Term
| Why is there an increase in sub committees due to legislation? |
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Definition
1. increase in national issues
2. members want to chair committees for reelection purposes |
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Term
| Why do committees reelect previous members? |
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Definition
1. acquire expertise in their field
2. committee making them more likely to be elected to the sub-committee/ chair committee |
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Term
| what determines number of individuals who can serve on committees in regards to party members? |
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Definition
1. majority party in house and senate control who gets elected to committees.
2. Ex: If republicans own the house and senate they will hold the majority seats in their sub committees. |
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Term
| Theories of standing committees(5)? |
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Definition
1. distributive theory
2. informational theory
3.majority party theory
4. Bicameral rivalry theory
5. ex post veto |
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Term
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Definition
| The committee system is a comprehensive logrolling process, trading favors and votes. |
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Term
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Definition
| The standing committee is a knowledge function |
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Term
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Definition
| Party members are strategically placed on committees to achieve the party's collective goal. |
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Term
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Definition
| A rivalry exists between the two branches of government. Consequently, each branch attempts to set up hurdles that will maximize benefits for chamber members. |
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Term
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Definition
1. Standing committee influence on a bill isn't done after it passes through.
2. Goes to conference committee which consist of those members on the standing committee in the case of a tie. |
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Term
| Distinction among committees? |
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Definition
1.Prestige committees
2.Policy committees
3.constituency committees |
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Term
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Definition
1.considered the most powerful/ where the action is
2.appropriations
3.budget
4. rules
5. ways and means |
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Term
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Definition
1. Most motivated members are here
2. Banking
3. Education and labor
4. Foreign Affairs
5. Judiciary |
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Term
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Definition
1. Most motivated members are here
2. Banking
3. Education and labor
4. Foreign Affairs
5. Judiciary |
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Term
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Definition
1. Agriculture
2. Armed Services
3. Interior
4. Veteran Affairs
5. Merchants and Marines |
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Term
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Definition
| The right of members to retain their assignments, seats on committees, as long as they desire except in unusual circumstances, change in party ratios etc. |
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Term
| correlates of assignments to standing committee? |
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Definition
1. the electoral needs of nominees
2. a state of region deserves a seat because of under representation
3. willingness to support the party and its leaders
4. policy views
5. seniority |
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Term
| Functions of committee leaders? |
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Definition
1. call meetings
2. establish agendas
3. hire and fire committee staff
4. arrange hearings
5. act as floor managers
6. allocate committee funds and rooms
7. develop legislative strategies |
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Term
| Duties of committee staff |
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Definition
1. admin tasks of arranging meetings and hearings
2. advocate or even champion legislative proposals
3. conduct investigations
4. negotiate on behalf of committees and their chairs
5. work to build coalitions in committees
6. accompany committee members to the floor to give advice, draft amendments, negotiate compromises |
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Term
| Three stages of committee work |
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Definition
1. Hearings
2. Markups
3. report stage |
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Term
Three stages of committee work:
Hearings |
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Definition
| hear testimony from: bills sponsor, federal officials, pressure groups, other reps, public officials, private citizens |
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Term
three stages to committee work:
Purpose of hearings? |
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Definition
Explore the need for legislation,
build a public record in support of legislation, publicize the role of committee chairperson,provide a forum for citizen grievances |
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Term
Three stages of Committee work:
Mark ups |
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Definition
a. Conduct hearings and markups of its own
b. Ratify the subcommittee’s decision
c. Take no action, which essentially kills the bill
d. Return the matter to the subcommittee for further study |
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Term
Three stages of committee work:
Report stage |
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Definition
| a. Summarization of the purpose and the provisions of the legislation |
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Term
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Definition
| a. Rules that open congressional activity to public scrutiny |
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Term
| Policy environment and committees |
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Definition
a. Shape the content of public policies
b. Foster mutual alliances
c. Establish decision making objectives and guidelines
d. Influence the level of partisanship |
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Term
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Definition
| a. An agenda of bills and resolutions for floor action |
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Term
| Types of calendars in the House |
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Definition
| Corrections, discharge, house, private, union |
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Term
Calendars in the house:
Corrections |
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Definition
| i. Noncontroversial matters designed to pass expeditiously usually without any amendments (e.g. a reauthorization bill for an independent agency-FEC) or non-resident nurses to remain in the US to work in areas where there is a shortage of nurses |
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Term
Calendars in the house:
Discharge |
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Definition
| i. Bills that have been removed from a committee for floor consideration |
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Term
Calendars in the house:
Private |
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Definition
| i. Bills of a private nature |
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Term
Calendars in the house:
Union |
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Definition
| i. Appropriation and revenue bills |
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Term
| Does the Senate have a rules committee? |
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| a. The traffic cop of Congress- a standing committee of the House that sets the conditions under which specific bills will be debated, amended, and considered by the house |
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Term
| Functions of the house rules committee? |
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Definition
i. Establish length of time for debate
ii. Closed rule
-Does not allow amendments to the bill
iii. Restricted rule
-Challenges a rule
iv. Whether or not a rule can be waved |
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Term
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Definition
removal of a bill from committee that has been pigeonholed for 30 days.
