Stegosaurus
Riders used in Congress
a section that is attached to the bill that may not be related to the topic of the bill. Mainly used when bills are likely to pass, or to kill bills
Special Interest Groups
groups of people with common hopes for the government that use money and their group voice to pass legislation they like
Congressional Whip
Force members to act in line with party interests
15 forms of civic participation in a democracy
Voting
Running for office or for local school boards.
Campaigning
Advocating for legislation or lobbying officials
Attending public meetings
Serving as a poll worker or election judge.
Organizing or attending protests
Signing petitions to put initiatives on the ballot.
Contacting elected officials
Volunteering with civic organizations or nonprofits.
Participating in community service
Writing to the media
Serving on a jury.
Staying informed on political issues
Contributing money to political campaigns
Senate Finance Committee
is a tax writing committee in the House of Representatives
Bill to Law
The bill is drafted
The bill is introduced to the House
Committees and subcommittees support and revise bills in hearings (bills die is a committee does not support or report the bill)
The bill is further revised and amended on the House floor
The House votes on the bill
The bill moves up to the floor of the Senate
The president either approves or vetoes the bill
The House and Senate can override the veto
The bill becomes a law
Resolutions
Written motions adopted by a legislative body
House of Representatives: they make the rules
Creates laws or levees taxes while the Senate approves them
Bicameral Legislature
a lawmaking body composed of two separate chambers or houses, typically an upper and a lower house, designed to check legislative power and prevent hasty lawmaking.
Ways and Means Committee
is a tax writing committee in the House of Representatives
Lobbyists
Lobbyists advocate for the interests of particular groups in the legislative process
Three types of resolutions
joint resolution (passed in same form by both houses; similar to a bill), simple resolution (affects only one house of congress), concurrent resolution(affects both the house and the senate)
How can a Committee kill a bill?
Failing to report it to the House floor
Censure
kick someone out cause misdemeanor
Entitlement programs
Social Security, Medicare, G.I. Bill,
Gerrymandering
Redrawing districts to help a political party win
Two types of bills
public (deals with general public) or private bills (specific company etc)
How does Congress do most of its legislative activity
Creating and voting on bills
Who has the power to amend tax bills?
congress
Cloture Resolution
ends filibuster
Political Action Committees
fundraising groups that represent special interest group, goal is to get their policy heard and their people elected (glorified bribery)
Majority/Minority Leader
Major:Organizes legislative plans for major issues
Minor:Organizes legislative plans for minority groups
Speaker of the House
Presiding officer of the House whole maintains
What are the key functions of a legislator’s job
enacting new laws, updating old ones, and approving government budgets
Filibuster
To delay, block, or force changes to legislation by obstructing the normal legislative process.