Government: Congress Unit

Party Caucus:

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

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.

What is senatorial courtesy?

A custom that the Senate will not approve a presidential appointment opposed by a majority party senator from the state in which the appointee would serve.

Resolution:

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

Discharge Petition:

A procedure enabling members to force a bill that has been pigeonholed in a 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 a legislative body for consideration.

What is a rider?

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

What is the purpose of a filibuster?

A stalling tactic used by a minority of senators, to delay or prevent Senate action on a measure. The Senate then must either drop the bill or change it in a manner acceptable to the minority.

Concurrent Resolution:

A statement of position on an issue used by the House and Senate acting jointly; does not have the force of law and does not require the President's signature.

Prorogue:

Adjourn, as in a legislative session.

Name the presidents that got impeached.

Andrew Johnson (1868) and Bill Clinton (1998).

Whip:

Assistants to the floor leaders in the House and Senate, responsible for monitoring and marshaling votes.

Veto:

Chief executive's power to reject a bill passed by a legislature.

Apportioned:

Distribute, as in seats in a legislative body.

Subcommittee:

Division of existing committee that is formed to address specific issues.

At-large Election:

Election of an officeholder by the voters of an entire governmental unit rather than by the voters of a district or subdivision.

Single-member District:

Electoral district from which one person is chosen by the voters for each elected office.

What are the non-legislative powers of Congress?

Electoral duties, impeachment, executive powers, and investigatory powers.

How is a committee chairperson usually chosen?

From the majority party by the majority party caucus.

Know the names of the current presiding officers in both houses.

House: (Speaker of the House) John A. Boehner, Republican. Senate: (President of the Senate) Joseph R. Biden, Democrat. (President Pro Tempore) Orrin G. Hatch, Republican.

What are the duties of the presiding officers in the House and the Senate?

House: (Speaker of the House) to preside and to keep order. Senate: (President of the Senate & President Pro Tempore) to recognize members and put questions to a vote.

What are the formal qualifications to become a US House of Representative and a US Senator?

House: be at least 25 years old, have been a citizen for at least 7 years, and be an inhabitant of the state from which he or she is elected. Senate: be at least 30 years old, have been a citizen for at least 9 years, and be an inhabitant of the State from which he or she is elected.

What are the criticisms of the seniority rule?

It ignores ability, rewards mere length of service, and discourages younger members.

Quorum:

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

Joint Committee:

Legislative committee composed of members of both houses.

Select Committee:

Legislative committee created for a limited time and for some specific purpose; also known as a special committee.

What are the five major roles that a member of Congress plays?

Legislatures, representatives of their constituents, committee members, servants of their constituents, and politicians.

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.

When are the elections held for House and Senate members?

On the Tuesday following the first Monday in November of each even-numbered year.

Why is Congress a continuous body?

Only a third of the Senators' terms expire every two years, all of its seats are never up for election at the same time.

What are the informal qualifications that members of Congress must meet?

Party identification, name familiarity, gender, ethnic characteristics, and political experience.

How does the seniority rule function?

Party members with the longest record of service in Congress will hold the most important posts. It is applied most strictly to the choice of committee chairmen.

Standing Committee:

Permanent committee in a legislative body to which bills in a specified subject-matter area are referred.

Cloture:

Procedure that may be used to limit or end floor debate in a legislative body.

What are the two types of bills?

Public bills and private bills.

What options does a committee have when reviewing a bill?

Report the bill favorably, refuse to report the bill, report the bill in an amended form, report the bill with an unfavorable recommendation, or report a new bill.

Oversight Function:

Review by legislative committees of the policies and programs of the executive branch.

What is the 17th amendment?

Senators are elected by the voters in each State. If a vacancy occurs the governor involved in that State must call an election to fill the seat.

What are the President's options when he receives a bill?

Sign the bill, making it a law; veto it, refuse to sign it; allow the bill to become a law without signing it; or pocket veto it.

What are the committees in Congress? What are their duties?

Standing Committees: permanent and handle specific subjects. House Rules Committee: schedules bills for consideration by the House of Representatives. Select Committees: are groups with specific purposes for a limited time and can conduct important investigations. Joint Committees: have members from both houses and deal with issues of a common concern. Some are permanent, but most are temporary. Conference Committees: are temporary and hash out the differences in a bill when the House passes one version and the Senate passes another version.

Conference Committee:

Temporary joint committee created to reconcile any differences between the two houses' versions of a bill.

What is the Cloture Rule?

The Senate's check on the filibuster. It limits debate time, must be signed by 16 Senators, and voted on by 3/5 of the full Senate.

What is the significance of the Westberry v. Sanders case?

The court decided "one person one vote." This means no person's vote counts more than another person's vote.

How does the Joint Committee differ from the Conference Committee?

The joint committee tries to fix an issue that is a concern in both houses, and the conference committee tries to fix a bill so both houses agree on the same one.

President Pro Tempore:

The member of the United States Senate, or of the upper house of a State's legislature, chosen to preside in the absence of the president of the Senate.

President of the Senate:

The presiding officer of a senate; in Congress, the Vice President of the United States; in the in a State's legislature, either the lieutenant governor or a senator.

Speaker of the House:

The presiding officer of the House of Representatives, chosen by and from the majority party in the House.

What is a resolution? What are the different types?

They deal with matters concerning either house alone and are taken up only by that house. Joint resolutions and concurrent resolutions.

Engrossed:

To print a bill in its final form.

Pocket Veto:

Type of veto a chief executive may use after a legislature has adjourned; when the chief executive does not sign or reject a bill within the time allowed to do so.

Rider:

Unpopular provision added to an important bill certain to pass so that it will "ride" through the legislative process.

Seniority Rule:

Unwritten rule in both houses of Congress reserving the top posts in each chamber, particularly committee chairmanships, for members with the longest records of service.

Filibuster:

Various tactics aimed at defeating a bill in a legislative body by preventing a final vote; associated with the U.S. Senate.

Know the specifics of the impeachment process of Bill Clinton.

Was charged with perjury (lying under oath) and the obstruction of justice for withholding information about his affair with an intern. The conduct did not rise to the level of an impeachable offense, and he was proven not guilty.

How can the Senate defeat a filibuster?

With day-and-night sessions to wear down the participants.