Congress And Presidency Vocab Study Guide
"Advice and consent"-role of the United States Senate in relation to presidential appointments (i.e. cabinet posts or federal judges) and foreign policy agreements (i.e. treaties)
Ad hoc model-(meaning “for this purpose” in Latin) Model of office organization in the White House where subordinates, cabinet officers, and committees report directly to the president on different matters.
Amendment-A formal addition or change to a bill under consideration.
Appropriations Bill-Any piece of legislation involving the funding of a particular program or government agency.
Bicameral legislature-A lawmaking body made up of two chambers or parts.
Bill-A formally proposed law in the House or Senate.
Bully pulpit-A position of authority or public visibility that makes one’s views known or rallies support.
Cabinet-A board to advise the President composed of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch.
Caucus-meeting or organization of particular members of a political party in the House or Senate(i.e. Congressional Black Caucus or Congressional Progressive Caucus).
Censure-an option for punishment after findings of wrong-doing of members of the United States government, including following a conviction in impeachment proceedings. Censure consists of a public reprimand, an embarrassing prospect for any politician.
Chief executive-formal Constitutional role of the president as head and chief administrator of the executive branch.
Chief of staff-The highest ranking employee of the White House Office inside the Executive Office of the President and an assistant to the president. No one sees the president without going through the White House Chief of Staff.
Circular (hub and spokes) model-A method of organizing the president’s staff in which several presidential assistants report directly to the president.
Clemency-general term for the president's power to grant forgiveness for a crime in whole or in part. Pardons and reprieves are two types of clemency.
Closed Rule-a rule set by the Rules Committee before a bill comes to the House of Representatives that states that no additional amendments or substitutes to the bill may be offered from the floor.
Cloture-Procedure in which debate is ended and immediate vote is taken on the matter. To succeed in ending debate (filibuster), a 3/5 majority (60 senators) must vote in favor of cloture).
Commander-in-Chief-Express role of the president to serve as head of the armed forces.
Committee Chair-The head of a committee appointed by the Speaker of the House (always of the majority party).
Committee of the Whole-a parliamentary device in which the House of Representatives is considered one large congressional committee but only requires 100 members to be present. This allows bills and resolutions to be considered without adhering to the formal House rules requiring a quorum of 218. Most bills are considered by the Committee of the Whole before they go before the full House for debate and vote.
Concurrent resolution-A resolution adopted by both houses of a bicameral legislature that does not have the force of law and does not require the signature of the chief executive.
Conference committee-A joint committee of a bicameral legislature, which is appointed by and consists of members of both chambers to resolve disagreements on a particular bill.
Confirmation process-process in the Senate by which presidential appointments are approved or rejected, first in committee then before the full Senate.
Congress-Term referring to both the Senate and House of Representatives collectively or to just the House (i.e. "Congress and the Senate").
Constituents-Voters represented by a particular representative or senator.
Delegate (Representational) Model of Representation-A model of representative democracy in which the representative sees her or his role as carrying out the will of the people who elected her or him.
Discharge petition-A device by which any member of the House, after a committee has had a bill for 30 days, may petition to have it brought to the floor. If a majority of members agree, the bill is discharged for the committee.
Double tracking-A procedure to keep the Senate going during a filibuster, whereby disputed bill is temporarily shelved so that the Senate can go on with other business.
Earmarks-A legislative provision that directs approved funds to be spend on certain projects, or that directs specific exemptions from taxes or mandated fees.
Earmarks-a legislative provision that directs approved funds to be spend on certain projects in a representative's home district or a senator's home state.
Executive agreement-agreement made by the President of the United States and another foreign head of state that does not require a formal treaty and is not subject to Senate approval. This is an inherent power of the president in conducting foreign relations.
Executive Office of the President-Those who work directly for the President of the United States and overseen by the White House Chief of Staff.
Executive order-directive issued by the president to one or more agency or organization within the executive branch. This is an inherent power of the president that allows him or her to, as the Constitution directs, "take care that the laws be faithfully executed" (Article II, Section 3).
Executive privilege-The right of the president to withhold certain information from Congress or the courts.
Express (formal) powers-specific powers granted to the president by the Constitution.
Filibuster (Senate Rule 22)-An attempt to defeat a bill in the Senate by talking indefinitely, preventing the Senate from taking action on the bill.
Fourth branch of government-term sometimes made in reference to the mass media in relation to its capacity as a check on government power (also is a term referring to the bureaucracy, but that does not apply here).
Franking privilege-The right of members of Congress to send mail to their constituents at the government’s expense. Their signature is placed on the corner of envelope where the stamp would usually be placed.