- can be removed and take to the floor on the petition of a majority of the members |
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Term
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Definition
| a. A motion whereby a member secures five minutes to speak on an amendment under debate in the committee of the whole. The Member gains recognition from the chair by moving to “strike the last word.” |
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Term
| four types of amendments in the committee of the whole? |
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Definition
Committee amendments
riders
substitutes
previously noticed amendments |
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Term
| Types of amendments in the committee of the whole: committee amendments |
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Definition
| i. Amendments by the reporting committee, usually priority over other amendments in the amending process |
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Term
| Four types of Amendments in the Committee of the Whole: riders |
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Definition
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Term
| Four types of Amendments in the Committee of the Whole: substitutes |
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Definition
| i. (1) A substitute amendment which deals with part of a bill. A substitute amendment offers alternative language to a section of a bill. (2) an amendment in the nature of a substitute, in which new language for the entire bill is recommended. |
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Term
| Four types of Amendments in the Committee of the Whole: Previously noticed Amendments |
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Definition
| i. All amendments must be offered from the floor, but in the house there is no requirement that they be submitted in advance (previously noticed) to all members. |
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Term
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Definition
| a. An objection raised by a member that the chamber is departing from rules governing its conduct of business |
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Term
| Legislative voting procedures |
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Definition
a. Voice vote
i. Aye or nay
b. Standing vote
i. Number of aye and nay based on head count of standing members
c. Recorded vote
i. Recording of member votes on a bill or amendment using an electronic voting system |
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Term
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Definition
| a. Effectively cuts off debate, preventing the offering of further amendments, and forcing a vote on the pending matter |
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Term
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Definition
| a. A time-saving procedure to bring a measure to a vote. “I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill,” a favorable vote by two-thirds of those present is required for passage |
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Term
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Definition
| a. The final copy of a bill as passed by one chamber with the text as amended by floor action and certified by the clerk of the house or the secretary of the Senate |
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Term
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Definition
| a. A motion in the full house to return a bill to the committee that reported it for further consideration (by majority vote) |
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Term
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Definition
| a. A compromise amendment that will increase the likelihood of passage of a bill |
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Term
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Definition
a. An effort to strengthen a bill to the level of non-passage
b. Include language that is to strong that will kill the bill |
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Term
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Definition
a. Party affiliation and voting
i. Represents constituency differences
1. Rural areas tend to be republican
2. City areas tend to be democratic
b. Ideology and voting
c. Constituency and voting
i. If a highly visible vote they tend to vote with constituents over party affiliation
d. The presidency and voting |
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Term
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Definition
| a. Is the trading of favors (quid pro quo), such as vote trading by legislative members to obtain passage of actions of interest to each legislative member |
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Term
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Definition
| a. The final copy of a bill that has been passed in identical form by both chambers. It is certified by an officer of the house of origin (clerk of the House or secretary of the Senate) and then sent on for the signature of the House speaker, the Senate president pro tempore, and the President of the United States |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
| duties of the Speaker of the House |
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Definition
1. second in line to the vice president to succeed to President
2. Chief parliamentary officer
3. leader of the majority party
4. Presiding Officer
5. Does not participate in floor debates and can vote to break ties
6. must rep his or her constituents needs and interest to be reelected |
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Term
| Duties of President Pro Tempore of the Senate |
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Definition
1. Chosen based on time in Senate
2. presides over senate in absence of the VP |
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Term
| Duties of Majority Leaders |
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Definition
1. right hand man of speaker
2. elected by secret ballot with in party caucus
3. negotiator
4. spokes person for political party
5. plan legislative agendas
6. confer with president about administration |
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Term
| Duties of minority leader |
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Definition
1. work to advance the agenda of the political party
2. bring colleagues together
3. monitor the bills as they get passed |
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Term
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Definition
1. assistant to Majority leader
2. gather information on bills
3. encourage attendance
4. count votes/role call
5. persuade colleagues to vote with party
6. encourage party discipline |
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Term
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Definition
1. head of majority in party in senate
2. lead speaker for party in floor debates
3. assist president with programs
4. influence policy |
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Term
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Definition
1. negotiate with the majority party leadership
2. lead debate on floor for minority party |
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Term
| Constitutional President of the Senate |
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Definition
| 1. Headed by the Vice President |
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Term
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Definition
| After every election caucuses meet and elect leaders and normally takes place in December |
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Term
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Definition
| bring coherence and efficiency to the legislative body to make effective policy decisions. |
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Term
| Institutional maintenance |
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Definition
| congress as an institution and its members performing their lawmaking duties effective |
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Term
| forms of congressional action |
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Definition
1. bill proposal
2. clean bill
3. simple resolution
4. Concurrent Resolution
4. joint resolution |
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Term
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Definition
1. designated by H.R. if house and S if Senate followed by a number
2. public and private bills
3. must be approved by both chambers
4. must be approved by President
5. force law |
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Term
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Definition
| a revised version of an original bill by a standing committee with jurisdiction over the bill |
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Term
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Definition
1.matter concerning the rules, operations, or opinion of either chamber
2. Does not have a force of law
3. Does not have to be approved by the Pres.
4. Does not have to be approved by the other chambers |
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Term
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Definition
1. A proposal law usually dealing with limited matters
2. must be approved by both chambers
3. must be approved by the Pres.
4. Force of law |
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Term
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Definition
1. matter involving both chambers
2. must be passed by both chambers
3. does not require the signature of President
4. Does not have the force of law |
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Term
| Most important committees |
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Definition
| ways and means, taxes and trade |
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Term
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Definition
1. made up of both houses
2. have permanent jurisdiction
3. lack legislative authority |
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