CON Important terms

Constituencytext annotation indicator: The people that reside in the area from which an official was elected.

Bicameraltext annotation indicator: A legislative assembly that is composed of two chambers or houses.

Pork Barreltext annotation indicator: Government projects or appropriations yielding rich patronage benefits.

Select Committeetext annotation indicator: Typically, temporary legislative committees that are set up to highlight or investigate a certain issue or address an issue that is not within the jurisdiction.

Standing Committeetext annotation indicator: Permanent committees that have the power to propose and write legislation that covers a certain subject.

Joint Committeetext annotation indicator: Legislative committees that are formed of members of both the House and the Senate.

Conference Committeetext annotation indicator: Joint committees that are created to work out a compromise on House and Senate versions of a piece of legislation.

Seniority Systemtext annotation indicator: The ranking that is given to an individual based on the length of continuous service on a committee in Congress.

Filibustertext annotation indicator: A tactic used by members of the Senate to prevent action on legislation that they oppose by continuously holding the floor and speaking until the majority backs down.

Cloturetext annotation indicator: The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster.

Roll Calltext annotation indicator: A system of voting in which each legislator's vote is recorded as the clerk calls the names of the members alphabetically.

Logrollingtext annotation indicator: The practice of exchanging favors, especially in politics by reciprocal voting for each other's proposed legislation. Mutual aid and vote trading among legislators.

Gerrymanderingtext annotation indicator: The manipulating of electoral constituency boundaries in order to favor a specific political party or socioeconomic class.

Redistrictingtext annotation indicator: The process of drawing electoral district boundaries.

"Lame duck"text annotation indicator: Period of office when an elected official is serving after the new successor has been elected.