gov chapter 13

Committee Amendment

- An amendment recommended by a committee in reporting a bill or other measure.

congressional caucus

-An association of members of Congress created to advocate a political ideology or a regional or economic interest

Markup

-Committee revisions of a bill - The process by which congressional committees and subcommittees debate, amend, and rewrite proposed legislation.

representational view

-Explanation of congressional voting that is based on the assumption that members want to get reelected and vote to please their constituents

CRS

-congressional research service

unified government

-the same party controls the White House and both houses of Congress

presidential signature

- A proposed law passed by Congress must be presented to the president, who then has 10 days to approve or disapprove it. The president signs bills he supports, making them law. He vetoes a bill by returning it to the house in which it began, usually with a written message. Normally, bills he neither signs nor vetoes within 10 days become law without his signature.

Authorization

- A statutory provision that obligates funding for a program or agency. An authorization may be effective for one year, a fixed number of years, or an indefinite period. An authorization may be for a definite amount of money or for "such sums as may be necessary." The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization and then appropriation.

Referral

- After a bill or resolution is introduced it is normally referred to the committee having jurisdiction over the subject of the bill. In the Senate referrals are generally made to the committee with jurisdiction over the predominant subject matter in the bill or resolution, but measures may be referred to more than one committee by unanimous consent.

Nongermane Amendment

- An amendment that would add new and different subject matter to, or may be irrelevant to, the bill or other measure it seeks to amend. Senate rules permit nongermane amendments in all but a few specific circumstances.

Hold

- An informal practice by which a senator informs his or her floor leader that he or she does not wish a particular bill or other measure to reach the floor for consideration. The majority leader need not follow the senator's wishes, but is on notice that the opposing senator may filibuster any motion to proceed to consider the measure.

Pocket veto

- The Constitution grants the president 10 days to review a measure passed by the Congress. If the president has not signed the bill after 10 days, it becomes law without his signature. However, if Congress adjourns during the 10-day period, the bill does not become law.

B. Committee Action

- The bill is referred to the appropriate committee by the Speaker of the House or the presiding officer in the Senate. -Most often, the actual referral decision is made by the House or Senate parliamentarian. -Bills may be referred to more than one committee and it may be split so that parts are sent to different committees. -The Speaker of the House may set time limits on committees. Bills are placed on the calendar of the committee to which they have been assigned. -Failure to act on a bill is equivalent to killing it. -Bills in the House can only be released from committee without a proper committee vote by a discharge petition signed by a majority of the House membership (218 members).

Congressional Record

- The substantially verbatim account of daily proceedings on the Senate floor. It is printed for each day the Senate is in session. At the back of each daily issue is the "Daily Digest," which summarizes the day's floor and committee activities.

Advice and consent

- Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.

senate

-A branch of congress where each state is guaranteed equal representation -52 republican -48 democrat -6 year terms -33 up for election

house of representatives

-A branch of congress where the population of the state determines the amount of representation given to that state -435 -2 year term -all up for election next year

party caucus

-A meeting of the members of a political party to decide questions of policy

Adjourn

-A motion to adjourn in the Senate (or a committee) ends that day's session. -adjourn for more than three days: Under the Constitution, neither chamber may adjourn for more than three days without the approval of the other. Such approval is obtained in a concurrent resolutions approved by both chambers.

Reconciliation Instruction

-A provision in a budget resolution directing one or more committees to report (or submit to the Budget Committee) legislation changing existing law in order to bring spending, revenues, or the debt-limit into conformity with the budget resolution. The instructions specify the committees to which they apply, indicate the appropriate dollar changes to be achieved, and usually provide a deadline by which the legislation is to be reported or submitted.

Floor Amendment

-An amendment offered by an individual senator from the floor during consideration of a bill or other measure, in contrast to a committee amendment.

A. Legislation is Introduced

-Any member can introduce a piece of legislation House -Sponsor: The original member who introduces a bill. - Legislation is handed to the clerk of the House or placed in the hopper. Senate - Members must gain recognition of the presiding officer to announce the introduction of a bill during the morning hour. If any senator objects, the introduction of the bill is postponed until the next day.

