Congressional Procedures & Rules
Senate tactic where a senator speaks at length to delay or block legislation.
What is a filibuster?
When government spending exceeds revenue in a fiscal year.
What is a deficit?
Temporary joint committees formed to reconcile differences between House and Senate versions of a bill.
What are conference committees?
Principle established in Baker v. Carr that each vote should carry equal weight.
What is “one person-one vote”?
Representatives vote according to constituents’ wishes.
What is the delegate model?
Senate procedure to end a filibuster; requires 60 votes.
What is cloture?
Spending Congress can adjust annually, such as defense or education.
What is discretionary spending?
These officials head executive departments and advise the president.
What is the Cabinet?
Supreme Court case ruling racial gerrymandering unconstitutional under the Equal Protection Clause.
What is Shaw v. Reno (1993)?
Representatives use their own judgment to make decisions.
What is the trustee model?
House procedure to force a bill out of committee and onto the floor.
What is a discharge petition?
Spending required by law, such as Social Security and Medicare.
What is mandatory spending?
Leader of the House who presides over sessions and sets legislative agenda.
Who is the Speaker of the House?
Drawing district lines to favor one party or group.
What is gerrymandering?
Hybrid approach where representatives act as delegates or trustees depending on the issue.
What is the politico model?
Senate practice where a senator can block or delay a bill or nomination.
What is a hold?
Funding for local projects to please constituents, often criticized as wasteful.
What is pork-barrel spending?
Most powerful senator; sets agenda and strategy for the majority party.
Who is the Senate Majority Leader?
Outgoing president with limited influence after successor is elected.
What is a “lame duck” president?
Competitive district that can vote either party, often decides elections.
What is a swing district?
House committee that sets debate rules and schedules bills.
What is the Rules Committee?
Large bill that packages many smaller measures together, often to secure passage.
What is an omnibus bill?
House committee responsible for taxation and revenue bills.
What is the Ways and Means Committee?
When partisan conflict prevents legislation from passing.
What is gridlock?
Trading votes between legislators to gain support for each other’s bills.
What is logrolling?