Germane amendments-Changes to bills on the floor of the House that must relate directly to the bill being considered. Non-germane amendments are typically not permitted in the House.
Gridlock-refers to the difficulty of passing laws due to a split or evenly divided Congress.
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 does not have to grant their wish. However, it is on notice that the opposing Senator may filibuster any motion to proceed to consider the measure.
Hopper-A box in which a bill to be considered by the legislation is dropped.
House Appropriations Committee-Powerful House standing committee that oversees the allocation of funds to government agencies and programs.
House managers-Members of the House Judiciary Committee who oversee the prosecution for an impeachment trial in the Senate.
House of Representatives-half of the legislative branch of the United States government comprising proportional representation per state based on population (total of 435 members); sometimes called the Lower House
House resolution-A formal motion or bill adopted by the House of Representatives.
House Rules Committee-A special standing committee of the House of Representative that has the authority to establish rules or methods for expediting legislative action, usually determining the date a bill is presented for consideration.
House Ways and Means Committee-Considered to be the most powerful standing committee of the House of Representatives; makes recommendations to the House on all bills that would raise revenue.
Impeachment-A process that is used to charge, try, and remove public officials for misconduct while in office. Impeachment begins in the House of Representatives. If articles of impeachment are passed by a simple majority (218 of the 435) in the House, the trial takes place in the Senate. The vote to convict in the Senate must also be 2/3, or 67 of the 100 members.
Impeachment-Power reserved to the House of Representatives for the purpose of drawing up charges against a political figure.
Implied (informal) powers-powers not specifically given the president by the Constitution but have been traditionally exercised.
Inherent powers-specific powers needed to carry out the express duties of the president.
Iron triangle-A close relationship between a government agency, a congressional committee, and an interest group.
Joint committee-a temporary ommittee on which both representatives and senators serve.
Joint resolution-A formal expression of Congressional opinion that must be approved by both houses of Congress and by the president. Joint resolutions proposing constitutional amendment do not need to be signed by the president.
Lame duck-When an elected official is approaching the end of his or her tenure and/or when an official’s successor has already been elected.
Line of succession-refers to the order in which the president is succeeded in office if (s)he were to no longer be able to discharge her or his duties.
Line-item veto-when the chief executive (the President or a governor) can veto only certain provisions, or lines, of a bill before it becomes law. Currently, the President of the United States does not have the power of a line-item veto and therefore must sign or veto legislation in full.
Logrolling-a legislator supports a proposal favored by another in return for their support.
Majority leader-The legislative leader elected by party members holding a majority of seats in the House of Representatives or Senate.
Marginal seat-A seat in the House of Representatives that is not considered to be safe for the incumbent in the next election (swing seat).
Minority leader-A legislative leader elected by party members holding a minority of seats in the House of Representatives or the Senate.
Motion to Recommit (with or without instructions)-A formal motion in the House to send a bill back to committee. With instructions means that the committee must reconsider the bill under a new set of guidelines. Without instructions means the committee can reconsider the bill under any circumstances.
Multiple referral-A congressional process in which a bill may be referred to several committees that consider it simultaneously in whole or in part.
National security advisor-serves as chief advisor to the president on issues of national security.
National Security Council-the principle forum used by the president to consider issues and policy within the realm of national security; the Council comprises the president, vice-president, chief of staff, national security advisor, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (military head of all armed forces).
Non-germane amendments-formal changes to a bill that do not have any direct relation to the subject of the bill itself. The Senate permits such amendments.
Office (or Council) of Economic Advisors-agency within the Executive Office of the President that advises the president on economic policy.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB)-a cabinet-level office and the largest office in the Executive Office of the President that assists the president in preparing and administering the federal budget.
Open Rule-An order from the House Rules Committee that permits a bill to be amended on the floor.
Override-when the House and/or Senate votes to pass a bill over a president's veto; requires 2/3 vote in both houses.
Oversight-Review, monitoring, and supervision of federal agencies, programs, activities, and policy implantation by Congress. This includes authorization, appropriations, investigative, and legislative hearing by standing committees, specialized investigations by select committees, and reviews and studies by congressional support agencies and staff.
pardon-express power of the president to forgive individuals of federal crimes resulting in the release from prison or punishment.
Party caucus-A closed meeting of the members of one party in a legislative chamber to coordinate policy, choose candidates, etc.
Party polarization-A vote in which a majority of Democratic legislators oppose a majority of Republican legislators.
patronage-when the president or member of Congress appoints an a political ally or supporter to a position of power.
