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81 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Ad hoc Committee
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A temporary committee in either the House or Senate or a temporary joint committee. ALL House-Senate conference committees created to reconcile differences in legislation are considered ad hoc committees. Used in House and Senate
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Advice and Consent
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The power to advise the President, ratify treaties and confirm nominations. Article II of the Const. gives this power exclusively to the Senate.
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Amendment Tree
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The diagram used to plot the inter-relationship between amendments. "The tree" helps members keep track of how many amendments are pending, and how many may still be offered. Used in the House and Senate
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Appropriations Bill
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A portion of a law that allows federal agencies to obligate funds and to then utilize funds from the treasury to pay for them. Used in House and Senate
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At Large Representatives
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Representatives from states with a population size qualifying for only one House seat. These stare are Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North and South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming. (House)
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Authorization Bill
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A portion of a law that allows the creation of a program or agency, determines the agency policies, and allows appropriations for that agency. Authorizations may be annual, multi-year, or permanent. Used in the House and Senate
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Beltway
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An interstate highway that encircles D.C. and passes through Maryland and Virginia suburbs. "Inside the Beltway" refers to an issue that is only of interest to D.C. workers and residents. (House and Senate)
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Baseline
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The standard used to assess how bills would change current budgetary levels. Baselines must assume projected levels of federal spending and revenue. (House and Senate)
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Blue Dog Democrat
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One of 33 conservative Democratic Member of the House of Representatives who have banded together to support a more centrist position on economic issues than that held by their party. (House)
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Budget Act
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Congressional Budget Act of 1974
Created the current budget process, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), and the House and Senate Budget Committees. (House and Senate) |
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Budget Resolution
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A concurrent resolution that set the Congressional spending and revenue levels. It doesn't requite the signature of the president and may include suggestions for the House and Senate Committees to change current law in order to save money. (House and Senate)
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Bully Pulpit
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A terrific platform from which to persuasively advocate an agenda. Term stems from Pres. T.Roosevelt. (House and Senate)
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Byrd Rule
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Bans the inclusion of extraneous matter in budget reconciliation bills or measures when considered. (Senate)
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Call up a bill
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To raise a bill on the floor for immediate consideration. (House and Senate)
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Cats and Dogs
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Leftover " stray" bill on minor subjects saved for days with light schedules. (House and Senate)
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Caucus
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An organization of Members of the House and Senate, or both.They discuss topics of shared interest and plan policy collectively. (House and Senate)
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CBO
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Congressional Budget Office
Conducts non-partisan economic analysis/research and evaluates proposed bills and amendments by assessing their potential cost. (House and Senate) |
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C.F.R
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Code of federal regulations; rules written by federal agencies. (House and Senate)
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Closed Rule
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Allows debate for a set period of time and controls, often strictly, what amendments can be offered. Bans amendments to bill on the House floor, with the exception of Committee amendments. (House)
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Clerk of the House
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The chief administrative officer of the House of Reps: creates and maintains legislative documents, voting tallies, and other records. (House)
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Cloture
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The process that ends a filibuster in the Senate. Requires 60 votes by the Senate. (Senate)
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Committee of the Whole
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The entire House meets in the form of a committee. This process allows the House to become a "committee" to conduct official business with a quorum of 100 instead of 218. House Rules require that all money bills be considered in the Committee of the Whole. (House)
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Committee Report
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Prepared by a House or Senate Committee to explain the content of a bill being reported. Committee reports are optional in the Senate, but mandatory in the House. (House and Senate)
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Companion Bill
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A bill that is similar or even identical to one introduced in the other house of Congress. (House and Senate)
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Concurrent Resolution
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A resolution used to take an action or express opinion on behalf of both the House and Senate. The uses include fixing adjournment dates and setting the annual congressional budget. (House and Senate)
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Conference Committee
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A temporary panel of House and Senate negotiators that is created in order to resolve different versions of a bill that has been passed by the House and Senate.
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Conference Report
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The final version of a bill proposed by House and Senate conferees. It also contains the "statement of managers," a section-by-section explanation of the agreement. (House and Senate)
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Cordon Rule
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This requires Senate Committee reports to show in detail how a bill would change current law. The rule is named after the Oregon Senator who suggested it, Guy Cordon. (Senate)
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Congressional Record
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The official record of the proceedings and debates of Congress that is printed daily. (House and Senate)
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Discharge Petition
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This starts a process to force a bill out of committee. A successful petition needs 218 votes. (House)
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Discretionary Spending
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The optional spending set by annual appropriation levels made by decision of Congress. (House and Senate)
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Ear Marked
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Funds that are dedicated for a specific program or purpose. (House and Senate)
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Entitlement Spending
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Funds for programs that are automatically set by number of eligible recipients (i.e. Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security).
