chapter 12 example #11629

The Vice President of the United States is the President of the Senate, the Senate's presiding officer.

Serves in the Vice President's absence in the Senate; elected by the Senate and is always a leading member of the majority party, usually its longest serving member.

Closed meeting of a party's House or Senate members; also called a party conference where floor leaders are selected and questions of membership are addressed

Floor leader of the party that holds the majority of seats in each house of Congress

Floor leader of the party that holds the minority of seats in each house

Assistant of the floor leader in the House and Senate who are responsible for monitoring and marshaling votes

Head of a standing committee. Chosen by the majority party.

Unwritten rule in both houses of Congress where the top committee appointments are reserved for members with longest records of service.

Permanent committee that handle specific subject matter issues.

Division of existing committees formed to address specific issues

Panels set up for a specific purpose and for a limited time.

Legislative committee composed of members of both houses.

Temporary joint committee created to work out any differences between the two houses' versions of a bill

Proposed law present to the House or Senate for consideration

a proposal for action that has the force of law when passed; usually deals with special circumstances or temporary matters

a statement of position on an issue used by the House and Senate acting jointly

a measure relating to the business of either the House or Senate; does not have the force of law and does not require the President's signature

Unpopular provision added to an important bill certain to pass so that it will "ride" through legislative process and be passed.

Long speeches in the Senate aimed at defeating a bill by preventing a final vote.

Limit or end floor debate in a legislative body

President's power to refuse to sign or reject a bill passed by Congress

When the President does not sign or reject a bill within ten days and Congress adjourns.

Because the Senate is a continuous body, it does not need much reorganization at the start of a new session; the House, however, must reorganize every session.

Both officers preside over their houses; the Speaker of the House also carries out the goals of his or her party; keeps order; and carries out the duties of regular House members.

(a) It provides that the most important posts in Congress are held by those party members with the longest records of service. (b) That it ignores ability, discourages younger members, and draws from "safe" districts.

They investigate the issues, get the bill placed on the floor, and resolve conflicts in versions of bills.

(a) Standing, select, House Rules, joint, and conference. (b) Standing: study bills on particular subjects; House Rules: screen the bills prior to putting them on the floor; select: handle particular, temporary purposes; joint and conference: resolve disputes and make compromise bills.

Committees.

It is given a title and a number, printed, and distributed to House members; sent to the appropriate standing committee; debated on the House floor; and voted on.

(a) Resolutions deal with only one house and are taken up only by that house; they usually do not have the force of law and are not sent to the President for approval. (b) Joint; deal with unusual or temporary matters and have the force of law; concurrent: require the houses to act jointly, usually to state a position, and do not have the force of law.

Report it favorably; pigeonhole it; amend it; report it unfavorably; or report a new bill.

(a) Rules have been instituted that place severe limits on floor debate; also, a computerized voting stem has replaced the traditional roll call. (b) They have saved time and streamlined procedures.

(a) A filibuster is a stalling tactic to delay or obstruct a bill. (b) It can invoke cloture, or wear down the participants.

To resolve differences between versions of the same bill.

Sign the bill into law; veto the bill; allow the bill to become law without signing it; or use a pocket veto.

the legal proceeding by which a bankrupt person's assets are distributed among those to whom he or she owes debts

population poll, every 10 years

senators and representatives are paid $158,000 a year

the exclusive, legal right of a person to reproduce, publish, and sell his or her own literary, musical, or artistic creations

a tax that must be paid by the person on whom it is levied

power of a government to take private property for public use

the power to execute, enforce and administer law

those delegated powers of the national government that are spelled out, expressly in the constitution: also the enumerates powers

the drawing of electoral district lines to the advantage of a party or group

to bring formal charges against a public official the house of rep has the sole power to impeach civil officers of the united states

those delegated powers of the national government that are suggested by the expressed powers set out in the constitution: those necessary and proper to carry out the expressed powers

powers to the constitution is presumed to have delegated to the National Government because it is the government of a sovereign state within the world community

any kind of money that a creditor must by law accept in payment for debts

one who argues a broad interpretation of the constitution's provisions, particularly those granting power to the federal government

meeting at which a party's delegates vote to pick their presidential and vice presidential candidates

constitutional clause that gives congress the power to make all laws necessary and proper for executing its powers

a license issued to an inventor granting the exclusive right to manufacture, use or sell his or her invention for a limited period of time

the presiding officer of the house of the representatives, chosen by and from the majority party in the house

one who argues a narrow interpretation of the constitution's provisions, in particular those granting powers to the federal government

propose bill

introduce bill

committee action

subcommittee action

bill reported

considered on the house floor

bill vetoed

veto overridden

bill becomes law