AP Gov Unit 3 Part 1 - Congress and Legislature

Appropriation

Congress's grant of money to finance a government program or agency

Appropriations Committee

congressional committee that deals with federal spending

Casework

Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals; cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have the right to get.

Closed rule

An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor

Used in the House only.

Cloture

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate.

Conference committee

A joint committee formed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate to reconcile differences in legislation that has passed both chambers.

Constituents

The people who are represented by elected officials

Discharge petition

If this petition is signed by majority of the House of Representatives' members, it will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.

Filibuster

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to step off the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.

Finance Committee

Senate committee that handles tax bills, so this is how the government earns money; from those taxes.

Franking privilege

Benefit allowing members of Congress to mail letters and other materials postage-free

Gerrymandering

Process of redrawing legislative boundaries for the purpose of benefiting the party in power.

Hold

An informal practice in the Senate where a senator informs Senate leadership that they object to a bill or nomination reaching the floor for consideration, effectively delaying its progress

Impeachment

House (simple majority) action that formally charges an official with wrongdoing. Conviction required 2/3 vote from the Senate

Impoundment

Presidential refusal to allow an agency to spend funds that Congress appropriated!

Legislative oversight

Ongoing process of congressional monitoring of the executive branch to ensure that the latter complies with the law.

Legislative veto

The authority of Congress to block a presidential action AFTER it has taken place. The Supreme Court has held that Congress does not have this power

Logrolling

An agreement by two or more Congress lawmakers to support each other's bills

Mark up

committee action to amend a proposed bill.

Open rule

An order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor.

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Used in the House only.

Pork barrel

When lawmakers allocate government funds for local projects, primarily to benefit their constituents and secure political support

Quorum

The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress

Reapportionment

The process of reassigning The House's SEAT representation based on population, after every census

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.

Red tape

Complex bureaucratic rules and procedures that must be followed to get something done

Rider

A provision attached to a bill - to which it may or may not be related - in order to secure its passage or defeat.

Rules Committee

The "traffic cop" of the House that sets the legislative calendar and issues rules for debate on a bill

Seniority system

Tradition in which the Senator from the majority party with the most years of service on a committee becomes the chairman of that committee

Standing committees

Separate subject-matter committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas.

Sunset laws

laws that automatically expire after a given time

Ways and Means Committee

House committee that handles tax bills

Whistleblower

An employee who exposes unethical or illegal conduct within the federal government or one of its contractors