Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
35 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
A lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts
|
bicameral legislature
|
|
|
an attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely, thus preventing the Senate from taking action on the bill
|
filibuster
|
|
|
Political districts in which candidates elected to the House of Representatives win in close elections, typically by less than 55 percent of the vote
|
marginal districts
|
|
|
Districts in which incumbents win by margins of 55 percent or more
|
safe districts
|
|
|
An alliance between Republican and conservative Democrats
|
conservative coalition
|
|
|
The legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or the Senate
|
majority leader
|
|
|
The legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority of seats in the House or the Senate
|
minority leader
|
|
|
A senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking
|
whip
|
|
|
A vote in which a majority of Democratic legislators oppose a majority of Republican legislators
|
party polarization
|
|
|
An association of Congress members created to advance a political ideology or a regional, ethnic, or economic interest
|
caucus
|
|
|
Permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area
|
standing committees
|
|
|
Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose
|
select committees
|
|
|
Committees on which both senators and representatives serve
|
joint committees
|
|
|
A joint committee appointed to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of the same bill
|
conference committees
|
|
|
A legislative bill that deals with matters of general concern
|
public bill
|
|
|
A legislative bill that deals only with specific, private, personal, or local matters
|
private bill
|
|
|
An expression of opinion either in the House or Senate to settle procedural matters in either body
|
simple resolution
|
|
|
An expression of opinion without the force of law that requires the approval of both the House and the Senate, but not the president
|
concurrent resolution
|
|
|
A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of Congress and by the president; constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president
|
joint resolution
|
|
|
A congressional process whereby a bill may be referred to several important committees
|
multiple referral
|
|
|
A congressional process by which a Speaker may send a bill to a second committee after the first is finished acting
|
sequential referral
|
|
|
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
|
discharge petition
|
|
|
An order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor
|
closed rule
|
|
|
An order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor
|
open rule
|
|
|
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
|
restrictive rule
|
|
|
The minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress
|
quorum
|
|
|
A roll call in either house of Congress to see whether the minimum number of representatives required to conduct business is present
|
quorum call
|
|
|
A rule used by the Senate to end or limit debate
|
cloture rule
|
|
|
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
|
double-tracking
|
|
|
A congressional voting procedure in which members shout "yea" in approval or "nay" in disapproval, permitting members to vote quickly or anonymously on bills
|
voice vote
|
|
|
A congressional voting procedure in which members stand and are counted
|
division vote
|
|
|
A congressional voting procedure in which members pass between two tellers, the "yeas" first and the "nays" second
|
teller vote
|
|
|
A congressional voting procedure that consists of members answering "yea" or "nay" to their names
|
roll-call vote
|
|
|
Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return
|
pork-barrel legislation
|
|
|
The ability of members to mail letters to their constituents free of charge by substituting their facsimile signature for postage
|
franking privilege
|