Steering Committee

-Assigns Democrats to standing committees in the Senate

Committee on committees

-Assigns Republicans to standing committees in the Senate -Committees formed in each party conference and responsible for nominating the party's senators to committee membership and committee leadership positions. Nominations are subject to approval by the full party conference and to a formal vote of the Senate.

attitudinal view

-Explanation of congressional voting which emphasizes the impact of personal ideology and party identification as a voting cue

organizational view

-Explanation of congressional voting which suggests members of Congress respond primarily to cues provided by their colleagues

Chairman of the Conference

-Presides over the meetings of all senators for a particular party

Democratic or Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee

-Provides funds, assistance and advice to their party's candidate

Policy committee

-Schedules legislation or makes recommendation on party policy - Each party policy committee provides research and other services to senators and also serves as a forum for discussion of party legislative strategy. Each policy committee holds weekly lunches for party members, and the Senate normally takes a recess to allow senators to attend.

Override of veto

-The process by which each chamber of Congress votes on a bill vetoed by the President. To pass a bill over the president's objections requires a two-thirds vote in each Chamber. Historically, Congress has overridden fewer than ten percent of all presidential vetoes.

seniority

-The system under which committee chairs are awarded to members who have the longest continuous service on the committee - The status given senators according to their length of service, which entitles a senator with greater seniority to preferential treatment in matters such as committee assignments.

teller vote

-a congressional voting procedure in which members pass between two tellers, the "yeas" first and the "nays" second -A congressional voting procedure in which members pass between two tellers, first the yeas and then the nays

division vote

-a congressional voting procedure in which members stand and are counted -A congressional voting procedure in which members stand and are counted

voice vote

-a congressional voting procedure pin in which members shout "yea" in approval or "nay" in disapproval, permitting members to vote quickly or anonymously on bills -A method of voting used in both houses in which members vote by shouting yea or nay -A vote in which the presiding officer states the question, then asks those in favor and against to say "Yea" or "Nay," respectively, and announces the result according to his or her judgment. The names or numbers of senators voting on each side are not recorded.

discharge petition

-a deceive by which any member of he House, after a committee has had the bill for 30 days, may petition to have it brought to the floor -A means by which the House can remove a bill stalled in committee - A petition that if signed by a majority of the House, 218 members, requires a bill to come out of a committee and be moved to the floor of the House.

joint 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 -Resolution that is essentially the same as a law and is used to propose constitutional amendments - A type of legislation designated by H J Res or S J Res that is treated the same as a bill unless it proposes an amendment to the Constitution. In this case, 2/3 majority of those present and voting in both the House and the Senate and 3/4 ratification of the states are required for the Constitutional amendment to be adopted.

bicameral legislature

-a lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts -A lawmaking body composed of two chambers or parts -created to prevent tyranny, represent populate and state, prevent majority

divided government

-one party controls the White House and another party controls one or both houses of Congress

standing committees

-permanently established legislative committees that consider and are responsible for legislation within a certain subject area -The permanent committees of each house with the power to report bills -Permanent committees established under the standing rules of the Senate and specializing in the consideration of particular subject areas. There are currently 16 standing committees.

marginal districts

-political districts in which candidates elected to the House of Representatives win in close elections, typically by less than 55 percent of the vote -Districts in which the winner got less than 55 percent of the vote

Amendment

-proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language. Senate must agree to it.

franking privilege

-the ability of members to mail letters to their constituents free of charge by substituting their facsimile signature for postage -The ability of members of Congress to mail letters to their constituents free of charge

minority leader

-the legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority of seats in the House or the Senate -The legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority of seats in the House or Senate

Parliament

An assembly of party representatives that chooses a government and discusses major national issues

earmarks

"Hidden" congressional provisions that direct the federal government to fund specific projects or that exempt specific persons or groups from paying specific federal taxes or fees

process of a bill becoming a law

A. Legislation is Introduced B. Committee Action C. Floor Action D. Conference Committee E. The President F. The Bill Becomes A Law

Calendar of Business

- A Senate publication sent to each lawmaker's office (and other offices) every day the Senate is in session. It contains information on, for instance, measures reported from the various standing committees, bills in conference, and the status of appropriation bills.

Reconciliation Bill

- A bill containing changes in law recommended pursuant to reconciliation instructions in a budget resolution. If the instructions pertain to only one committee in a chamber, that committee reports the reconciliation bill. If the instructions pertain to more than one committee, the Budget Committee reports an omnibus reconciliation bill, but it may not make substantive changes in the recommendations of the other committees.

