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23 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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pork barrel
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The mighty list of federal projects, grants, and contracts available to cities, businesses, colleges, and institutions in the district of a member of Congress.
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House Rules Committee
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An institution unique to the House of Representatives that reviews all bills (except revenue, budget, and appropriations bills) coming from a House committee before they go to the full House.
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conference committees
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Congressional committees formed when the Senate and the House pass a particular bill in different forms. Party leadership appoints members from each house to iron out the differences and bring back a single bill.
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legislative oversight
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Congress's monitoring of the bureaucracy and its administration of policy, performed mainly through hearings.
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bill
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A proposed law, drafted in precise, legal language. Anyone can draft one of these, but only a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate can formally submit one for consideration.
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instructed delegate
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A legislator who mirrors the preferences of his or her constituents.
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whips
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Party leaders who work with the majority leader to count votes beforehand and lean on waverers whose votes are crucial to a bill favored by the party.
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advertising
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According to David Mayhew, one of three primary activities undertaken by members of Congress to increase the probability of their reelection. It involves contacts between members and their constituents between elections.
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Speaker of the House
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An office mandated by the Constitution. This person is chosen in practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant.
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incumbents
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Those already holding office. In congressional elections, they usually win.
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casework
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Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals; cutting through bureaucratic red tape to get people what they think they have a right to get.
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bicameral legislature
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A legislature divided into two houses. The US Congress and every American state legislature except Nebraska's use this form.
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committee chairs
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The most important influencers of the congressional agenda. They play dominant roles in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills when they are brought before the full house.
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minority leader
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The principal leader of the minority party in the House of Representatives or in the Senate.
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standing committees
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Separate subject-matter committees in each house of Congress that handle bills in different policy areas.
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select committees
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Congressional committees appointed for a specific purpose, such as the Watergate investigation.
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filibuster
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A strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation try to talk it to death, based on the tradition of unlimited debate. Today, 60 members present and voting can halt this.
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credit claiming
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According to David Mayhew, one of three primary activities undertaken by members of Congress to increase the probability of their reelection. It involves personal and district service.
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position taking
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According to David Mayhew, one of three primary activities undertaken by members of Congress to increase the probability of their reelection. It involves taking a stand on issues and responding to constituents about these positions.
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caucus (congressional)
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A group of members of Congress sharing some interest or characteristic. Most are composed of members from both parties and from both houses.
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seniority system
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A simple rule for picking committee chairs, in effect until the 1970s. The member who had served on the committee the longest and whose party controlled Congress became chair, regardless of party loyalty, mental state, or competence.
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majority leader
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The principal partisan ally of the Speaker of the House or the party's wheel horse in the Senate. They are responsible for scheduling bills, influencing committee assignments, and rounding up votes on behalf of the party's legislative positions.
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joint committees
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Congressional committees on a few subject-matter areas with membership drawn from both houses.
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