Chapter 12 Political Dictionary

President of the Senate

Vice President

President pro tempore

acting chairman for the Senate

Party caucus

A closed meeting of a party's House or Senate members; also called a party conference

Joint committee

A committee of the House and the Senate that usually acts as a study group and reports its findings back to the House and the Senate

Committee of the whole

A committee that consists of an entire legislative body; used for a procedure in which a legislative body expedites its business by resolving itself into a committee of itself

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

Subcommittee

A group within a standing committee that specializes in a subcategory of its standing committee's responsibility

Seniority rule

A legislative practice that assigns the chair of a committee or subcommittee to the member of the majority party with the longest continuous service on the committee.

Standing committee

A permanent committee established in a legislature, usually focusing on a policy area

Speaker of the House

An office mandated by the Constitution. The Speaker is chosen in practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant.

Conference committee

Committee appointed by the presiding officers of each chamber to adjust differences on a particular bill passed by each in different form.

Resolution

Legislative measure limited in effect to either the Congress or one of its chambers.

Quorum

Majority

Committee chairman

Member who heads a standing committee in a legislative body

Floor leader

Members of the House and Senate picked by their parties to carry out party decisions and steer legislative action to meet party goals

Discharge petition

Petition that, if signed by majority of the House of Representatives' members, will pry a bill from committee and bring it to the floor for consideration.

Filibuster

A procedural practice in the Senate whereby a senator refuses to relinquish the floor and thereby delays proceedings and prevents a vote on a controversial issue.

Cloture

A procedure for terminating debate, especially filibusters, in the Senate.

Rider

A provision attached to a bill - to which it may or may not be related - in order to secure its passage or defeat.

Whip

A senator or representative who helps the party leader stay informed about what party members are thinking.

Select committee

A temporary legislative committee established for a limited time period and for a special purpose.

Pocket veto

A veto taking place when Congress adjourns within 10 days of submitting a bill to the president, who simply lets it die by neither signing nor vetoing it.

Veto

A vote that blocks a decision

Concurrent resolution

An expression of opinion without the force of law that requires the approval of both the House and the Senate, but not the president

Engrossed

Having all one's attention or interest absorbed by someone or something

Bill

a statement of fundamental rights and privileges (especially the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution)