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Appropriation
Money granted by Congress or to a state legislature for a specific purpose
Appropriations Committee
responsible for setting specific expenditures of money by the government of the United States.
Bill
A proposed law, drafted in precise, legal language, Anyone can draft it, but only a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate can formally submit a it for consideration.
Casework
Assistance given to constituents by congressman members, cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to get
Closed rule
an order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate and forbids a particular bill from being amended on the floor
Cloture
A rule used by the Senate to end or limit debate and take a vote
Conference Committee
joint committe appointed to resolve differences in House and Senate version of the same bill
Constituents
The citizens of a district that a Representative represents.
Discharge petition
A device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had a bill for thirty days, may petition to have it brought to the floor. If a majority of members agree, the bill is discharged for the committee.
Filibuster
an attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely, thus preventing the Senate from taking action on the bill
Franking privilege
A function of members of congress that allows them to mail letters and other materials postage free by submitting their facsimile signature (frank) for postage
Gerrymandering
Term that describes the deliberate rearrangement of the boundaries of congressional districts to influence the outcome of elections
Impeachment
Formal accusation against a president or other public official, the first step in removal from office.
Incumbency effect
Tendency of those already holding office to win reelection due to the advantage of
them already holding office
Legislative oversight
Congress reviews/monitors actions of the executive branch and executive agencies
Legislative veto
The ability of congress to override a presidential decision; ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Immigration &Naturalization Service v. Chadha
Lobbying
The act of attempting to influence business and government leaders to create legislation or conduct an activity that will help a particular organization.
Logrolling
the practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics by reciprocal voting for each other's proposed legislation.
Mark up
is the process by which a U.S. congressional committee or state legislative session debates, amends, and rewrites proposed legislation.
Open rule
A set of regulations for debate on the floor of the House of Representatives which permits general debate and allows members to offer amendments.
Pork barrel
the use of government funds for projects designed to please voters or legislators and win votes.
Reapportionment
Redistribution of the congressional seats among the states after the census determines changes in population distribution
Redistricting
The redrawing of congressional and other legislative district lines following the census, to accommodate population shifts and keep districts as equal as possible in population
Rider
An addition of amendment added to a bill that often has no relation to the bill but that may not pass on its own merits (senate only)
Rules Committee
A standing committee in the House that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by the house
Senatorial courtesy
process by which presidents, when selecting district court judges, defer to the senator in whose state the vacancy occurs
Seniority system
a system that gives the member of the majority party with the longest uninterrupted service on a particular committee the leadership of that committee
Standing committees
Separate permanent subject-matter committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas.
Sunset laws
a law that automatically terminates a regulatory agency, board, or function of government on a certain date, unless renewed
Ways and Means Committee
a permanent committee of the United States House of Representatives that makes recommendations to the US House on all bills that would raise revenue
Amendment
an alteration of or addition to a motion, bill, constitution, etc.
Law
the system of rules that a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and may enforce by the imposition of penalties.
Caucus
a meeting at which local members of a political party register their preference among candidates running for office or select delegates to attend a convention.
Committee Chair
The most important influencers of the congressional agenda. They play dominant roles in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills when they are brought before the full house.
Congressional Budget Office
a federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government that provides budget and economic information to Congress
Bicameral Legislature
A legislature divided into two houses.
Floor Action
Is that which occurs as part of a formal session of the full Senate.
Incumbent
Congressmen already holding office.
Majority Leader
the head of the majority party in a legislative body, especially the US Senate or House of Representatives.
Minority Leader
The head of the minority party in a legislative body, especially the US Senate or House of Representatives.
Subcommittee
a number of people chosen from a committee (a small group of people who represent a larger organization) to study or manage a particular subject
Whip
Party leaders who work with the majority leader or minority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party.
Trustee
Legislator who should consider the will of the people but act in ways that they believe are best for the long-term interest of the nation
Government Accountability Office
independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress. Often called the "congressional watchdog," GAO investigates how the federal government spends taxpayer dollars.
Instructed Delegates
representative who acts according to the wishes of his constituents, while a trustee exercises his own judgment.
Politicos
role played by elected representatives who act as trustees or as delegates, depending on the issue
Speaker of the House
An office mandated by the Constitution. They are chosen in practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant.
President Pro Tempore
the official chair of the Senate; usually the most senior member of the majority party; aka "pro tem"
