Legislative Branch

Political Party

A group of individuals with broad common interests who organize to nominate candidates for office, develop a party platform (policy goals), win elections, and run government

Filibuster

A lengthy speech designed to delay or kill the vote on a bill; used only in the Senate

Democratic Party

A political party that believes that the federal government should take a more active role in people's lives, particularly those who are in need

Party Platform

A political party's statement of its goals and policies. It is the best formal statement of a party's beliefs.

Bill

A proposed law that has not been passed

Joint Committee

A committee composed of members of both the House of Representatives and the Senate

Political Action Committee

Committee formed by a special-interest group to raise money for their favorite political candidates

Congressional Committee

Evolved as a way for Congress to handle large and complex work-load; divides up law-making into major subject areas

Stability

How consistent one's feelings are about an issue

Public Opinion

How people think or feel about particular things

Intensity

How strongly one feels about an issue

Propaganda

Ideas spread to influence public opinion for or against a cause.

Direction

If one supports or opposes an issue

Economic Group

Interest groups that are organized primarily for economic reasons but that engage in political activity in order to seek favorable policies from government

Congress

Legislative Branch

House of Representative

Number of representatives is based on states population; 435 members

Republican Party

One of the two major modern American political parties. It emerged in the 1850s as an antislavery party and consisted of former northern Whigs and antislavery Democrats. Now the party is conservative (pro-life, anti-affirmative action, anti-too much government intervention, anti-taxing on the rich, pro-death penalty)

President Pro Tempore

Serves as president of the Senate in the absence of the VP; chosen by the majority party

Lobbyist

Someone who tries to persuade legislators to vote for bills that the lobbyists favor

Bipartisan

Supported by two political parties

Public Policy

The course of action the government takes in response to an issue or problem

Constituent

a component; a voter in a particular politician's area or district; a citizen who is represented in a government by officials for whom he or she vote

Senate

100 members, 2 members for each state. Members are elected every 6 years. The Vice President is the head of this body.

Polls

A way of finding out what people think about something by asking many people the same question

Casework

Activities of members of Congress that help constituents as individuals deal with problems concerning the federal government

Special Cause Group

An interest group that focuses on one single issue, i.e. the environment, abortion rights, gun ownership

Demographic Group

An interest group whose member's share specific factors; age, ethnicity, religion, or country of origin

Union

An organization of employees that is formed to promote the welfare of its members.

Interest Group

An organization of people sharing a common interest or goal that seeks to influence the making of public policy

Elastic Clause

Article I, Section 8, of the Constitution, which allows Congress to make all laws that are "necessary and proper" to carry out the powers of the Constitution.

Legislative

Branch of government that passes laws

Speaker of the House

The leader of the majority party and presiding officer of the House of Representatives. Key role in assigning bills to committee and members to committees & setting party's legislative agenda

President of the Senate

The presiding officer of the Senate; in Congress, the Vice President of the United States