Chapter 12 Vocab

Protective tariff

"protects" domestic industry against foreign competition by increasing the cost of foreign goods

Filibuster

An attempt to "talk a bill to death"

Seniority rule

An unwritten custom, that holds that the most important posts will be held by those party members with the longest records of service in Congress

Whip

Assist the floor leaders and serve as a liaison between the party's leadership and its rank-and-file members

Committee of the Whole

Includes all members of the House, however, they sit as one large committee and not as the House itself

President pro tempore

The leader of the majority part, elected from the Senate and serves in the Vice President's absence

Committee chairman

The members who head the standing committees in each chamber of Congress

Speaker of the House

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives and the acknowledged leader of the majority party

Public bill

A bill that applied to the entire nation

Private bill

A bill that applies only to certain people or places

Party caucus

A closed meeting of the members of each party in each house which deals with matters of party organization

Resolution

A measure relating to the business of either house or expressing an opinion on a matter; does not have the force of law; does not require the President's signature

Discharge petition

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

Joint resolution

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

Bill

A proposed law presented to the House or Senate for consideration

Rider

A provision not likely to pass on its own merit that is attached to an important measure certain to pass

Calendar

A schedule of the order in which bills will be taken up on the floor

Conference committee

A temporary joint body created to iron out differences between bills passed by the House and Senate before they are sent to the President; nicknamed the third house of Congress

Post roads

All postal routes, including railroads, airways, and waters within the United States, during the time that mail is being carried on them

Subcommittee

Divisions of existing committees formed to address specific issues

President of the Senate

Leader of the Senate that is assigned by the Constitution as the Vice President

Quorum

Least number of members who must be present for a legislative body to conduct business; majority

Cloture

Limiting debate

State of the Union

Message in which the President reports on the state of the nation as he sees it; given annually

Joint committee

One composed of members of both houses

Select committee

Panels established to handle a specific matter and usually exist for a limited time

Floor leader

Party officers picked for their posts by their party colleagues (majority and minority)

Standing committee

Permanent panels in Congress to which bills of similar nature could be sent

Pocket veto

President refuses to sign a bill, if Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting the bill the bill dies

Engrossed

Printed in its final form

Veto

Refusing to sign a bill

Pigeonhole

Term used to describe when a committee kills a bill