Ch 11 Congress

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Bicameral

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body made up of two chambers or parts (US Congress)

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Caucus

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An association of members of Congress created to advocate political ideology, regional, ethnic, economic interest

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Closed rule

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Order from House Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate and forbids a particular bill from being amended on the legislative floor

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Cloture

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a method of closing a debate and causing an immediate vote to be taken on the question.

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Cloture rule

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Rule used by senate to end or limit debate. Designing to prevent filibusters. 3/5 Senators must vote for it.

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Committee system

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responsible for conducting a thorough investigation of proposal. (???)

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Conference Committees

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Committees on which both representatives and senators serve; made up of Congressmen appointed to resolve differences in House/Senate versions of the same bill before final passage

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Congressional Budget Office

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Advises Congress on likely economic effects of different spending programs; provides info on costs of proposed policies

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Congressional Research Service

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Part of Library of Congress that looks up facts and indicates arguments for/against proposed policy; tracks status of every major bill before Congress

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Discharge Petitions

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Device by which any member of the House (after committee has had a bill for 30 days) may petition to have it brought to the floor. Prevents killing bill by holding it too long

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Division vote

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Congressional voting procedure in which members stand and are counted.

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Double-tracking

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Procedure to keep the Senate going during a filibuster where a bill is temporarily shelved so that Senate can get on with other business

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Filibuster

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

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Franking privileges

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Ability of members of Congress to mail letters to their constituents free by submitting their signature for postage.

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General Accounting Office

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Audits, examines $ spent by executive departments; investigates agencies and policies, makes recommendations on every aspect of gov't

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House Rules Committee

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Committee that decides what bills come up for vote and in what order

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Incumbency

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Currently being in office

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Joint committees

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Committees on which both representatives and senators serve.

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Majority leader

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Legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in HoR or Senate

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Minority leader

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Legislative leader elected by party members holding the minority of seats in HoR or Senate

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Multiple referrals

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Congressional process where a bill may be referred to several committees that consider it in whole or in part.

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Open rule

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Order from House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the legislatvie floor.

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Pork

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Projects aimed at benefiting a congressman's home district or state

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Presidential veto

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Ability of president to prevent a bill from passing, sending it back to Congress

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President pro tempore

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a senator, usually a senior member of the majority party, who is chosen to preside over the Senate in the absence of the vice president.

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Quorum

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Minimum number of representatives required to be in attendance to conduct official business

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Restrictive rule

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Order from House Rules Comm. that permits some amendments but not others to be made to a bill.

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Roll-call vote

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Voting procedure that consists of members answering "yea" or "nay" to their names. Now done electronically

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Rule 22

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Allowed Senate debate (filibusters) to end by 2/3 of senators agreeing to a cloture motion

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Safe district

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Districts where incumbents win by margins of 55% or more

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Select Committees

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groups appointed for a limited purpose and time;

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Seniority system

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tradition of granting privileges to those who have served the longest.

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Seventeenth Amendment

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Requires popular election of senators

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Speaker of the House

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Leader of majority party, presides over the House

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Standing Committees

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Permanent bodies with specified legislative responsibilities.

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Subcommittees

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a secondary committee appointed out of a main committee.

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Teller vote

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Used in House; members pass between two tellers, first "yeas" then "nays"; identities of voters can be recorded

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Term limits

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???

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Voice vote

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Congressional voting procedure where members shout "yea" and "nay"; allows for quick/anonymous voting

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Whip

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Senator/representative who rounds up votes; helps party leader stay informed about party thoughts; rounds up members when important votes are to be taken.