Legislative Branch Vocabulary

The practice of distributing House seats into unequal districts, which diminishes a certain district’s representative voice.

• Redistricting

• District shelving

• Super majority

• Malapportionment

Legislation that provides benefits to constituents in a particular district or state in the hope of winning their votes in return. For example: providing funding to build a bridge in a particular city.

• Pork barrel

• Logrolling

• Constituency

• Bicameral

A joint committee appointed to iron out the differences in the Senate and House versions of the same bill.

• Standing Committee

• Joint Committee

• Conference Committee

• Circuit Committee

A senator or representative who assists the party leader by staying informed about the voting decisions of other members.

• Whip

• Minority Leader

• Quorum

• Delegate

A group of congressional members that meet to pursue a common legislative agenda.

• Party Polarization

• Congressional Caucus

• Standing Committee

• Special Interest

A process used by the Senate to end or limit debate/filibusters.

• Hold

• Cloture

• Caucus

• Stall

The individuals who live in the area an elected official is representing

• Public

• Delegate

• Constituency

• Party

a request or agreement setting the terms for the consideration or debate of a specified bill or other measure.

• super majority

• unanimous consent

• simple majority

• divided government

An office mandated by the Constitution. The Speaker is chosen in practice by the majority party, has both formal and informal powers, and is second in line to succeed to the presidency should that office become vacant.

if the president pockets, or keeps, the bill for ten days, during which Congress ends its session, the bill will not become law