Committee of the whole

- A committee including all members of the House. It allows bills and resolutions to be considered without adhering to all the formal rules of a House session, such as needing a quorum of 218. All measures on the Union Calendar must be considered first by the Committee of the Whole. Co-Sponsor

President Pro Tempore

- A constitutionally recognized officer of the Senate who presides over the chamber in the absence of the vice president. The president pro tempore (or, "president for a time") is elected by the Senate and is, by custom, the senator of the majority party with the longest record of continuous service. -4th in line for presidency

Bill

- A legislative proposal that if passed by both the House and the Senate and approved by the President becomes law. Each bill is assigned a bill number. HR denotes bills that originate in the House and S denotes bills that originate in the Senate.

Hearing

- A meeting of a committee or subcommittee -- generally open to the public -- to take testimony in order to gather information and opinions on proposed legislation, to conduct an investigation, or review the operation or other aspects of a Federal agency or program.

Motion to the table

- A motion that is not debatable and that can be made by any Senator or Representative on any pending question. Agreement to the motion is equivalent to defeating the question tabled. - Used in both the Senate and House, if adopted a motion to table permanently kills a pending matter and ends any further debate on the matter.

Veto

- A power that allows the President, a Governor or a Mayor to refuse approval of a piece of legislation. Federally, a President returns a vetoed bill to the Congress, generally with a message. Congress can accept the veto or attempt to override the veto by a 2/3 majority of those present and voting in both the House and the Senate. -- The procedure established under the Constitution by which the president refuses to approve a bill or joint resolution and thus prevents its enactment into law. A regular veto occurs when the president returns the legislation to the house in which it originated. The president usually returns a vetoed bill with a message indicating his reasons for rejecting the measure. The veto can be overridden only by a two-thirds vote in both the Senate and the House.

Calendar Wednesday

- A procedure in the House of Representatives during which each standing committees may bring up for consideration any bill that has been reported on the floor on or before the previous day. The procedure also limits debate for each subject matter to two hours.

Reconciliation process

- A process established in the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 by which Congress changes existing laws to conform tax and spending levels to the levels set in a budget resolution. Changes recommended by committees pursuant to a reconciliation instruction are incorporated into a reconciliation measure.

Unanimous consent

- A senator may request unanimous consent on the floor to set aside a specified rule of procedure so as to expedite proceedings. If no Senator objects, the Senate permits the action, but if any one senator objects, the request is rejected. Unanimous consent requests with only immediate effects are routinely granted, but ones affecting the floor schedule, the conditions of considering a bill or other business, or the rights of other senators, are normally not offered, or a floor leader will object to it, until all senators concerned have had an opportunity to inform the leaders that they find it acceptable.

Unanimous Consent Agreement

- A unanimous consent request setting terms for the consideration of a specified bill or other measure. These agreements are usually proposed by the majority leader or floor manager of the measure, and reflect negotiations among senators interested in the measure. Many are "time agreements," which limit the time available for debate and specify who will control that time. Many also permit only a list of specified amendments, or require amendments to be to the measure. Many also contain other provisions, such as empowering the majority leader to call up the measure at will or specifying when consideration will begin or end.

Floor

- Action "on the floor" is that which occurs as part of a formal session of the full Senate. An action "from the floor" is one taken by a Senator during a session of the Senate. A senator who has been recognized to speak by the chair is said to "have the floor."

Budget authority

- Authority provided by law to enter into obligations that will result in outlays of Federal funds. Budget authority may be classified by the period of availability (one-year, multiyear, no-year), by the timing of congressional action (current or permanent), or by the manner of determining the amount available (definite or indefinite).

Oversight

- Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.

Confirmation

- Informal term for the Senate giving "Advice and Consent" to a presidential nomination for an executive or judicial position.

Germane

- Relevant to the bill or business either chamber is addressing. The House requires an amendment to meet a standard of relevance, being germane, unless a special rule has been passed. -On the subject of the pending bill or other business; a strict standard of relevance.

Committee Membership

- Senators are assigned to specific committees by their party conference. Seniority, regional balance, and political philosophy are the most prominent factors in the committee assignment process.

