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26 Cards in this Set

  • Front
  • Back
bicameral
containing two chambers, as does a legislature such as the U.S. Congress
Speaker
the presiding officer of the House of Representatives; normally, the Speaker is the leader of the majority party
majority leader
title used for the Speaker's chief lieutenant in the House and for the most important officer in the Senate. Chosen by the majority party, responsible for the day-to-day work necessary to build political coalitions and enact laws
minority leader
leader of the minority party who coordinates the minority's attempts to improve or defeat majority legislation
whips
members of Congress who serve as informational channels linking the leadership and the rank and file, communicating the leadership's views and intentions to the members and vice versa.
party caucus
all Democratic members of the House or Senate. Members in caucus elect the party leaders, ratify the choice of committee leaders, and debate party positions on issues
party conference
what Republicans call their party caucus
president pro tempore
the president of the Senate, who presides in the absence of the vice president
unanimous-consent agreement
an agreement that sets forth the terms and conditions according to which the Senate will consider a bill; these agreements are individually negotiated by the leadership for each bill.
filibuster
delaying tactic by which one or more senators refuse to allow a bil or resolution to be considered, either by speaking indefinitely or by offering dilatory motions and amendments. Only way to end is through a cloture.
cloture
motion to end debate in the Senate; requires 60 votes to pass
standing committee
committee with fixed membership and jurisdiction, continuing from Congress to Congress
select committee
temporary committee created to deal with a specific issue or problem
seniority
practice by which the majority-party member with the longest continuous service on a committee becomes the chair
caucus
a voluntary group within Congress, formed by members to pursue shared interests; a caucus can cross party, committee, and even chamber lines
sponsor
representatives or senator who introduces a bill or resolution
multiple referrals
process occurring when party leaders give more than one committee responsibility for considering a bill
markup
process in which a committee or subcommittee considers and revises a bill that has been introduced
suspension of the rules
fast-track procedure for considering bills and resolutions in the House; debate is limited to 40 minutes, no amendments are in order, and a two-thirds majority is required for passage.
rule
the terms and conditions under which a bill or resolution will be considered on the floor of the House--in particular, how long debate will last, how time will be allocated, and the number and type of amendments that will be in order.
conference committee
a group of representatives from both the House and the Senate who iron out the differences between the two chambers' versions of a bill or resolution
authorization process
term applied to the entire process of providing statutory authority for a government program or activity
appropriations process
process of providing funding for governmental activities and programs that have been authorized
trustee
role a representative plays when acting in accordance with his or her own best judgment to decide what is best for the country
delegate
role a representatives plays when following the wishes of those who have elected him or her regardless of what he or she believes good public policy ought to be
earmarks
in a budget, designation of funds for a specific use