Chapter 13 Vocabulary Terms D Flashcards
(35 cards)
A lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts.
Bicameral Legislature
An attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely, thus preventing the Senate from taking action to the bill.
Filibuster
Political districts in which candidates elected to the House of Representatives win in close elections, typically by less than 55 percent of the vote.
Marginal Districts
Districts in which incumbents win by margins of 55 percent or more.
Safe Districts
An alliance between Republican and conservative Democrats.
Conservative Coalition
The legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or the Senate.
Majority Leader
The legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority of seats in the House or the Senate.
Minority Leader
A senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking.
Whip
A vote in which a majority of Democratic legislators oppose a majority of Republican legislators.
Party Polarization
An association of Congress members created to advance a political ideology or a regional, ethnic, or economic interest.
Caucus
Permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area.
Standing Committees
Congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose.
Select Committees
Committees on which both senators and representatives serve.
Joint Committees
A joint committee appointed to resolve differences in the Senate and House versions of the same bill.
Conference Committees
A legislative bill that deals with matters of general concern.
Public Bill
A legislative bill that deals only with specific, private, personal, or local matters.
Private Bill
An expression of opinion either in the House or Senate to settle procedural matters in either body.
Simple Resolution
An expression of opinion without the force of law that requires the approval of both the House and the Senate, but not the president.
Concurrent Resolution
A formal expression of congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of Congress and by the president; constitutional amendments need not be signed by the president.
Joint Resolution
A congressional process whereby a bill may be referred to several committees.
Multiple Referral
A congressional process by which a Speaker may send a bill to a second committee after the first is finished acting.
Sequential Referral
A device in which any member of the House, after a committee has had the bill for thirty days, may petition to have it brought to the floor.
Discharge Petition
An order from the house Rules Committee that sets a time limit on debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor.
Closed Rule
An order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor.
Open Rule