Pigeonholing-a method of killing a bill by a committee chair by simply refusing to assign or hold hearings or debate on a bill.
pocket veto-occurs when the president does not sign a bill into law within 10 days of arriving on his deskandif Congress has officially adjourned (but not simply recessed).
Policy agenda-A set of policies or issues or underlying motives to be addressed by a political party, group, or individual. The President of the United States drives (or sets) the policy agenda for the White House and his party in Congress.
Politico (Attitudinal) Model of Representation-A model of representative democracy in which the representative sees her or his role as making the best determination as to whether to vote in the best interests of her or his district or the country as a whole (mix of delegate and trustee models).
Pork-barrel spending-a derogatory term for earmarks used to cast politicians who advocate or secure earmarks as wasteful spenders.
POTUS-acronym forPresidentoftheUnitedStates.
President of the Senate-Official constitutional role of the vice-president of the United States. Rarely does the vice-president actually preside of the Senate. Instead, the role usually played by the President Pro-Tempore, who also often delegates the responsibility.
President Pro-Tempore-A constitutionally recognized officer of the Senate who presides over the chamber in absence of the normal presiding officer. “Pro tempore” is Latin for “for the time being.”
Presidential coattails-when a popular president can help members of her or his party win an election or pass legislation because of that popularity (i.e. "riding the President's coattails" to victory).
Presidential Succession Act of 1947-law that set the line of presidential succession if neither the president nor vice-president could no longer serve; behind the vice-president is the Speaker of the House, followed by the President Pro-Tempore of the Senate.
Press secretary-senior advisor to the president who provides advice on dealing with the media and formulating the president's message to the country; also is the mouthpiece of the president and the White House.
Private bill-A legislative bill that deals with specific, private, personal or local matter, like a bill pertaining to an individual becoming a naturalized citizen.
Public bill-A legislative bill that deals with matters of general concern, like defense expenditures.
Pyramid structure-A structure in which the president’s subordinates report to him through a clear chain of command headed by a chief of staff.
Quorum call-Procedure used to summon absent members of a legislative body if a quorum is not present.
Quorum-The minimum number of members required to be in attendance for Congress to conduct official business.
Ranking member-most senior member of a committee from the minority party.
Recess appointment-when the president appointments a judge, ambassador, or cabinet member while Congress is out of session (in recess). That individual remains at that post until the Senate is out of recess and can consider the appointment.
Reprieve-Constitutionally provided power of the president to postpone a person's punishment for a federal crime.
Resolution-A formal motion that may or may not have legal binding adopted by the House or Senate, or both.
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.
Revenue bill-A bill concerning the raising or spending of money; all such bills must originate in the House of Representatives.
Rider-An additional provision annexed to a bill under the consideration of a legislature, having little to do with the subject matter of the bill.
Roll call vote-A congressional voting procedure that where members answer with “yea” or “nay” to their names.
Safe seat (or district)-Districts in which incumbents win by a margin of 55% or more.
Select committee-A committee of the legislative body that is formed to examine and report on a specific bill or issue.
Senate-Half of the legislative branch of the United States government comprising equal representation per state (2 members per state, 100 total members).
Senate-half of the legislative branch of the United States government comprising equal representation per state (2 members per state, 100 total members); sometimes called the Upper House
Seventeenth Amendment-Amendment to the Constitution ratified in 1913 that allows for the direct election of senators by the people of their respective states.
Seniority-Precedence of position, especially over others of the same rank, by having a longer span of service.
Sequential referral-A congressional process by which a Speaker may send a bill to a second committee after the first is finished acting.
Signing statement-An addition issued by the President that accompanies the signing of a law. These are often controversial because their legal status remains uncertain.
Simple resolution-A legislative proposal that does not require action from the president that is used by a single house to take action affecting its own procedure.
Speaker of the House-The presiding office of the House of Representatives that runs the proceedings of House debate and voting, appoints committee members, refers bills to committees for research and development, and has an influential voice in all stages of a bill’s consideration.
Standing committee-Committee that has continued to exist and is not related to the accomplishment of a specific, once-only task. Its members and chairman can change and it can be reconstituted annually in accordance with the rules, but it administers a continuous responsibility.
Subcommittee-A subdivision of a House or Senate committee that considers specified matters and reports back to the full committee.
Term limits-legal limits of how many total terms of office can be held by one individual.
Trustee Model of Representation-A model of representative democracy where the representative is trusted to make the right decision on behalf of the people.
Twenty-fifth Amendment-Constitutional amendment that clearly defines that the vice-president becomes president (not just an acting president) in the event of the death or incapacitation of the President of the United States. The amendment also allows for the president to sign over her or his duties to the vice-president if (s)he will be unable to temporarily discharge her or his duties.