Congress and Congressional Elections Flashcards
constitutional provision that requires a bill to be sent to the President before it can become a law
Presentment Clause
constitutional provision that empowers Congress to regulate business between states (interstate commerce)
Commerce Clause
lower legislative chamber composed of 435 voting members who serve terms of two years (no term limits)
House of Representatives
upper legislative chamber composed of 100 voting members who serve terms of six years (no term limits)
Senate
a tactic used by individual senators to prevent/delay the legislative process by (historically) continuously holding the floor and speaking for extended periods; at least 60 Senate votes are required to invoke cloture to end the debate
Filibuster
procedure by which a single chamber (or both chambers) of Congress could repeal laws or regulations without presidential involvement; the Supreme Court struck it down in INS v. Chadha (1983)
Legislative veto
permanent committees established by each legislative chamber that consider bills and engage in government oversight
Standing committees
either temporary or permanent committees that are established to perform special functions beyond the authority or capacity of standing committees
Select (special) committees
four permanent committees that include members from both chambers; these committees are specific to congressional functions and issues of joint interest (Economic, Library, Printing, Taxation)
Joint committees
a temporary committee established to reconcile any differences between House and Senate versions of the same bill; it is composed of senior members of the standing committees that originally considered the bill
Conference committee
the legislative agency that is responsible for providing analysis of budgets
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
the legislative agency, led by the Comptroller General, that conducts audits and oversight of the federal government
Government Accountability Office (GAO)
the legislative agency that conducts nonpartisan public policy research and provides information to Congress; known as Congress’ “policy think tank”
Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Supreme Court case that determined Congress has broad investigatory power for legislative purposes
McGrain v. Daugherty (1927)
the manipulation of electoral district boundaries and voter apportionment for political advantage (e.g. cracking and packing); named after Elbridge Gerry (Governor of Massachusetts)
Gerrymandering
