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Appropriations
An act of Congress that funds programs within limits established by authorization bills. They usually cover one year.
Authorizations
Budget legislation that provides agencies and departments with the legal authority to operate; may specify funding levels but does not actually provide the funding (the funding is provided by appropriations).
Casework
Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals, particularly by cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to get.
Cloture
A method of ending debate and securing an immediate vote on a measure. The main purpose is to provide a means to check a filibuster.
Conference Committee
Congressional committee formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms. Party leadership appoints members from each house to iron out the differences and bring back a single bill.
Constituency
Both the geographic area and the people a member of Congress represents; for a senator, the state and all its residents; for a member of the House, a congressional district and all its residents.
Constituency Service
The assistance members of Congress provide to residents in their districts (states, if senators); includes answering questions and doing personal favors for those who ask for help. Also called casework.
Earmark
A specific amount of money designated—or set aside—at the request of a member of Congress for a favored project, usually in his or her district. The dollar amount may be included in one of the budget authorization bills, but more commonly, it is in the committee report attached to the bill that instructs the relevant executive branch agency how to spend the money authorized for its operations.
Filibuster
A strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation use their right to unlimited debate to prevent the Senate from ever voting on a bill. Sixty members present and voting can halt a filibuster.
Gerrymander
Manipulating the boundaries of an electoral constituency so as to favor one party or class.
Going Public
The process in which Congress or its members carry an issue debate to the public via the media, such as through televised floor debates or media appearances by individual members.
Implied Powers Clause
Powers of the federal that go beyond those enumerated in the Constitution, in accordance with the statement in the Constitution the Congress has the power to "make all laws necessary and proper for carrying into execution" the powers enumerated in article I
Informal Norms
Are those which are not written or codified and just generally understood by society that they exist.
Majority Leader
The title of both the leader of the Senate, who is chosen by the majority party, and the head of the majority party in the House of Representatives, who is second in command to the Speaker of the House.
Markup
After hearings are completed, the bill is considered in a session that is popularly known as a "______" session. Members of the committee study the viewpoints in detail. Amendments may be offered to the bill, and the committee members vote to accept or reject these changes.
Minority Leader
The leader of the minority party in either the House of Representatives or the Senate.
Oversight
is the power of Congress and the 50 states legislatures to investigate the facts and carry out their legislative functions.
Party Caucus
A ______ is a political party gathering in which party members choose candidates for an election.
Party Government
A system in which the central party leaders recruit candidates for office, and when elected, the candidates vote with party leaders.
Pay-as-you-go
Budgetary rules adopted by Congress that set caps on spending and bar legislation to increase spending without offsetting cuts in spending or increases in revenue.
Pork Barrel Projects
Special projects, buildings, and other public works in the district or state of a member of Congress that he or she supports because they provide jobs for constituents and enhance the member's reelection chances, rather than because the projects are necessarily wise.
Reapportionment
The process of reallocating seats in the House of Representative every 10 years based on the results of the census
Redistricting
The process of redrawing the boundaries of congressional districts within a state after a census to take account of population shifts.
Rules Committee
The _______ is a committee of the United States House of Representatives. It is responsible for the rules under which bills are presented to the house of Representatives. The committee is often considered on of the most powerful committees as it influences the introduction and process of legislation through the House.
Seniority Rule
The custom that the member of the majority party with the longest service on a particular congressional committee becomes its chair; applies most of the time but is occasionally violated.
Speaker of the House
The leader and presiding officer of the House of Representatives; chosen by the majority party.
Special Interest Caucuses
Caucuses that represent specific interests such as the Congressional Black Caucus
Standing Committees
Permanent congressional committees.
Supermajority
A specified portion of votes, usually 60 percent, in excess of a simple majority, to pass a certain type of legislation
Unified Government
The situation in which one party controls both the White House and Congress.
Whips
Members of the House of Representatives who work to maintain party unity by keeping in contact with party members and trying to ensure they vote for party-backed bills. Both the majority and the minority party have a ____ and several assistant _____.
