Legislative Branch

legislation that directs specific funds to projects within districts or states

• logrolling

• pork barreling

• oversight

• gerrymandering

a body of voters in a given area who elect a representative or senator

• incumbency advantage

• apportionment

• constituency

• malapportionment

efforts by Congress to ensure that executive branch agencies, bureaus, and cabinet departments, as well as their officials, are acting legally and in accordance with congressional goals

• filibuster

• discharge petition

• impeachment

• oversight

the leader of the House of Representatives, chosen by an election of its members

• Majority Whip

• House Majority Leader

• Speaker of the House

• Senate Majority Leader

A member of Congress, chosen by his or her party members, whose job is to ensure party unity and discipline

• whip

• majority leader

• minority leader

• President Pro Tempore

A motion filed by a member of Congress to move a bill out of committee and onto the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote

• cloture

• unanimous consent agreement

• discharge petition

• filibuster

A powerful committee that determines when a bill will subject to debate and vote on the House floor, how long the debate will last, and whether amendments will be allowed on the floor

• Committee on the Whole

• Conference Committee

• House Rules Commitee

• Ways and Means Committee

A delay placed on legislation by a Senator who objects to a bill

• unanimous consent agreement

• cloture

• filibuster

• hold

an agreement in the Senate that sets the terms for a consideration of a bill

• discharge petition

• gridlock

• hold

• unanimous consent agreement

Consists of all members of the House and meets in House Chamber but is governed by different rules, making it easier to consider complex and controversial legislation

• House Rules Committee

• Appropriations Committee

• Committee of the Whole

• Rules and Administration Committee