Structures of Congress
The party with the most members
What is the Majority Party?
This person controls House Chamber debate (or assigns someone to do so).
Who is the Speaker of the House?
This person holds the most power in the Senate, is recognized first in debate, and sets the legislative calender
Who is the Senate Majority Leader
In Article I of the Constitution, who establishes the rules for each house of congress?
Each house itself.
The difference between annual spending and annual revenue. I 2019 was 1 trillion dollars.
What is a deficit?
This house of Congress has open debate.
What is the Senate?
This committee sets the terms for individual legislative proposals.
This is the job of the House Rules Committee.
This is the ability to block a nomination or let the time run out on a deadline for voting on a bill
What is a filibuster
Funding for a specific legislative district that is attached to a bill.
What is pork barrel spending?
The main source of revenue for the US government.
What are taxes? (specific tax types would also qualify - income, corporate, social insurance, excise and tariff, and other)
This house of Congress has the power to initiate revenue bills, impeach federal officials, and elect the President in the case of an Electoral College tie
What is the House of Representatives?
What is the House Rules Committee.
Approval of all senators
What is unanimous consent
A bill goes through this committee to resolve conflicts between the House and Senate versions of a bill.
What is conference committee?
Two types of spending in the annual US budget.
What are mandatory and discretionary?
These people direct debate from among their party’s members and guide the discussion from their side of the aisle
What are floor leaders?
This is a unique committee that gives the House body a chance to communicate about bills without the whole voting body being present. Puerto Rico, Guam and others to vote in this setting.
What is a Committee of the Whole?
3/5ths majority to stop debate on a bill in the Senate, allowing for a vote
Cloture Rule
Sometimes voting in Congress includes this trading of votes to gain support of a bill.
What is logrolling?
What are Social security, medicare, medicaid and unemployment insurance?
This person is below the floor leader and is in charge of party discipline
What is a Whip?
This can call a bill to the floor even if the committee is hesitant to bring it forth.
What is a discharge petition.
Important in deciding U.S. Foreign Policy and one of the most active committees in the Senate
What is the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
This is a nickname for a bill with a long string of riders.
In 2020, this accounted for almost half of all discretionary spending.
What are Human resources costs.