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Fast Track
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Special expedited procedures meant to speed up the regular legislative process. ( House and Senate)
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Filibuster
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Prolonging a debate without limits in the Senate. A cloture vote of 60 is needed to end it. ( Senate)
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Fiscal Year
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Any 12-month period beginning when you start a budget. October 1st to September 30th is the fiscal year for the federal government. (House and Senate)
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Floor
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The chamber in the Capitol where members assemble to conduct debate and vote. (House and Senate)
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Five Minute Rule
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This rule governs debate on amendments in the Committee of the Whole. It allows five minutes for and five against each amendment. (House)
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Front Loaded or Back Loaded
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Terms to describe the placement of changes in a multi-year budget plan. (House and Senate)
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GAO
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General Accounting Office
Audits federal agencies and programs for Congress. (House and Senate) |
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Germane
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Relating to the underlying principle attention of a bill. The House requires germaneness at all times unless excepted with special rules. In most circumstance, the Senate doesn't require germaneness. (House and Senate)
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GPO
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Government Printing Office
Prints laws, bills, committee reports, etc. (House ad Senate) |
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Homestead Act
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An 1862 law, which gave public lands to settlers who paid $10 and occupied those lands for 5 years. (House and Senate)
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Immunity
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The constitutional protection given to members from lawsuits for arrest while on duty except in cases of treason, a felony, or breach of peace. Members are also immune from charges of libel or slander for anything said on the floor. (House and Senate)
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Impeachment
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A formal charge of treason or criminality raised against an elected federal official. The house mat bring impeachment while the Senate tries and convict the accused official. (House and Senate)
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Joint Committee
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A committee that consists of the House and Senate members. They are the joint committees on the library, printing, taxation, the join economic committee. ( House and senate)
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Junket
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A critical term for a foreign trip taken by a member or group of members. (House and senate)
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K-Street
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The downtown Washington, D.C. Avenue where many lobbyists and lawyers have offices.
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Lame Duck
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Members who will not return in the next Congress but who are finishing out their current term. (House and Senate)
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Log Rolling
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The term used for an informal pact between members to vote for each other's priorities.
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Mark Up
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The meeting of a committee held to review the text of a bill before reporting it out. (House and Senate)
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Legislative Veto
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The repeal by Congress of federal agency or presidential actions. The Executive actions stand unless nullified by disapproval resolutions passed by Congress.(House and Senate)
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OMB
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Office of Management and Budget
A federal agency that prepares the president's budget submission to Congress and provides him with economic forecasts. (House and Senate) |
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Omnibus Bill
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A bill consisting of several distinct but related bills/items. (House and Senate)
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One-minute Speeches
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Given at the start of the legislative day. house members ask to address the House for one minute on any topic they wish. (House)
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Open Rule
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Permits all relevant amendments to be offered to a bill, without any restriction. (House)
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Open Seat
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This refers to Congressional districts/ states where no incumbent is running for re-election. (House and Senate)
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Override
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When the president refuses to sign a bill into law, Congress may still pass the bill by obtaining a 2/3 vote in both chambers. (House and senate)
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Outlays
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The actual payments made out of the federal treasury to fulfill obligations incurred earlier. (House and Senate)
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Pocket Veto
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When the President fails to sign a bill within the 10 days allowed by the Const. Congress must be in adjournment in order for a pocket veto to take effect. If the Congress is in session and the president fails to sign the bill, it becomes a law without the signature. (House and Senate)
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Power of the Purse
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The constitutional power given to Congress to raise and spend money. (House and Senate)
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President Pro-Tempore
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The second leading officer in the Senate. Fills in for the VP whet they are absent.
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Quorum
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The number of representatives that must be present in the House or Senate to conduct business. Senate needs 51 and the House need 218.
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Oversight
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The congressional review of federal agencies, government programs and performances. (House and Senate)
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Ramseyer Rule
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Requires House committee reports to show in detail how a bill would change current law. (House)
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Ranking Member
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The 2nd highest rank on a committee on the majority side, after the chairman. (House and Senate)
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Reconciliation Bill
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Makes the changes in law required to meet pre-set spending and revenue levels. (House and Senate)
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Reporting Out
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The vote of a committee to send a bill to the full House or Senate for review. (House and Senate)
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Revenue bill
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Focuses on the methods for raising money (i.e. taxes, user fees, custom duties, and tariffs). (House and Senate)
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Rider
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An amendment that is added in hopes of passing it more easily than if it were introduced as a standing bill. Usually unrelated to the bill's subject. (House and Senate)
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Roll Call
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The name of the member and his/her voting position are noted together (House and Senate)
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Rule 22
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governs cloture (Senate)
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Select Committee
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Special Committee
A committee created for a specific purpose and usually for limited amount of time. It is created by resolution by either house of Congress. (House and Senate) |
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Senatorial Courtesy
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Refers to the practice of consulting home-state senators on a nomination. the Senate rarely confirms presidential appointments if the nominee's own senators disapprove. (Senate)
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Seniority System
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The tradition of granting privileges to those who have served the longest. (House and Senate)
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Tabling
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A tabling motion, if adopted by a majority vote, permanently kills the pending matter and end any further debate. (House)
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Time Agreement
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A voluntary pact among senators to limit debate time on a bill or on an amendment. (Senate)
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Unanimous Consent
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All members on the floor agree to a pending request; need when a member wishes to act contrary to or outside regular procedures. (House and Senate)
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Up or Down Vote
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A direct Vote on the substance of an amendment or bill (clean vote). Yea or nay (House and Senate)
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Veto Proof
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Describes those votes with a margin sufficient to override a veto. Since 2/3 vote is required to override, a veto-proof majority is 290 in the House and 67 in the Senate. (House and Senate)
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Zero Based Budgeting
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Requires that a program be justified from the ground up each fiscal year. The alternative is to use the prior funding level for that program as the basis for further adjustments. (House and Senate)
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