Ap Gov Glossary Words Chapter 13

Front 1

bicameral legislature (ch. 13)

Back 1

a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts

Front 2

closed rule (ch. 13)

Back 2

an order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor

Front 3

cloture rule (ch. 13)

Back 3

a rule used by the Senate to end or limit debate

Front 4

concurrent resolution (ch. 13)

Back 4

an expression of opinion without the force of law that requires the approval of both the House and the Senate, but not the president

Front 5

conference committees (ch. 13)

Back 5

a joint committee appointed to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of the same bill

Front 6

conservative coalition (ch. 13)

Back 6

an alliance between Republican and conservative Democrats

Front 7

discharge petition (ch. 13)

Back 7

a device by which any member of the house, after a committee has had the bill for thirty days, may petition to have it brought to the floor

Front 8

division vote (ch. 13)

Back 8

a congressional voting procedure in which members stand and are counted

Front 9

double-tracking (ch. 13)

Back 9

a procedure to keep the Senate going during a filibuster in which the disputed bill is shelved temporarily so that the Senate can get on with other business

Front 10

filibuster (ch. 13)

Back 10

an attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely, thus preventing the Senate from taking action on the bill

Front 11

franking privilege (ch. 13)

Back 11

the ability of members to mail letters to their constituents free of charge by substituting their facsimile signature for postage

Front 12

joint committees (ch. 13)

Back 12

committees on which both senators and representatives serve

Front 13

joint resolution (ch. 13)

Back 13

a formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of Congress and by the president; constitutional amendments need not be singed by the president

Front 14

majority leader (ch. 13)

Back 14

the legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or the Senate

Front 15

marginal districs (ch. 13)

Back 15

political districts in which candidates elected to the House of Representatives win in close elections, typically by less than 55 percent of the vote

Front 16

minority leader (ch. 13)

Back 16

the legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority of seats in the House or the Senate

Front 17

multiple referral (ch. 13)

Back 17

a congressional process whereby a bill may be referred to several important committees

Front 18

open rule (ch. 13)

Back 18

an order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor

Front 19

party polarization (ch. 13)

Back 19

a vote in which a majority of Democratic legislators oppose a majority of Republican legislators

Front 20

pork-barrel legislation (ch. 13, 17)

Back 20

legislation that gives tangible benefits to constitutents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return

Front 21

private bill (ch. 13)

Back 21

a legislative bill that deals only with specific, private, personal, or local matters

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public bill (ch. 13)

Back 22

a legislative bill that deals with matters of general concern

Front 23

quorum (ch. 13)

Back 23

the minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress

Front 24

quorum call (ch. 13)

Back 24

a roll call in either house of Congress to see whether the minimum number of representatives required to conduct business is present

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restrictive rule (ch. 13)

Back 25

an order from the House Rules Committee that permits certain kinds of amendments but not others to be made into a bill on the floor

Front 26

roll-call vote (ch. 13)

Back 26

a congressional voting procedure that consists of members andwering "yea" or "nay" to their names

Front 27

safe districts (ch. 13)

Back 27

districts in which incumbents win by margins of 55 percent or more

Front 28

select committees (ch. 13)

Back 28

congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose

Front 29

sequential referral (ch. 13)

Back 29

a congressional process by which a Speaker may send a bill to a second committee after the first is finished acting

Front 30

simple resolution (ch. 13)

Back 30

an expression of opinion either in the House or Senate to settle procedural matters in either body

Front 31

standing committees (ch. 13)

Back 31

permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area

Front 32

teller vote (ch. 13)

Back 32

a congressional voting procedure in which members pass between two tellers, the "yeas" first and the "nays" second

Front 33

voice vote (ch. 13)

Back 33

a congressional voting procedure in which members shout "yea" in approval or "nay" in disapproval, permitting members to vote quickly or anonymously on bills

Front 34

whip (ch. 13)

Back 34

a senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking

Front 35

caucus

Back 35

an association of Congress members created to advance a political ideology or a regional, ethnic, or economic interest