UNIT TOPIC - 4.

1 & 4a, 9, 10 - Congress VOCABULARY

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Instructions: The following represents useful vocabulary for

mastery of this Unit Topic. Complete definitions to all terms.
Indicate for which part of the Unit Topic each term refers to (1a,
3b, 5c, etc.) and write the name in the space beneath the
term.

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Incumbants

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is an official who holds an office. If you want to run for congress, you're going to have to beat thei

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Casework

Assistance provided by members of Congress to constituents who encounter a grievan

pork barrel

a metaphor for the appropriation ofgovernmentspending for localized projects secure

bicameral legislature

A legislature with two houses, or chambers.

house rules committee

acommitteeof the United StatesHouseof Representatives in charge of determining un

fillibuster

a parliamentary procedure where debate over a proposed piece of legislation is extend

speaker of the house

The presiding officer of the United StatesHouseof Representatives.

majority leader

the party member who directs the activities of themajorityparty on the floor of either

whips

an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a l

minority leader

Theleaderof the political party that holds aminorityof seats in either house of Congre

standing committees

permanent legislative panels established by the United States House of Representative

joint committees

a term that is used to refer to acommitteemade up of members of both chambers of a

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conference committees

acommitteeof the United States Congress appointed by the House of Representatives and Senate

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select committees

acommitteemade up of a small number of parliamentary members appointed to deal

select committees

acommitteemade up of a small number of parliamentary members appointed to deal

legislative oversight

oversightby the United States Congress over the Executive Branch, including the nume

commitee chairs

person who presides over a company's board of directors, acommittee, a debate, an a

seniority system

the custom in Congress providing for the assignment of a committee chairpersonship t

caucus

a meeting of the members of a legislative body who are members of a particular politic

bill

Abillis proposed legislation under consideration by a legislature.

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e going to have to beat theincumbent.

nts who encounter a grievance with a federal agency or the federalgovernment.

for localized projects secured solely or primarily to bring money to a representative's district.

s in charge of determining under whatruleother bills will come to the floor.

piece of legislation is extended, allowing one or more members to delay or entirely prevent a vote on the proposal.

sentatives.

typarty on the floor of either the Senate or the House of Representatives.

ensure party discipline in a legislature.

ats in either house of Congress or of a state legislature.

ates House of Representatives and United States Senate rules.

embers of both chambers of a bicameral legislature.

f Representatives and Senate to resolve disagreements on a particular bill.

members appointed to deal with particular areas or issues originating in the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy.

members appointed to deal with particular areas or issues originating in the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy.

e Branch, including the numerous U.S. federal agencies.

, acommittee, a debate, an administrative department, etc.

committee chairpersonship to that member of the majority party who has served on the committee the longest.

members of a particular political party, to select candidates or decide policy.

slature.