Chapter 11: Congress

Appropriation

The passage, by Congress, of a spending bill specifying the amount of authorized funds that actually will be allocated for an agency’s use.

Authorization

A formal declaration by a legislative committee that a certain amount of funding may be available to an agency. Some authorizations terminate in a year. Others are renewable automatically without further congressional action.

Bicameralism

The division of a legislature into two separate assemblies.

Casework

In the example of Congress, personal work for constituents.

Conference Committee

A special joint committee appointed to reconcile differences when bills pass the two chambers of Congress in different forms.

Constituent

A person represented by a legislator or other elected or appointed official.

Continuing Resolution

A temporary funding law that Congress passes when an appropriations bill has not been decided by the beginning of the new fiscal year on October 1.

Cracking

In gerrymandering, splitting the opposing party’s voters into many different districts.

Discharge Petition

A procedure by which a bill in the House of Representatives can be forced (discharged) out of a committee that has refused to report it for consideration by the House. The petition must be signed by an absolute majority (218) of representatives and is used only on rare occasions.

Earmarks

Special provisions in legislation to set aside funds for projects that have not passed an impartial evaluation by agencies of the executive branch. Also known as pork.

Executive Budget

The budget prepared and submitted by the president to Congress.

Filibuster

The use of the Senate’s tradition of unlimited debate as a delaying tactic to block bills or nominations.

Fiscal Year (FY)

A twelve-month period that is used for bookkeeping or accounting purposes. Usually, the fiscal year does not coincide with the calendar year. For example, the federal government’s fiscal year runs from October 1 through September 30.

Gerrymandering

The drawing of legislative district boundary lines for the purpose of obtaining partisan advantage. A district is said to be gerrymandered when its shape is manipulated to determine which party will win it.

Hastert Rule

A rule adopted by Republicans in the U.S. House, under which a Republican Speaker will not bring a measure to the floor for a vote unless it has the support of a majority of the Republican members.

Instructed Delegates

Legislators or convention delegates who are agents of the voters who elected them and who vote according to the views of constituents regardless of personal beliefs.

Joint Committee

A legislative committee composed of members from both chambers of Congress.

Lawmaking

The process of establishing the legal rules that govern society.

Majority Leader of the House

A leader elected by the majority party in the House to assist the Speaker and foster party cohesion.

Markup

In the U.S. Congress, the process by which committees and subcommittees amend or rewrite proposed legislation.

Minority Leader of the House

The party leader elected by the minority party in the House.

Oversight

In a legislature, the process by which it follows up on laws it has enacted to ensure that they are being enforced and administered as intended.

Packing

In gerrymandering, packing as many voters as possible of the opposing party into a single district

President Pro Tempore

The temporary presiding officer of the Senate in the absence of the vice president.

Reapportionment

The allocation of seats in the House of Representatives to each state after a census.

Reconciliation

A special rule that can be applied to budget bills sent from the House of Representatives to the Senate. Reconciliation measures cannot be filibustered.

Redistricting

The redrawing of the boundaries of the congressional districts within each state.

Regular Order

In Congress, channeling proposed legislation through committee and subcommittee hearings, with solicited testimony and votes on revised language.

Representation

The function of members of Congress as elected officials representing the views of their constituents as well as larger national interests.

Rules Committee

A standing committee of the House of Representatives that provides special rules under which specific bills can be debated, amended, and considered by the House.

Select Committee

A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.

Senate Majority Leader

The chief spokesperson of the majority party in the Senate, who directs the legislative program and party strategy.

Senate Minority Leader

The party officer in the Senate who commands the minority party’s opposition to the policies of the majority party and directs the legislative program and strategy of the minority party.

Seniority System

A custom followed in both chambers of Congress specifying that the member of the majority party with the longest term of continuous service will be given preference when a committee chairperson (or a holder of some other significant post) is selected.

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer in the House of Representatives. The Speaker is always a member of the majority party and is the most powerful and influential member of the House.

Standing Committee

A permanent committee in the House or Senate that considers bills within a certain subject area.

Subpoena

An order by a court or legislative committee requiring that an individual appear and testify.

Trustees

In a legislature, members who act according to their consciences and the broad interests of the entire society.

Whip

A member of Congress who aids the majority or minority leader of the House or the Senate.