Chapter 4 Flashcards
(40 cards)
A formal change to a bill made during the committee process or during floor debate in front of the whole chamber.
Amendment
A proposed new law or change to existing law brought before a legislative chamber by a legislative member
Bill
A bill regularly introduced in the Texas Senate to serve as placeholder at the top of the Senate calendar; sometimes called a stopper.
Blocking Bill
The act of delaying action on the current bill before the Texas House of Representatives to prevent action on an upcoming bill.
Chubbing
A rider that is not made public until after the legislature has voted on the bill; made public either when the bill goes to conference committee for reconciliation or when the gov. prepares to sign the bill into law
Closed Rider
Unity within a group; in politics, when members of a political party or special caucus vote together on a bill or resolution.
Cohesion
A formally organized group of legislators that assists the legislature in accomplishing its work, allowing a division of labor and an in-depth review of an issue or a bill before review by the entire chamber.
Committee
A legislative act that expresses an opinion of the legislature must pass in both houses.
Concurrent Resolution
An official legislative work group that meets on a limited basis to reconcile the different versions of a bill that has passed in the Texas House and Senate.
Conference Committee
The advantage derived from incumbents’ ability to point to positive outcomes for which they are responsible.
Credit Claiming
Language that makes a bill effective immediately upon being signed into law rather than subject to the customary ninety-day waiting period.
Emergency Clause
An effort to kill a bill by engaging in unlimited debate and refusing to yield the floor to another member, ultimately preventing a vote on the bill.
Filibuster
Period during which a bill is brought up before the entire chamber for debate
Floor Debate
A party member who reminds legislators of the party’s position on a bill and encourages members to vote w/ the rest of the party caucus; assisted by 1-2 deputies.
Floor Leader
A special legislative caucus in the state legislature that promotes and ideological agenda
Ideological Caucus
A legislative work group that is created during periods when the legislature is not in session to provide oversight of the executive branch and monitor public policy
Interim Committee
To officially bring a bill before a legislative chamber for the first time. Introducing a bill is the first step in the formal legislative process.
Introduce [a bill]
A special legislative caucus in the state legislature that promotes bipartisan and cross-chamber support for policies and bills advocating positions inside a relatively narrow range of policy areas or political issues.
Issue Caucus
A legislative act whose approval by both chambers result in amendment to the Texas Constitution; an amendment must be approved by voters at the next election.
Joint Resolution
Language added to a bill on an unrelated or controversial topic in order to make the bill unacceptable to the majority of the legislature, which will then be more likely to vote against it.
Killer Amendment
The group that develops a proposed state budget for legislative consideration
Legislative Budget Board
The presiding officer of the Texas Senate, elected directly by the voters. Also serves on executive branch and assumes the duties of the gov. when the gov. is out of state, dies in office, resigns from office, or is impeached.
Lieutenant Governor
The ability of the executive to selectively veto only some parts of a bill; in Texas available only on spending bills.
Line-Item Veto
Process whereby a committee goes line by line through a bill to make changes without formal amendments.
Markup
