Elections
Congressional Powers
Vocabulary
Congressional Leadership
Committees
100

An election that voters decide which of the candidates within a party will represent the party in the general election

What is a primary

100
The first draft of a law, considered in committee.
What is a bill
100
Redistricting in such a way that it will be advatageous to one party over another.
What is gerrymandering
100
The Leader and most powerful member of the House
What is Speaker of the House
100
This committee is the only one with reporting legislation privaleges
What is a standing committee
200

Most elections happen on the date Congress set for national elections, which is

What is the Tuesday after the first Monday of November of every even year

200
The act of Congress enacting legislation even if the president vetoes it
What is overriding a veto
200
If the Vice President is not available he/she will preside over a Senate session
What is the president pro tempore
200
They have the most seats from a party in Congress
What is the majority caucus
200
This committee would be in charge of ironing out differences on bills that make their way to them
What is a conference committee
300

A second primary election between the two candidates receiving the greatest number of votes in the first primary-contest between the two candidates with the greatest number of votes

What is a runoff primary

300
Established in 1913 by Congress under the Federal Reserve Act to oversee lending practices and credit rates of national banks
What is the Federal Reserve Board or the Fed
300

A meeting of party members in the legislative body to determine the party's stand on forthcoming issues.

What is a caucus

300
You would often find this member of Congress on the floor, on the phone, or meeting with colleagues to encourage them to vote along party lines
What is a whip
300
This committee has members from both chambers and focuses on permanent policy issues
What is a joint committee
400

The tendency for states to choose an early date on the nomination calendar

What is front-loading

400
According to the 25th Amendment, if this office becomes vacant the president will need majority approval of both Senate and House to confirm the nomination.
What is the Vice President
400

This is a way of making deals among Congressional members in order to pass bills often by trading votes

What is logrolling

400
Second in command to the Speaker of the House
What is a Majority Leader
400
This type of committee might focus on a natural disaster, or major flu outbreak
What is a select committee
500

An election in which voters can remove an incumbent from office prior to the next scheduled election

What is recall

500

Only three times in history did Congress have a hand in this selection, 1801, 1825, and 1877.

What is selection of the president of the United States

500
When members of Congress bank federal funds for local projects in their district
What is pork-barrel legislation
500
This person is the presiding officer of Congress but has little duties or rights when it comes to congressional activities
Who is the vice president of the United States
500
Once a bill makes it through a standing committee it is assigned to this committee
What is a Rules Committee