| A |
B |
| Number in the House |
435 |
| Number in the Senate |
100 |
| Apportionment |
Distribuing representatives in the House by State based on population of State |
| Re-apportionment |
Re-distributing representation by State in the House every ten years going into
effect three years after census |
| Partisan |
A biased supporter whose allegiance is to a particular political party |
| Strict Constructionist |
“ Congress should have expressed powers only or those implied necessary
to carry out the expressed ones.” |
| Loose Constructionist |
“A wide variety of interpretations of the Constitution should be allowed
by Congress in order to carry out their duties" |
| President Pro-Tempore |
Temporary President of Senate when Vice President is absent |
| Speaker of the House |
Leader of the House of Representatives member of the majority party |
| Whip |
Assistant to Majority or minority party leaders, musters votes, informs leader
of standing of bills |
| Majority Leader |
Floor leader of the Majority party in the respective house of Congress |
| Minority Leader |
Leader of the second largest party in the respective house of Congress |
| Party Caucus |
Meeting of a particular political party prior to the opening of Congress for
the new session, the party gets on the same page |
| filibuster |
Stalling of legislation, usually by talking as long as a recognized Senator is
able, includes other stall tactics in the Senate usually based around Senate rules and parliamentary procedure |
| Elastic Clause |
Necessary and Proper Clause which loose constructionists use as source for expanding
power of legislative branch Article I Section 8 |
| quorum |
Minimal number of members of Senate or House necessary in order to do business,
usually simple majority |
| Senate Steering Committee |
Committee of majority party members steer legislation to the front of the calendar
setting calendar dates for legislation to be debated and voted |
| cloture |
The only procedure by which the Senate can vote to place a time limit on consideration
of a bill or other matter, and thereby overcome a filibuster. Under the cloture rule (Rule XXII), the Senate may limit consideration
of a pending matter to 30 additional hours, but only by vote of three-fifths of the full Senate, normally 60 votes. |
| veto override |
2/3 Senate vote to over turn a Presidential Veto thereby making it a law |
| pocket veto |
If the President has not signed the bill after 10 days, it becomes law without
his signature. However, if Congress adjourns during the 10-day period, the bill does not become law. |
| Super majority |
3/5 majority or 60 in the Senate, used in cloture, confirming Executive appointments... |
| standing vote |
The Senators vote is a final vote on a Bill |
| roll call vote |
A vote in which each Senator votes "yea" or "nay" as his or her name is called
by the Clerk, so that the names of Senators voting on each side are recorded. Under the Constitution, a roll call vote must
be held if demanded by one-fifth of a quorum of Senators present, a minimum of 11. It shows where the Bill stands and is not
actual vote on Bill |
| rise to a point of order |
A claim made by a Senator from the floor that a rule of the Senate is being violated.
If the Chair sustains the point of order, the action in violation of the rule is not permitted. |
| committee of the whole |
The Senate convenes as one committee, not as the Senate, which allows for business
to be carried out more informally |
| Term of Senator |
6 years, rotating 1/3 of Senate every 2 years |
| Term of member of the House of Representatives |
2 year terms |
| Requirements to be a Senator |
30 years of age, U.S. resident 9 years, resident of your district |
| Requirements to be a member of the House |
25 years of age, U.S. resident 7 years, resident of your district |
