US Congress: Key Terms

Filibuster

One or more senators used a procedural tactic to prevent a vote on a measure or motion

Hold

Allows a senator to inform their party leadership that they do not want a measure or nomination to reach the floor for consideration

Cloture

A vote needed to end a filibuster (⅗ or 60 votes required)

Unanimous Consent

Formal agreement on a matter before Congress, that sets aside a rule of procedure to expedite proceedings (only granted if no member objects)

Germaneness Requirement

A rule that an amendment must be relevant, appropriate, and closely related to the subject matter of the bill being amended

Speaker of the House

Presiding officer of the House of Representatives/ Political Leader of majority party/ 2nd in line for presidential succession after VP

Discharge Petition

Allows a majority of the members (218) to bring a bill out of committee and onto the floor for consideration bypassing the committee/leadership/Rare - used to prevent a bill from being stalled in committee

Rules Committee

Controls what bills go onto the house floor and the terms of debate; Issues a rule for each bill; weighed in favor of the majority party

Closed Rule

Probits amendments to a bill being considered on the house floor; Ensures a bill passes exactly as written

Open Rule

Permits offering of an germane amendment to a bill on the house floor; Encourages debate/more open and unpredictable legislative process

Committee on Ways and Means

A powerful standing committee in the house that has jurisdiction over all revenue generating measures (taxation/tariffs) and major entitlement programs (Medicare, SS)

Committee of the Whole

"Procdural device" used to expedite consideration of important legislation (revenue bills/appropriations); Rules are more flexible/ Applies to both House and

Divided Government

The control of the executive and legislative branch is split between two parties (dem/rep)

Partisanship

A strong support for one's own political party (Congress - voting/acting along party lines

Polarization

Political ideologies that move more towards the extreme

Gridlock

The inability to comprise results in conflicts between parties or Congress and President, which leads to little to no legislation being passed

Standing Committee

Permanent committees established by the House/Senate rules that are responsible for legislation within a specific subject area

Mark-up

Process where the congressional committee/subcommittee debates, amends, and rewrites a bill

Appropriations Committee

A standing committee in Congress that is responsible for determining the amount of money (appropriations) that will be allocated to federal agencies and programs

Omnibus bills

Single bill that packages together several diverse and often complex legislative measures that would typically pass as separate bills; Often used for massive legislative undertakings (appropriations bills/controversial measures)

Conference committee

A temporary joint committee formed to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of a bill; Produce a single, compromise bill that must then be approved by both chambers before going to the President

Seniority Rule

Committee chairpersons and the ranking minority members are the members with the longest continuous service on that specific committee

Pocket veto

If the President neither signs nor vetoes a bill, and Congress adjourns within the ten-day period after the bill is presented to the President, the bill is effectively killed

Pork barrel legislation

Legislation that includes tangible benefits that are designed to please constituents in a politician's home district or state

Riders/Earmarks

An unrelated amendment or provision that is attached to a main bill/A specific spending provision placed on a bill that requires the funding to be spent on a particular project or exempts (person/place) from a law

Logrolling

A legislative practice in which two or more legislators agree to trade support for each other's bills or amendments

Congressional Oversight

The power of Congress to review, monitor, and supervise the implementation of legislation and the activities of the executive branch (cabinet departments/agencies)

Mandatory Spending

Federal spending that is required by laws

Discretionary Spending

Federal spending that Congress can choose to spend each year through annual appropriations bills

Trustee

A Congressperson is entrusted by constituents to use their own best judgment to make decisions on policies, regardless of public opinion or constituent surveys

Delegate

A Congressperson is obligated to vote according to the clear preferences of the majority or state regardless of whether it conflicts with their own personal opinions

Politico

Congressperson acts as a delegate when the issue is highly visible and constituents have clear preferences, but they act as a trustee on less visible issues where they must rely on their own expertise and judgment (hybrid)