Incumbents
those individuals who already hold office. In congressional elections, incumbents usually win
Casework
Congress members help individual constituents by cutting through bureaucratic barriers to get them what they need (i.e. social security checks)
Speaker of the House
- comes from House of Reps
- the only office position mandated by the Constitution
- Chosen by the majority party in the House, and is usually a senior party member.
- Second in line after the vice president to take the place of the President if they die, resign, are impeached
Standing committees
- committees in each house of Congress that handle different bills in different policy areas.
- Reps average 2 committees and 4 subcommittees.
- Senators average 3 committees and 7 subcommittees.
Committee chairs
most important influencers of committee agendas. Dominate in scheduling hearings, hiring staff, appointing subcommittees, and managing committee bills
Majority leader
- in the House, the majority leader is main partisan ally of the Speaker, and second in line to the Speaker
- the manager of the majority party in the Senate.
- Seen as a stepping stone to becoming a Speaker. In each house, they schedule bills, influence committee assignments, and round up votes on behalf of the party
Conference committee
when the Senate and House pass different forms of the same bill, members from each house (appointed by party leaders) will come together to discuss and make one singular bill
Filibuster
- a strategy unique to the Senate whereby opponents of a piece of legislation will use their right to unlimited debate to prevent the legislation from being voted on in the Senate. They essentially talk a bill to death and tire their opponent out.
- 60 members present and ready to vote can halt a filibuster by voting on cloture (ending a debate and taking a vote)
Pork barrel
federal projects, grants, and contracts that are for state and local projects, governments, businesses, schools, etc. Often a way that legislators secure the vote from their constituents
Whips
- party leaders in Congress who ensure party discipline and coordinate votes
- there is a Majority Whip and Minority Whip for each chamber of Congress
- They work with either the majority or minority party leader(s) to round up votes and lean on members whose votes are crucial to the passing of legislation. - Also report issues that “rank and file” party members have, back to party leaders
Bill
a proposed law, drafted in legal language. Can be drafted by anyone, but is formally submitted by a Congress member
Bicameral legislature
- a legislature divided into two houses. The US’s legislative branch has the House and the Senate.
- All state legislatures are bicameral except for Nebraska
- The result of the Connecticut Compromise, which created proportional representation (House) and equal representation (Senate)
Congressional caucus
- an informal group of Congress members who share a common interest or characteristic. Can cross party lines or house/chamber lines. Like congressional interest groups, but more powerful than regular interest groups
- Examples: Hispanic Caucus, Caucus for Women’s Issues, Sunbelt Caucus, Congressional Bourbon Caucus
Legislative oversight
Congress’s monitoring the executive branch’s bureaucracy and its administration of policy, performed by the committee after legislation passes at their hearings
