Advice and consent
Legislative branch approving presidential appointments
Quorum
the minimum number of members of an assembly or society that must be present at any of its meetings to make the proceedings of that meeting valid
Congressional caucuses
Groups of Representatives who come together to pursue shared goals
Expressed powers
Same as enumerated powers, powers explicitly given to Congress by the constitution
Implied powers
Powers implied to be given to Congress by the necessary and proper clause
Franking privilege
The ability to send mail by signature rather than by postage, it dates back to the seventeenth-century English House of Commons
Reapportionment
Redistribution of house seats when the census shows population shifts
Redistricting
Re-designing district lines, including and excluding new places
Gerrymandering
When a political group tries to change a voting district to create a result that helps them or hurts the group who is against them
Discharge petition
Brings a bill out of a reluctant committee with a majority vote
Filibuster
Let time run out on voting for a bill or wear down opposition, usually by talking
Cloture rule
Requires ⅔ (60 votes or 3/5ths now) supermajority to stop debate and go to a vote
Standing committee
Permanent committees established under the standing rules of the Senate and specialize in the consideration of particular subject areas
House Judiciary Committee
A standing committee that drafts crime bills to define illegality and outline punishments
Ways and Means Committee
Outlines details when there are proposals to raise or lower income tax
Rules Committee
Considers all bills from policy/ monetary committees and decides if and when to put them on the floor
Joint Committee
Committees with both house and senate representatives
Select committee
Temporary committees
Conference committee
Temporary committees to iron out bills that passed both chambers in slightly different forms
Pork barrel spending
Allocation of funds to local or interest groups at a congresspersons discretion
Earmarks
Federal funds are directed to a specific purpose