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65 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts
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bicameral legislature
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an attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely, thus preventing the Senate from takng action to the bill
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filibuster
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political districts in which candidates elected to the House of Representatives win in close elections, typically by less than 55% of the vote
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marginal districts
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districts im which incumbents win by margins of 55% or more
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safe districts
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an alliance betweem Republican and conservative Democrats
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conservative coalition
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the legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or the Senate
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majority leader
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the legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority of seats in the House or the Senate
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minority leader
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a senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking
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whip
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a vote in which a majority of Democratic legislators oppose a majority of Republican legislators
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party polarization
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an association of Congress members created to advance a political ideology or a regional, ethnic, or economic interest
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caucus
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permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation with a certain subject area
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standing committees
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congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose
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select committees
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committees on which both senators and representatives serve
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joint committees
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a joiny committee appointed to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of the same bill
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conference committees
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a legislative bill that deals only with specific, privvate, personal, or local matters
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private bill
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an expression of opinion either in the House or Senate to settle procedural matters in either body
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simple resolution
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an expression of opinion without the force of law that requires the approval of both the House and the Senate but not the President
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concurrent resolution
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a formal expression of Congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of Congress and by the president; constitutional amendments need not to be signed by the President
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joint resolution
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a congressional process whereby a bill may be referred to several committees
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multiple referral
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a congressional process by which a speaker may send a bill to a second committee after the first is finished acting
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sequential referral
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a device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had the bill for 30 days, may petition to have it brought to the floor
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discharge petition
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an order from the House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor
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closed rule
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an order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor
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open rule
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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
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restrictive rule
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the minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in Congress
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quorum
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a roll call in either house or Congress to see whether the minumum number of representatives required to conduct business is present
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quorum call
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a rule used by the Senate to end or limit debate
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cloture rule
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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
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double-tracking
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a congressional voting procedure in which members shout "yea" in approval or "nay" in disapproval, permitting members to vote quickly or anonymously on bills
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voice vote
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a congressional voting procedure in which members stand and are counted
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division vote
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a congressional voting procedure in which members pass between two tellers, the "yeas" first and the "nays" second
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teller vote
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a congressional voting procedure that consists of members answering "yea" or "nay" to their names
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roll-call vote
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legislation that gives tangible benefits
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pork-barrel legislation
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the ability of members to mail letters to their constituents free of charge by substituting their facsimile signature for postage
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franking privilege
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What is the difference between Congress and Parliament?
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-Congress votes by personality, Parliament votes by party
-Congress votes without fear of collapse or being taken off the ballot. -Congress is independent from President -Congress is designed to be unpopular |
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What's the difference between being a Congressman now to in the beginning of America?
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back then most people only served one term and it wasn't a career, there was no pay and not a very good place to live
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Why have marginal districts become safe districts?
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-television and other media
-more likely to vote for the individual rather than the party -we know incumbents better |
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Why did the Democrats holding the majority in Congress change in the past?
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-people started to hate incumbents
-many were charged with misconduct |
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What are the three theories on how members of Congress behave in terms of policy-making?
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Representational view- aim to be re-elected so they must please the voters
Organizational view- want to please fellow members Attitudinal View- too many conflicting pressures cancel each other out so they just decide based on their own view |
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What is the problem with the theory of Representational View?
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-public opinion isn't clear
-Congress can do whatever on anonymous votes |
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What is an example of when a Congressman uses an organizational view?
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The Congressman doesn't know anything about the bill being voted on so he votes along with his party or someone he knows he'll agree with
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What is the polarization of members of Congress in contrast to the voters?
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Voters are closer to the center
Politicians extend far into the left and right |
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Who is the head of the Senate?
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The Vice President who leaves the job to the President Pro Tempore who leaves the job to the Majority Leader
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Who are the people that lead the Senate on a normal not really important session?
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Majority and minority leader
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What is the power of the majority and minority leader in the Senate?
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-Schedule business of Senate
-first in any floor debate -can use the second power to major influence |
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Which committee is in charge of helping the majority leader in the Senate?
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Policy Committee
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Who is the leader of the House?
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Speaker
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What are the powers of the speaker?
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-must preside over party and whole House
-decides who speaks, what is relevant, and assigns bills to committee |
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Who is the second in importance in the House?
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Majority leader
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Not too much in either direction, mostly in the middle (in terms of political ideology)
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Unimodal
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Is far apart in either direction (in terms of political ideology)
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bimodal
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What are the three kinds of committees?
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Standing (permanent)
Select (temporary jobs) Joint (House and Senate) -Conference committees are a type of joint committee |
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What is the result of all the rules of caucus for the House and Senate?
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-gives more power to individual people
-harder to block legislation -limited work done in House |
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What is the Congressional Research Service's (CRS) job? What is it a part of?
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Looks up facts (but doesn't propose policy) and keeps track of major bills and information
Library of Congress |
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What is the General Accounting Office's (GAO) job?
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Investigates agencies and policies
Makes recommendations |
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What is the Office of Technology Assessment's (OTA) job?
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studies and evaluates policy and programs on technology
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What is the Congressional Budget Office's (CBO) job?
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advises Congress on likely economic effects of programs and policies
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Which staff agency had little impact and was abolished in 1995?
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Office of Technology Assessment
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What are the advantages and disadvantages of multiple referrals?
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Advantage: all views heard
Disadvantage: greater chance to kill or modify and is very slow |
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What are three ways to bypass the Rules Committee?
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-2/3 vote
-discharge petition filed -Calendar Wednesday procedure |
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What are four ways to finalize a bill?
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Voice, division, teller, and roll-call
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Why is pork-barreling still necessary?
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-pork benefits district
-getting rid of it would result in creating a strict Parliament |
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What is the most powerful committee in the House?
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House Rules Committee
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Indirect veto by refusing to sign a bill after ten working days
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pocket veto
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Why will an Independent never chair?
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They never have a majority
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