Congress Vocab

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franking privilege

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members of Congress can send out mail without without an actual postage stamp.

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unicameral

Back 2

one legislative body.

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bicameral

Back 3

two legislative bodies.

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Speaker of the House

Back 4

the presiding officer of the House of Representatives.

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Newt Gingrich

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58th Speaker of the House from 1995-1999, lead the Republican Revolution.

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Nancy Pelosi

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current minority leader of the House, 60th Speaker of the House from 2007-2011, first woman to hold position.

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Harry Reid

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majority leader of the Senate since 2007.

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party caucus

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a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement.

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Rules Committee

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a committee of the House of Representatives that is in charge of determining under what rule other bills will come to the floor.

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filibuster

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an attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely.

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Seventeenth Amendment (1913)

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direct election of senators through popular vote.

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Rule 22

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rule that overrides filibustering.

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cloture

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a rule used by the Senate to limit or end debate.

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term limits

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limits the number of terms a person can serve in a particular office.

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U.S. Term Limits Inc. v. Thornton (1995)

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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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districts where elections are won by less than 55%.

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safe districts

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districts where elections are won by 55% or more.

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House Banking Scandal

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the House of Representatives allowed members to overdraw their House checking accounts without risk of being penalized by the House bank.

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House Post Office Scandal

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the discovery of corruption among various Congressional Post Office employees and members of the House of Representatives, climaxing in the conviction of chairman Dan Rostenkowski.

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reapportionment

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redrawing to maintain equal population in each district.

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redistricting

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redrawing of local, state, and federal political boundaries every ten years.

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malapportionment

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drawing district boundaries to make unequal populations.

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gerrymandering

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drawing district boundaries in unusual shapes to favor one party.

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majority-minority districts

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a majority of the constituents in a district are racial minorities.

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Wesberry v. Sanders (1964)

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Supreme Court rules districts have to be approximately equal in population.

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Baker v. Carr (1962)

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Supreme Court rules that judges can intervene on apportionment if questions arise.

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"one man, one vote"

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slogan used for universal suffrage.

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Shaw v. Reno (1993)

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Supreme Court rules that redistricting must be conscious of race to be in compliance with the Voting Rights Act.

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descriptive representation

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elected representatives represent preferences of constituents.

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substantive representation

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representatives advocate for certain groups.

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sophomore surge

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an increase in votes for candidates who first run for re-election.

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privileged speech

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legal immunity against civil or criminal liability.

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Edmund Burke

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British politician who supported American revolutionaries.

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representational theory

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people are directly represented by elected leaders.

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organizational theory

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how Congress organizes themselves to create law.

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attitudinal theory

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Congress reflects attitudes of people.

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President Pro Tempore

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highest ranking senator who presides when vice president is absent.

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majority/minority leaders

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leaders elected by party members holding the majority or minority of seats in the House or Senate.

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party whip

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ensures party discipline in a legislature.

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Steering Committee (D)

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assigns fellow party members to their other House committees and advises party leaders on policy.

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Committee on Committees (R)

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recruits servicemen for committees and improves on structure.

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policy committee

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a small group which discusses plans for the way in which something will be done.

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party polarization

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divisions in party opinion.

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caucus

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a meeting of supporters or members of a political party or movement.

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Congressional Black caucus

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an organization representing the black members of Congress.

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Blue Dog democrats

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congressional representatives from the Democratic party who identify themselves as moderates.

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standing committees

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permanently established committee responsible for certain legislation.

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select committees

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committees appointed for a limited time and purpose.

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joint committees

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committees on which both senators and representatives serve.

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conference committees

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joint committee appointed to resolving difference between both houses.

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seniority system

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granting privileges to members who have served the longest.

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Congressional Research Service

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Congress's think tank, does public policy research.

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General Accounting Office (GAO)

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the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of Congress.

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Congressional Budget Office (CBO)

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provides economic data to Congress.

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simple resolution

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resolution passed by only either the Senate or the House.

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concurrent resolution

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resolution passed by both houses lacking force of law.

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joint resolution

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resolution from both houses presented to president like a bill.

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multiple referral

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sending legislation to be considered by more than one committee.

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sequential referral

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sending legislation to be considered by one committee at a time.

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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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open rule

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restrictive rule

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quorum

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minimum amount of members necessary to conduct business.

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quorum call

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parliamentary procedure used to summon absent members of quorum.

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cloture rule

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rule to end filibustering.

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double-tracking

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roll-call vote

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vote in which the names of those voting for and against a motion may be recorded.

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rider

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additional provision attached to a bill.

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Christmas tree bill

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bill that attracts many, often unrelated, floor amendments.

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Committee of the Whole

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device in a legislative body is considered one, large committee.

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pork-barrel

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appropriation of government spending to bring money to a representative's district.

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earmarks

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directs approved funds to be spent on specific projects.

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congressional courtesy

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logrolling

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trading of favors.

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nongermane amendment

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an additional provision, like a rider.

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unanimous consent

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no one present objects to a proposal.

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holds

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packing and kidnapping

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