American Government: C6 Terms: How Federal Laws Are Made

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handles all tax bills; studies & recommends bills that help workers & businesses

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House Ways & Means Committee

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changes or additions to a bill as a compromise to get it to pass both houses of Congress or Presidential approval

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bill amendments

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Senators trying to kill a bill by speaking so long that the Senate must go on to other business, delaying the vote

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filibuster

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Senate can end a filibuster by getting 3/5/ 60 Senators to vote to cut it off. Afterward each member is then allowed only one hour to speak after which a final vote must be taken

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Cloture Rule

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1. Sign bill into law 2. Veto bill; stop it forcing Congress to get a 2/3 vote to "override" veto 3. leave bill unsigned for ten days after Congress ends its session which kills the bill 4. leave bill unsigned for ten days

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Presidential Options (for new bills)

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people who represent the interests of a group by persuading elected representatives to vote for the groups position on an issue; gives unfair advantage over individual voters

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Lobbyists

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people, companies, or industries that feel strongly about a particular issue

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Special Interest Groups

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Presidential Veto checks power of Congress & 2/3 Majority in Congress can override veto as a check on President's powers

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Lawmaking Checks & Balances

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to make statements in hearings or in court to establish some truth or fact

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testify

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a branch of a standing committee that has a special area of study

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subcommittee

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a House-Senate committee that works out the differences in bills passed by the two houses of congress

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conference committee

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the leader of a government body who runs or directs that body

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presiding officer

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laws that are made or proposed

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legislation

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the leader of each of the two political parties in Congress who directs the debate on proposed bills

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floor leader

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the assistant to each of the floor leaders of Congress

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whip