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;
38 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
Bicameral |
Legislature with two chambers
|
|
|
House of Representatives |
One of the two Legislatures, composed of 435 reps.
|
|
|
Senate |
One of the two Legislatures, composed of 100 reps.
|
|
|
Continuous Body |
The Senate is made up of a Continuous body, terms are 6 years but elections are every two years |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
From the Majority party in the House, controls a lot of the House
|
|
|
Majority Leader |
Present in both the House and the Senate, has more power in the Senate. From the Majority party
|
|
|
Minority Leader
|
From the minority party, is the head of the minority party. Will take over leadership if the majority flips. |
|
|
Whip |
"whips" votes into shape, gets votes for either party. |
|
|
President pro tempore |
Acting as the VP, controls debate, who can speak, etc.
|
|
|
Hopper |
Where bills are placed in the Senate |
|
|
Standing Committee |
A permanent committee in either the House or the Senate |
|
|
Congressional Budget Officer |
federal agency within the legislative branch of the United States government that provides budget and economic information to Congress |
|
|
Select Committee |
Temporary Committees that go away when the issue is resolved |
|
|
Joint Committee |
These are only active when issues in the House and Senate overlap. |
|
|
Conference Committee |
A result of when two bills from the House and Senate are supposed to be the same, but are not the same. They get ironed out here |
|
|
Rules Committee |
a legislative committee responsible for expediting the passage of bills |
|
|
Closed Rule |
In the House, closed rule means that the bill cannot be changed. |
|
|
Open Rule |
Bill can be changed, very open style of debate. |
|
|
Filibuster |
A tactic to prolong/prevent a bill from passing.
|
|
|
Cloture |
A vote to end a filibuster |
|
|
Pocket Veto |
When there are less than ten days left in Congress, the bill can be left alone and it will just die. |
|
|
Discharge petition |
A discharge petition is a means of bringing a bill out of committee and to the floor for consideration without a report from the committee and usually without cooperation of the leadership by "discharging" the committee from further consideration of a bill or resolution. |
|
|
Christmas tree bill |
When there is a lot of pork attached to a bill that is guarenteed to pass. |
|
|
Quorum |
minimum number of members of an assembly or society that must be present at any of its meetings to make the proceedings of that meeting valid. |
|
|
Congressional Research Service |
Helps congress be informed on legislature they are passing |
|
|
Franking |
A congressman/womans right to free mailing to their constituents |
|
|
Incumbent |
Congressperson already in office |
|
|
Gerrymandering |
Redistricting to benefit you |
|
|
Reapportionment |
the determination of the proportional number of members each US state sends to the House of Representatives, based on population figures. |
|
|
Majority Minority District |
When the majority of a district are minorities |
|
|
Malapportionment |
apportioning of representatives that is incorrect |
|
|
Pork Barrel Legislation |
Laws tacked on to make a congressperson look good to the contituents |
|
|
Party Polarization |
The influence a party has on it's members |
|
|
Gridlock |
When congress doesn't agree on any issues |
|
|
Logrolling |
Calling in favours with other congresspersons, and helping them with their legislature. |
|
|
Earmarks |
Specific spending, often with pork. |
|
|
Caucus |
a meeting of the members of a legislative body who are members of a particular political party, to select candidates or decide policy |
|
|
Rider |
condition or proviso added to something already said or decreed. |
