Congress

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franking privilege

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any and all devices or markings such as postage stamps

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unicameral

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having only one legislative or parliamentary chamber.

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bicameral

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two legislative or parliamentary chambers

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Speaker of the House

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presiding officer of the United States House of Representatives.

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Newt Gingrich

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American politician who served as the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 1999

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Nancy Pelosi

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60th and current Speaker of the House

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Harry Reid

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senior United States Senator from Nevada and a member of the Democratic Party. First elected to the Senate in 1986, and is up for a fifth term.

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party caucus

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meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement

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Rules Committee

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in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the floor.

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filibuster

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form of obstruction in a legislature or other decision-making body whereby a lone member can elect to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a proposal.

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17th amendment

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direct election of Senators by the people of a state rather than their election or appointment by a state legislature

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Rule 22

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governs cloture, the procedure used to end a filibuster

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cloture

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a motion or process aimed at bringing debate to a quick end.

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term limits

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a legal restriction that limits the number of terms a person may serve in a particular elected office.

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US Term Limits, Inc. v. Thornton (1995)

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the Supreme Court ruled that states cannot impose qualifications for prospective members of the U.S. Congress stricter than those specified in the Constitution.

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Marginal districts

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

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Safe districts

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GOP candidates at the top of the ticket carried at least 55 percent of the vote.

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House Banking Scandal

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early 1992 when it was revealed that the United States House of Representatives allowed members to overdraw their House checking accounts, but were not being penalized by the House Bank

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House post office scandal

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discovery of corruption among various Congressional Post Office employees and members of the United States House of Representatives, investigated 1991–1995,

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Shaw v. Reno (1993)

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The ruling was significant in the area of redistricting and racial gerrymandering. The court ruled in a 5-4 decision that redistricting based on race must be held to a standard of strict scrutiny under the equal protection clause

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descriptive representation

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describes how political power is alienated from most of the members of a group and vested, for a certain time period

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substantive representation

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concept in the legislative branches of representative republics describing the tendency of representatives to advocate for certain groups.

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sophomore surge

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an increase in votes that congressional candidates usually receive when running for their first re-election

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privileged speech

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legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made related to one's duties as a legislature.

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Edmund Burke

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served for many years in the House of Commons of Great Britain as a member of the Whig party. He is mainly remembered for his opposition to the French Revolution.

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organizational theory

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systematic study and careful application of knowledge

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President Pro Tempore

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constitutionally recognized officer of a legislative body who presides over the chamber in the absence of the normal presiding officer

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majority and minority leaders

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The leader of the majority party in a legislature, as in the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives.

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Party whip

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a legislator appointed by the party to enforce discipline

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Steering Committee (d)

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a committee to arrange the order of business for some larger (legislative) body

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Committee on Committees (R)

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Committees formed in each party conference and responsible for nominating the party's Senators to committee membership and committee ...
www.thecapitol.net/glossary/c.htm

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Policy committee

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A committee delegated to check ploicies to make sure they are constitutional

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Party polarization

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process by which the public opinion divides and goes to the extremes

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Caucus

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meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement

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Congressional Black Caucus

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An informal organization of African-American legislators found in the United States Congress, and in some state legislatures. The Congressional Black Caucus, established in 1969, exists to influence the making of public policy and to advance the interests of black Americans.

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Blue Dog Democrats

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group of moderate-to-conservative Democrats committed to financial and national security

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simple resolution

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for matters such as establishing the rules under which each body will operate. This type of resolution is used to act or speak on behalf of only one chamber of congress. [1]

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concurrent resolution

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Passed by both houses, concurrent resolutions are not presented to the President and do not have the force of law.

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joint resolution

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legislative measure that requires approval by the Senate and the House and is presented to the President for his/her approval or disapproval, in exactly the same case as a bill.

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multiple referral

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process of sending legislation to be considered by more than one committee

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sequential referral

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practice of sending a bill to more than one congressional committee for consideration and doing so in an ordered sequence.

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discharge petition

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bringing a bill out of committee and to the floor for consideration without a report from a Committee and usually without cooperation of the leadership

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closed rule

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Permits general debate for a specified period of time but generally permits no amendments

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open rule

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Permits general debate for a specified period of time and allows any member to offer an amendment that complies with the standing rules of the House

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restrictive 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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quorum

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the minimum number of members of a deliberative body, such as a legislature, necessary to conduct the business of that group.

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quorum call

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Transmitting the message that members are needed to establish a quorum so proceedings can begin.