bill; these are individually negotiated by the leadership for each bill.

Substantive Representation

Act on behalf of preferences of group represented

Descriptive Representation

A form of representation where elected officials share characteristics such as race, gender, or socioeconomic status with the constituents they represent, influencing their perspectives and priorities.

Override

The process by which Congress can reverse a presidential veto, requiring a two-thirds majority in both the House and Senate.

Continuing Resolution

A type of appropriations legislation that allows federal agencies to continue operating at current funding levels when a new budget has not been enacted.

Congressional Oversight

The review and monitoring of federal agencies, programs, and policy implementation by Congress to ensure accountability and transparency.

Filibuster

A procedural tactic used in the Senate to delay or block legislation by prolonging debate.

Earmark

A provision in legislation that directs funds to specific projects or programs, often benefiting a particular constituency or interest group.

Rule

Specifies terms and conditions under which a bill or resolution will be considered on the floor of the house