Floor manager

- Senators designated to lead and organize consideration of a bill or other measure on the floor. They usually are the chairman and ranking minority member of the reporting committee or their designees.

Discretionary Spending

- Spending (budget authority and outlays) controlled in annual appropriations acts.

subcommittee

- Subunit of a committee established for the purpose of dividing the committee's workload. Recommendations of a subcommittee must be approved by the full committee before being reported to the Senate.

Fiscal Year

- The fiscal year is the accounting period for the federal government which begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2013 begins on October 1, 2012 and ends on September 30, 2013. Congress passes appropriations legislation to fund the government for every fiscal year.

Floor Leaders

- The majority leader and minority leader are elected by their respective party conferences to serve as the chief Senate spokesmen for their parties and to manage and schedule the legislative and executive business of the Senate. By custom, the presiding officer gives the floor leaders priority in obtaining recognition to speak on the floor of the Senate.

Session

- The period during which Congress assembles and carries on its regular business. Each Congress generally has two regular sessions (a first session and a second session), based on the constitutional mandate that Congress assemble at least once each year.

Chairman

- The presiding officer of a committee or subcommittee. In the Senate, chairmanship is based on seniority of committee tenure, but a senator may not chair more than one standing committee.

Appropriation

- The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization and then appropriation

Committee jurisdiction

- The subjects and functions assigned to a committee by rule, resolution, precedent, or practice, including legislative matters, oversight and investigations, and nominations of executive officers.

Vice President

- Under the Constitution, the vice president serves as president of the Senate. He may vote in the Senate in the case of a tie, but is not required to. The president pro tempore (and others designated by him) usually perform these duties during the vice president's frequent absences from the Senate.

Vote

- Unless rules specify otherwise, the Senate may agree to any question by a majority of senators voting, if a quorum is present. The Chair puts each question by voice vote unless the "yeas and nays" are requested, in which case a roll call vote occurs.

powers of congress

-3 major powers 1. power of the purse (controls all budgeting and spending) -article 1 section 8 -madison's statement ????????????? -an experiment to allow congress to control -a clash on spending -a wide range of constituencies -over 2000 pg. document 2. shape foreign policy -congress really has more -don't want an unfettered executive -reagan official's comment on ants (congress is just a bunch of little ants getting nothing done) 3. creating basic law (passing bills) - partisan in nature -untidy bc of diverse nation -a major experiment

house history

-6 phases 1. Powerful hours 2. Divided house 3. Speaker rules 4. House revolts 5. Members rules 6. Leadership return

christmas tree bill

-A bill that has many riders -Informal nomenclature for a bill on the Senate floor that attracts many, often unrelated, floor amendments. The amendments which adorn the bill may provide special benefits to various groups or interests.

Clean Bill

-Generally, after a committee has amended legislation, the chairman may be authorized by the panel to assemble the changes and what remains unchanged from the original bill and then reintroduce everything as a clean bill. A clean bill may expedite Senate action by avoiding separate floor consideration of each committee amendment.

Act

-Legislation (a bill or joint resolution, see below) which has passed both chambers of Congress in identical form, been signed into law by the president, or passed over his veto, thus becoming law. Technically, this term also refers to a bill that has been passed by one house and engrossed (prepared as an official copy).

F. The Bill Becomes A Law

-Once a bill is signed by the President or his veto is overridden by both houses it becomes a law and is assigned an official number.

Mandatory spending

-Spending (budget authority and outlays) controlled by laws other than annual appropriations acts.

Committee

-Subsidiary organization of the Senate established for the purpose of considering legislation, conducting hearings and investigations, or carrying out other assignments as instructed by the parent chamber.

congress

-The United States' bicameral legislative system under the legislative branch of government -created to be the dominant institution

E. The President

-The bill is sent to the President for review. 1. A bill becomes law if signed by the President or if not signed within 10 days and Congress is in session. 2. If Congress adjourns before the 10 days and the President has not signed the bill then it does not become law ("Pocket Veto.") 3. If the President vetoes the bill it is sent back to Congress with a note listing his/her reasons. The chamber that originated the legislation can attempt to override the veto by a vote of two-thirds of those present. If the veto of the bill is overridden in both chambers then it becomes law.

party vote

-The extent to which members of a party vote together in the House or the Senate

House Rules committee

-The group that decides what business comes up for a vote and what the limitations on debate should be

Ranking Minority Member

-The highest ranking (and usually longest serving) minority member of a committee or subcommittee. Senators may not serve as ranking minority member on more than one standing committee.

