American Government And Politics Today

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Constituent

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One of the persons represented by a legislator or other elected or appointed official.

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Bicameralism

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The division of a legislature into two separate assemblies.

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Lawmaking

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The process of establishing the legal rules that govern society.

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Earmarks

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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.

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Representation

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

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Trustee

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A legislator who acts according to her or his conscience and the broad interests of the entire society.

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Instructed Delegate

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A legislator who is an agent of the voters who elected him or her and who votes according to the views of constituents, regardless of personal beliefs.

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Rules Committee

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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.

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Filibuster

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The use of the Senate's tradition of unlimited debate as a delaying tactic to block a bill.

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Reconciliation

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

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Cloture

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Under Senate rule, debate may be ended by invoking cloture. Cloture shuts of discussion on a bill. Rule 22 states that debate may be closed off on a bill if sixteen senators sign a petition requesting it and if, after two days have elapsed, three-fifths of the entire membership. After invoked, each senator may speak on a bill for a maximum of one hour before a vote is taken.

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The Hastert Rule

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Speakers of the House from the Republican Party use another procedure that can prevent action on a bill. Under this rule, a Republican Speaker will only allow a bill to reach the floor of the House for a vote if it has the support of a majority of the Republican members.

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Senator term election

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Senators are elected by popular vote every six years. Approximately one-third of the seats are chosen every two years.

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Coattail effect

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When a party has a popular candidate at the top of the ballot, party members associated also benefit.

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Representative term election

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Elected every second year and number of seats awarded to each state is to be determine every ten years by the results of the census ( confirm if right).

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Reapportionment

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

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Redistricting

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

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Gerrymandering

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

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Packing

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

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Cracking

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

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Discharge Petition

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A procedure by which a bill in the House of Representatives may be forced (discharged) out of a committee that has refused to report it for consideration by the house.

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Standing Committee

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

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Select Committee

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

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Joint Committee

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

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Conference Committee

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

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Leadership in the House

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Made up of the speaker, the majority and minority leaders, and party whips.

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Majority Leader of the House

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Elected by members of the majority party to foster cohesion and to act as a spokesperson for the majority party.

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Minority Leader of the House

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The party leader elected by members of the minority party of the house.

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Whip

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A member of congress who aids the majority or minority leader of the House or the Senate. They assist leaders by passing down from the leadership to party members and by ensuring that members show up for floor debate and cast their votes on important issues.

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President Pro Tempore

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The senator who presides over the Senate in the absence of the vice president.

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Senate Majority Leader

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

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Senate Minority Leader

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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 his or her party.

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Executive Budget

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The budget prepared and submitted by the president to Congress.

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Fiscal Year

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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.

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Spring Review

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The annual process in which the Office of Management and budget (OMB) requires federal agencies to review their programs, activities, and goals, and submit their requests for funding for the next fiscal year.

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Fall Review

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The annual process in which the OMB, after receiving formal federal agency request for funding for the next fiscal year, reviews the requests, makes changes, and submits its recommendations to the president.

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Authorization

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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.

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Appropriation

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

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First Budget Resolution

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A resolution passed by Congress in May that sets overall revenue goals and spending targets for the following fiscal year.

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Second Budget Resolution

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A resolution passed by Congress in September that sets binding limits on taxes and spending for the following fiscal year.

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Continuing Resolution

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