Chapter 12 (Congress in Action)

Question 1

When does Congress convene?

Answer 1

Every two years, on January 3 of every odd-numbered year.

Question 2

Dean of the House

Answer 2

the member-elect with the longest record of service in the House.

Question 3

Quorum

Answer 3

A minimum number of members required to do business.

Question 4

State of the Union message

Answer 4

the President reports on the state of the nation as he sees it, in both domestic and foreign policy terms.

Question 5

Speaker of the House

Answer 5

is both the elected presiding officer of the House and the acknowledged leader of its majority party

Question 6

President of the Senate

Answer 6

is the Vice President. Unlike the House the Senate does not choose its own presiding officer, and unlike the Speaker of the House, the Senate’s presiding officer is not in fact a member of that body.

Question 7

President pro tempore

Answer 7

a presiding officer in the Senate who serves in the Vice-President’s absence. They are elected by the Senate itself and are always a leading member of the majority party.

Question 8

Party Caucus

Answer 8

a closed meeting of the members of each party in each house.

Question 9

Floor Leaders

Answer 9

Are party officers, picked for their posts by their party colleagues. They do not hold official positions in either chamber.

Question 10

Majority Leader

Answer 10

The floor leader of the party that holds the majority of seats in each house of Congress.

Question 11

Minority Leader

Answer 11

The floor leader of the party that holds the minority of seats in each house of Congress.

Question 12

Party whips

Answer 12

assistant floor leaders who serve as a liaison–a two-way link–between the party’s leadership and its rank-and-file membership.

Question 13

Committee chairmen

Answer 13

Members of Congress who head the standing committees in each chamber. This is a very strategic and important post.

Question 14

Seniority Rule

Answer 14

An unwritten custom which provides that the most important posts in Congress, in both the formal and the party organizations, will be held by those party members with the longest record of service.

Question 15

Standing Committees

Answer 15

permanent committee in a legislative body to which bills of a specified subject matter are referred. Today there are 20 in the House and 16 in the Senate.

Question 16

Subcommittees

Answer 16

divisions of standing committees which do most of the committee’s work

Question 17

Rules Committee

Answer 17

It controls the flow of bills to the floor of the House and sets the conditions for their consideration there. Often described as the “traffic cop” in the lower house.

Question 18

Select Committee

Answer 18

legislative committee created for a limited time and for some specific purpose; also known as a special committee

Question 19

Joint Committee

Answer 19

legislative committee composed of members of both houses.

Question 20

Conference Committee

Answer 20

temporary joint committee created to reconcile any differences between the two houses’ versions of a bill

Question 21

Bill

Answer 21

a proposed law presented to the House or Senate for consideration

Question 22

Joint Resolutions

Answer 22

a proposal for action that has the force of law when passed; usually deals with special circumstances or temporary matters

Question 23

Concurrent Resolutions

Answer 23

a statement of position on an issue used by the House and Senate acting jointly; does not have the force of law and does not require the President’s signature

Question 24

Resolutions

Answer 24

a measure relating to the business of either house or expressing an opinion; does not have the force of law and does not require the President’s signature

Question 25

Rider

Answer 25

unpopular provision added to an important bill certain to pass so that it will “ride” through the legislative process

Question 26

Pigeonhole

Answer 26

expression describing how most bills introduced in each session of Congress are buried, put away, or never acted upon.

Question 27

Discharge Petition

Answer 27

a procedure enabling members to force a bill that has been pigeonholed in committee onto the floor for consideration

Question 28

Committee Actions

Answer 28

1. ) Report bill favorably
2. ) Refuse to report bill
3. ) Report bill in amended form
4. ) Report bill unfavorably
5. ) Report a committee bill

Question 29

Committee of the Whole

Answer 29

the whole membership of the House sitting

as a committee and operating under informal rules

Question 30

“move the previous question”

Answer 30

any member can demand a vote on the issue before the House. If that motion is adopted, debate ends and an up-or-down vote must be taken.

Question 31

Voting in the House

Answer 31

1. ) Voice votes are most common
2. ) Standing votes
3. ) Teller votes
4. ) Roll-call votes

Question 32

Engross

Answer 32

to print a bill in its final form

Question 33

“the greatest deliberative body in the world”

Answer 33

expression that has been used to describe the U.S. Senate

Question 34

Filibuster

Answer 34

various tactics (usually long speeches) aimed at defeating a bill in a legislative body by preventing a final vote; associated with the U.S. Senate

Question 35

Cloture

Answer 35

procedure that may be used to limit or end floor debate in a legislative body

Question 36

Rule XXII

Answer 36

A cloture rule adopted in 1917 by the U.S. Senate to limit debate. If at least 3/5 of the Senate (60 members) vote to invoke the rule it becomes effective and then the bill under consideration must be voted on

Question 37

Presidential Actions to Legislation

Answer 37

1. ) President may sign the bill
2. ) President may veto the bill
3. ) President may allow bill to become law without signing it within 10 days
4. ) President may pocket veto bill if Congress adjourns session within 10 days of submitting bill