Proxy Voting

-The practice of allowing a senator to cast a vote in committee for an absent senator. Senate Rule XXVI provides that proxies may not be voted when the absent senator has not been informed of the matter on which he is being recorded and has not requested that he be so recorded.

Rider

-Unrelated amendments added to a bill - An informal term for an amendment or provision that is not relevant to the legislation where it is attached.

sequential referral

-a congressional process by which a Speaker may send a bill to a second committee after the first is finished acting -The process through which a bill is referred to second committee after the first is finished acting

multiple referral

-a congressional process whereby a bill may be referred to several important committees -The process through which a bill is referred to several committees that simultaneously consider it in whole or in part

roll-call vote

-a congressional voting procedure that consists of members answering "yea" or "nay" to their names -A congressional voting procedure that consists of members answering yea or nay to their names -A vote in which each senator votes "yea" or "nay" as his or her name is called by the clerk, so that the names of senators voting on each side are recorded. Under the Constitution, a roll call vote must be held if demanded by one-fifth of a quorum of senators present, a minimum of 11.

conference committees

-a joint committee appointed to resolve differences in the Senate and the House versions of the same bill -A special type of joint committee appointed to resolve differences in the House and Senate versions of a piece of legislation - A temporary, ad hoc panel composed of House and Senate conferees which is formed for the purpose of reconciling differences in legislation that has passed both chambers. Conference committees are usually convened to resolve bicameral differences on major and controversial legislation.

private bill

-a legislative bill that deals only with specific, private, personal, or local matters -Legislation that deals only with specific matters rather than with general legislative affairs - A bill that is introduced on behalf of a specific individual that if it is enacted into law only affects the specific person or organization the bill concerns. Often, private bills address immigration or naturalization issues.

public bill

-a legislative bill that deals with matters of general concern -Legislation that deals with matters of general concern

double-tracking

-a procedure to keep the senate going during a filibuster in which the disputed bill is shelved temporarily so that the Senate can get on with other business -A procedure to keep the Senate going during a filibuster; the disputed bill is shelved temporarily -The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster. Under the cloture rule (Rule XXII), the Senate may limit consideration of a pending matter to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes.

quorum call

-a roll call in either house of Congress to see whether he minimum number of representatives required to conduct business is present -A calling of the role in either house of Congress to determine whether the number of members in attendance meets the minimum number required to conduct official business -A call of the roll to establish whether a quorum is present. If any senator "suggests the absence of a quorum," the presiding officer must direct the roll to be called. Often, a quorum call is terminated by unanimous consent before completion, which permits the Senate to use the quorum call to obtain a brief delay to work out some difficulty or await a senator's arrival.

cloture rule

-a rule used by the Senate to end or limit debate -A Senate rule offering a means for stopping a filibuster -not in the constitution

Minority whip

-responsible for mobilizing votes within their parties on major issues. In the absence of a party floor leader, the whip often serves as acting floor leader.

congress staff agencies

-staff agencies: 1. work for congress 2. Knowledge 3. Balance what president knows -key: provides data 1. nonpartisan 2. Bills: keeps track & summary

whip

-a senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking -An individual who assists the party leader in staying abreast of the concerns and voting intentions of the party members -Assistants to the floor leaders who are also elected by their party conferences. The majority and minority whips (and their assistants) are responsible for mobilizing votes within their parties on major issues. In the absence of a party floor leader, the whip often serves as acting floor leader.

party polarization

-a vote in which a majority of democratic legislators oppose a majority of republican legislators -Indicated by votes in which a majority of voting Democrats oppose a majority of voting Republicans

conservative coalition

-an alliance between republican and conservative democrats -An alliance of conservative Democrats with Republicans for voting purposes

caucus

-an association of congress members created to advance a political ideology or regional, ethnic, or economic interest -meant "to meet together." An informal organization of members of the House or the Senate, or both, that exists to discuss issues of mutual concern and possibly to perform legislative research and policy planning for its members. There are regional, political or ideological, ethnic, and economic-based caucuses. -From the Algonquian Indian language, a caucus meant "to meet together." An informal organization of members of the House or the Senate, or both, that exists to discuss issues of mutual concern and possibly to perform legislative research and policy planning for its members. There are regional, political or ideological, ethnic, and economic-based caucuses.

