Congressional+Vocabulary

I thought I'd paste what I found for the congressional vocabulary hoping that it might help someone out or at least root out any definitions I have that are incorrect.

Congressional Vocabulary

Adjourn- The end of a legislative session when work ends, either at the end of each day or at the end of each session. Apportion-The proportional distribution of the number of members of the U.S. House of Representatives on the basis of the population of each state. Appropriate-to set apart, authorize, or legislate for some specific purpose or use Censure-action by the House of Commons or the Senate rebuking the actions or conduct of an individual. Cloture-The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster. Committee Chairman- Those members who head the standing committees in each chamber and also hold strategic posts Concurrent Resolution- is a resolution (a legislative measure) adopted by both houses of a bicameral legislature that lacks the force of law (is non-binding) and does not require the approval of the chief executive. Conference Committee- is 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. While such committees are common in the United States Congress and legislatures in other countries with Presidential Systems, they are no longer in use in the Parliament of the United Kingdom or most other bicameral Westminster system parliaments. A conference committee is usually composed of the senior members of the standing committees of each House that originally considered the legislation. In the United States Congress, a Conference Committee is a temporary panel of House and Senate negotiators, created to resolve differences between the versions of similar House and Senate bills Consensus-An opinion or position reached by a group as a whole Discharge Petition- Send bill stalled in committee to the floor Filibuster- In the U.S. Senate a senator can speak as long as they want to and prevent the passage of a bill. This can only be prevented by a cloture motion. Floor Leader- Members of the House and Senate who carry out party decisions and steer legislative action to meet party goals. Joint Committee- Committee with members from both the House and the Senate. Joint Resolution- A resolution with a preamble, often used to amend existing legislation, and the vehicle for constitutional amendment. Partisan- Allegiance to your party; advocate to the party Party Caucus- A meeting that party members attend to decide policies and choose candidates to run for office. Pocket Veto- A presidential means of vetoing a bill without taking action. If the president fails to sign legislation within 10, it becomes law; however, if both houses of Congress adjourns during those ten days, then the bill dies. This is why Senate rarely, if ever, adjourns. President of the Senate- The vice president of the United States. The vice president holds a tie-breaking (or "casting") vote in the Senate. President //pro tempore//- The person who acts in absence of the vice president as the acting president of the Senate. Quorum-in both the House of Representatives and the Senate a quorum is a simple party majority of their respective members. Rider- Unpopular provision added to a bill that is certain to pass. “Christmas Tree Bills” are bills that are loaded with riders like a Christmas tree has ornaments. Select Committee- Special temporary committee usually formed to investigate something. Seniority rule- Unwritten rule in both houses reserving top positions for senior members of the parties. Session- Each year of the current Congress Speaker of the House- Presiding official of the House elected by the members of the House at the beginning of the Congress Special Session- If an emergency occurs when Congress is not in session, the Constitution empowers the President to call Congress back. Standing Committee- Permanent Congressional committee Subcommittee- A subunit of a committee, usually specializing in a specific area of the committee’s jurisdiction. Term- amount of time spent in office by members of Congress which differ between the House and the Senate. Veto- President refuses to sign a bill passed by Congress or reject a proposed act. Whip- Member of congress that makes sure the members of their party in congress vote. They also count the votes.

Posted By Caleb Foster