American Citizen Vocabulary Terms For Chapter 13 - The Lawmaking Process

Front 1

The policy of the all-white government of South Africa by which racial groups were separated

Back 1

apartheid

Front 2

Congressional grants of money set aside for a specific purpose

Back 2

appropriations

Front 3

A proposed law

Back 3

bill

Front 4

A formal schedule of bills or resolutions to be considered by Congress

Back 4

calendar

Front 5

A vote of three-fifths of the Senate to end debate and call for a vote on a bill (and kill off a "filibuster")

Back 5

cloture

Front 6

A temporary committee made up of members of both houses of Congress whose job is to reconcile Senate and House versions of the same bill

Back 6

conference

Front 7

A request by a majority of the members of the House that a bill be released by a committee to the floor, so that it might be voted on

Back 7

discharge petition

Front 8

A tactic used in the Senate to monopolize debate in an effort to delay or block passage of a bill

Back 8

filibuster

Front 9

Discussing and voting on legislation (that usually takes place between Tuesday morning and Thursday afternoon) floor leader

Back 9

floor action

Front 10

A political party spokesperson who leads the action of his or her party on the floor

Back 10

floor leader

Front 11

A congressional session in which both houses meet together

Back 11

joint session

Front 12

An incumbent in public office who has been defeated in his or her re-election race (usually in November elections), but has not yet left office (called this because he/she has little real political power by this time)

Back 12

lame duck

Front 13

One of the major traditions in Congress, a type of reciprocity, is the mutual exchange of political favors -- "you support my bill, I'll support yours"

Back 13

log-rolling

Front 14

The floor leader of the House or Senate who represents the political power of the majority party

Back 14

Majority Leader

Front 15

The floor leader of the House or Senate who represents the political power of the minority party

Back 15

Minority Leader

Front 16

To kill a bill by refusing to take action on it or pass it out of a committee in Congress

Back 16

pigeonhole

Front 17

To take a temporary break in a legislative session.

Back 17

recess

Front 18

A formal statement by Congress expressing a legislative decision or opinion.

Back 18

resolution

Front 19

An amendment added to a bill that has nothing to do with the subject of a bill.

Back 19

rider

Front 20

This congressional committee is the "traffic cop" of the House of Representatives, because its consent is necessary for a bill to be taken from the House calendar, it can take bills out of order, schedule bills for debate, and set a time limit for debate and adding amendments.

Back 20

Rules Committee

Front 21

A way for the government to punish or show disapproval of another nation’s actions or policies, often in the form of economic and trade restrictions

Back 21

sanctions

Front 22

A temporary congressional committee created for a specific purpose that will not be handled by a standing committee.

Back 22

select committee

Front 23

Length of service, whether in Congress or on a committee

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seniority

Front 24

An emergency congressional meeting called by the President when Congress is adjourned or in recess

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special session

Front 25

The leader who presides over the House of Representatives

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Speaker

Front 26

The member of Congress who introduces a bill

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sponsor

Front 27

A large, permanent congressional committee that deals with bills about particular subjects (such as agriculture)

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standing committee

Front 28

A smaller division of a large standing congressional committee

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subcommittee

Front 29

To make a parliamentary motion to kill a bill.

Back 29

table

Front 30

The assistant floor leader for both major political parties in Congress.

Back 30

whip