filibuster

-an attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely, thus preventing the Senate from taking action on the bill -A means by which senators can extend debate on a bill in order to prevent or delay its consideration - An informal term for extended debate or other procedures used to prevent a vote on a bill in the Senate.

simple resolution

-an expression of opinion either in the House or Senate to settle procedural matters in either body -Resolution used for matters such as establishing the rules under which each body will operate - A type of legislation designated by H Res or S Res that is used primarily to express the sense of the chamber where it is introduced or passed. It only has the force of the chamber passing the resolution. A simple resolution is not signed by the President and cannot become Public Law. -Designated "S. Res.," simple resolutions are used to express nonbinding positions of the Senate or to deal with the Senate's internal affairs, such as the creation of a special committee. They do not require action by the House of Representatives.

concurrent resolution

-an expression of opinion without the force of the law that requires the approval of both the House and the Senate, but not the president -Resolution used for settling housekeeping and procedural matters that affect both houses - A type of legislation designated by H Con Res or S Con Res that is often used to express the sense of both chambers, to set annual budget or to fix adjournment dates. Concurrent resolutions are not signed by the President and therefore do not hold the weight of law. - A legislative measure, designated "S. Con. Res." and numbered consecutively upon introduction, generally employed to address the sentiments of both chambers, to deal with issues or matters affecting both houses, such as a concurrent budget resolution, or to create a temporary joint committee. Concurrent resolutions are not submitted to the president and thus do not have the force of law.

open rule

-an order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor -An order from the Rules Committee in the House that permits a bill to be amended on the legislative floor

restrictive rule

-an order from the House Rules Committee that permits certain kinds of amendments but not others to be made into a bill on the floor -A rule issued by the Rules Committee that permits some amendments to a bill but not to others

closed rule

-an order from the House Rules Committee that's sets a time limit on debate; forbids a bill from being amended on the floor -A rule issued by the Rules Committee that does not allow a bill to be amended on the House floor

Balanced budget

-budget in which receipts equal outlays.

joint committees

-committees on which both senators and representatives serve -Committees including membership from both houses of Congress. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation. Chairmanship usually alternates between the House and Senate members from Congress to Congress.

select or special committees

-congressional committees appointed for a limited time and purpose -- A committee established by the Senate for a limited time period to perform a particular study or investigation. These committees might be given or denied authority to report legislation to the Senate.

safe districts

-districts in which incumbent win by margins of 55 percent or more -Districts in which the winner got more than 55 percent of the vote

incumbency and elections

-history: no careerism for congress -after civil war to 1900 -careerism in congress figure 13.1 p. 323 -gerrymandering -state legislature determine districts (all states are bicameral except maine and Nebraska) -redrawing district happens every year

Lame duck session

-lame duck: a person still in office after he or she has lost a bid for reelection - When Congress (or either chamber) reconvenes in an even-numbered year following the November general elections to consider various items of business. Some lawmakers who return for this session will not be in the next Congress. Hence, they are informally called "lame duck" members participating in a "lame duck" session.

pork-barrel legislation

-legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in several districts or states in the hope of winning their votes in return -Legislation that gives tangible benefits to constituents in the hope of winning their votes

Majority Whip

-responsible for mobilizing votes within their parties on major issues. In the absence of a party floor leader, the whip often serves as acting floor leader.

majority leader

-the legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or the Senate -The legislative leader elected by party members holding the majority of seats in the House or Senate

quorum

-the minimum number of members who must be present for business to be conducted in congress - The number of Representatives or Senators that must be present before business can begin. In the House 218 members must be present for a quorum. In the Senate 51 members must be present however, Senate can conduct daily business without a quorum unless it is challenged by a point of order. -The number of senators that must be present for the Senate to do business. The Constitution requires a majority of senators (51) for a quorum. Often, fewer senators are actually present on the floor, but the Senate presumes that a quorum is present unless the contrary is shown by a roll call vote or quorum call.

