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incumbent |
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Already holding office. Usually win congressional elections. |
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casework |
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Activities of Congressmembers that help constituents as individuals. |
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pork barrel |
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List of federal projects, grants, and contracts available to cities, businesses, etc. |
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bicameral legislature |
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Divided into 2 houses, like US Congress and every state except Nebraska. |
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House Rules Committee |
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Institution of the House of Reps. that reviews all bills (except revenue, budget, and appropriation) from committees before they go to House. |
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filibuster |
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Senate strategy where opponents of a bill talk it to death because of "unlimited debate." 60 votes can end it. |
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Speaker of the House |
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Mandated by Const. Chosen by majority party, has formal and informal powers, and is 2nd in line to succeed president. |
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majority leader |
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Partisan ally of Speaker/ manager of party in Senate. Schedules bills, influences commitee assignments, and rounds up votes. |
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whip |
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Works with majority/ minority leader to count votes and lean on waverers. |
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minority leader |
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Lead of minority party in House or Senate. |
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standing committee |
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On separate subject-matters in different policy areas in each house of Congress. |
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joint committee |
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On few subject-matter areas with members from both houses. |
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conference committee |
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Formed when similar bills in each house. Smooths out the differences into a single bill. |
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select committee |
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For a specific purpose, like Watergate. |
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legislative oversight |
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Congress's monitor of bureaucracy and it's policy administration, usually through hearings. |
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committee chair |
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Most important influence of Congressional agenda. Schedule hearings, hire staff, appoint subcommittees, and manage commitee bills before the full house. |
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seniority system |
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Rule for picking committee chairs until the 70s. The member whi's served longest and whose party controls the chamber is picked. |
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congressional caucus |
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Group of Congressmembers charing an interest/ characteristic. Usually from both houses and both parties. |
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bill |
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Propsed law drafted in legal language. Anyone can draft, but only Congress can formally submit. |
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