Deficit (surplus)

-the result when the gov in one year spends more money than it takes in from taxes -The amount by which outlays exceed receipts in a given fiscal period. (A surplus would be the amount by which receipts exceed outlays.)

President of the Senate

-vice president: Under the Constitution, the vice president serves as president of the Senate. He may vote in the Senate in the case of a tie, but is not required to. The president pro tempore (and others designated by him) usually perform these duties during the vice president's frequent absences from the Senate.

Steps in Committee

1. Comments about the bill's merit are requested by government agencies. 2. Bill can be assigned to subcommittee by Chairman. 3. Hearings may be held. 4. Subcommittees report their findings to the full committee. 5. Finally there is a vote by the full committee - the bill is "ordered to be reported." 6. A committee will hold a "mark-up" session during which it will make revisions and additions. If substantial amendments are made, the committee can order the introduction of a "clean bill" which will include the proposed amendments. This new bill will have a new number and will be sent to the floor while the old bill is discarded. The chamber must approve, change or reject all committee amendments before conducting a final passage vote. 7. In the House, most bills go to the Rules committee before reaching the floor. The committee adopts rules that will govern the procedures under which the bill will be considered by the House. A "closed rule" sets strict time limits on debate and forbids the introduction of amendments. These rules can have a major impact on whether the bill passes. The rules committee can be bypassed in three ways: 1) Members can move rules to be suspended (requires 2/3 vote) 2) A discharge petition can be filed 3) The House can use a Calendar Wednesday procedure.

C. Floor Action

1. Legislation is placed on the Calendar House: Bills are placed on one of four House Calendars. The Speaker of the House and the Majority Leader decide what will reach the floor and when. (Legislation can also be brought to the floor by a discharge petition.) Senate: Legislation is placed on the Legislative Calendar. There is also an Executive calendar to deal with treaties and nominations. Scheduling of legislation is the job of the Majority Leader. Bills can be brought to the floor whenever a majority of the Senate chooses. 2. Debate House: Debate is limited by the rules formulated in the Rules Committee. The Committee of the Whole debates and amends the bill but cannot technically pass it. Debate is guided by the Sponsoring Committee and time is divided equally between proponents and opponents. The Committee decides how much time to allot to each person. Amendments must be germane to the subject of a bill - no riders are allowed. The bill is reported back to the House (to itself) and is voted on. A quorum call is a vote to make sure that there are enough members present (218) to have a final vote. If there is not a quorum, the House will adjourn or will send the Sergeant at Arms out to round up missing members. Senate: debate is unlimited unless cloture is invoked. Members can speak as long as they want and amendments need not be germane - riders are often offered. Entire bills can therefore be offered as amendments to other bills. Unless cloture is invoked, Senators can use a filibuster to defeat a measure by "talking it to death." 3. Vote - the bill is voted on. If passed, it is then sent to the other chamber unless that chamber already has a similar measure under consideration. If either chamber does not pass the bill then it dies. If the House and Senate pass the same bill then it is sent to the President. If the House and Senate pass different bills they are sent to Conference Committee. Most major legislation goes to a Conference Committee.

D. Conference Committee

1. Members from each house form a conference committee and meet to work out the differences. The committee is usually made up of senior members who are appointed by the presiding officers of the committee that originally dealt with the bill. The representatives from each house work to maintain their version of the bill. 2. If the Conference Committee reaches a compromise, it prepares a written conference report, which is submitted to each chamber. 3. The conference report must be approved by both the House and the Senate.

negatives of congress's powers

1. does congress limit freedom? a. a balance between allowing people freedom & protection b. how far can congress go to limit? c. what are the explicit restrictions on congress in this area?

Other Calendars

The Union Calendar - A list of all bills that address money and may be considered by the House of Representatives. Generally, bills contained in the Union Calendar can be categorized as appropriations bills or bills raising revenue. The House Calendar - A list of all the public bills that do not address money and maybe considered by the House of Representatives. The Corrections Calendar - A list of bills selected by the Speaker of the House in consultation with the Minority leader that will be considered in the House and debated for one hour. Generally, bills are selected because they focus on changing laws, rules and regulations that are judged to be outdated or unnecessary. A 3/5 majority of those present and voting is required to pass bills on the Corrections Calendar. The Private Calendar - A list of all the private bills that are to be considered by the House. It is called on the first and third Tuesday of every month.