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Legislative process
test 3
72
Political Studies
Undergraduate 3
11/02/2015

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Term
Why is there an increase in sub committees due to legislation?
Definition
1. increase in national issues
2. members want to chair committees for reelection purposes
Term
Why do committees reelect previous members?
Definition
1. acquire expertise in their field
2. committee making them more likely to be elected to the sub-committee/ chair committee
Term
what determines number of individuals who can serve on committees in regards to party members?
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.
Term
Theories of standing committees(5)?
Definition
1. distributive theory
2. informational theory
3.majority party theory
4. Bicameral rivalry theory
5. ex post veto
Term
Distributive Theory
Definition
The committee system is a comprehensive logrolling process, trading favors and votes.
Term
informational Theory
Definition
The standing committee is a knowledge function
Term
Majority Party Theory
Definition
Party members are strategically placed on committees to achieve the party's collective goal.
Term
Bicameral Rivalry Theory
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.
Term
Ex post veto
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.
Term
Distinction among committees?
Definition
1.Prestige committees
2.Policy committees
3.constituency committees
Term
Prestige committees
Definition
1.considered the most powerful/ where the action is
2.appropriations
3.budget
4. rules
5. ways and means
Term
Policy Committees
Definition
1. Most motivated members are here
2. Banking
3. Education and labor
4. Foreign Affairs
5. Judiciary
Term
Policy Committees
Definition
1. Most motivated members are here
2. Banking
3. Education and labor
4. Foreign Affairs
5. Judiciary
Term
Constituency Committees
Definition
1. Agriculture
2. Armed Services
3. Interior
4. Veteran Affairs
5. Merchants and Marines
Term
Property right norm
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.
Term
correlates of assignments to standing committee?
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
Term
Functions of committee leaders?
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
Term
Duties of committee staff
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
Term
Three stages of committee work
Definition
1. Hearings
2. Markups
3. report stage
Term
Three stages of committee work:
Hearings
Definition
hear testimony from: bills sponsor, federal officials, pressure groups, other reps, public officials, private citizens
Term
three stages to committee work:
Purpose of hearings?
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
Term
Three stages of Committee work:
Mark ups
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
Term
Three stages of committee work:
Report stage
Definition
a. Summarization of the purpose and the provisions of the legislation
Term
sunshine rules
Definition
a. Rules that open congressional activity to public scrutiny
Term
Policy environment and committees
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
Term
calendar
Definition
a. An agenda of bills and resolutions for floor action
Term
Types of calendars in the House
Definition
Corrections, discharge, house, private, union
Term
Calendars in the house:
Corrections
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
Term
Calendars in the house:
Discharge
Definition
i. Bills that have been removed from a committee for floor consideration
Term
Calendars in the house:
Private
Definition
i. Bills of a private nature
Term
Calendars in the house:
Union
Definition
i. Appropriation and revenue bills
Term
Does the Senate have a rules committee?
Definition
No, only the house
Term
House rules committee
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
Term
Functions of the house rules committee?
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
Term
Discharge petition?
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
Term
Pro Forma Amendment
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.”
Term
four types of amendments in the committee of the whole?
Definition
Committee amendments
riders
substitutes
previously noticed amendments
Term
Types of amendments in the committee of the whole: committee amendments
Definition
i. Amendments by the reporting committee, usually priority over other amendments in the amending process
Term
Four types of Amendments in the Committee of the Whole: riders
Definition
extraneous amendments
Term
Four types of Amendments in the Committee of the Whole: substitutes
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.
Term
Four types of Amendments in the Committee of the Whole: Previously noticed Amendments
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.
Term
Point of Order
Definition
a. An objection raised by a member that the chamber is departing from rules governing its conduct of business
Term
Legislative voting procedures
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
Term
Previous Question
Definition
a. Effectively cuts off debate, preventing the offering of further amendments, and forcing a vote on the pending matter
Term
Suspend the rules
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
Term
Engrossed Bill
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
Term
Re committal motion
Definition
a. A motion in the full house to return a bill to the committee that reported it for further consideration (by majority vote)
Term
Saving Amendment
Definition
a. A compromise amendment that will increase the likelihood of passage of a bill
Term
Killer Amendment
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
Term
Determinants of voting
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
Term
Logrolling
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
Term
Enrolled bill
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
Term
Speaker of the House
Definition
chosen by house members
Term
duties of the Speaker of the House
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
Term
Duties of President Pro Tempore of the Senate
Definition
1. Chosen based on time in Senate
2. presides over senate in absence of the VP
Term
Duties of Majority Leaders
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
Term
Duties of minority leader
Definition
1. work to advance the agenda of the political party
2. bring colleagues together
3. monitor the bills as they get passed
Term
minority whip
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
Term
Senate Majority leader
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
Term
Senate minoirty
Definition
1. negotiate with the majority party leadership
2. lead debate on floor for minority party
Term
Constitutional President of the Senate
Definition
1. Headed by the Vice President
Term
selection of leaders
Definition
After every election caucuses meet and elect leaders and normally takes place in December
Term
Job of Leaders
Definition
bring coherence and efficiency to the legislative body to make effective policy decisions.
Term
Institutional maintenance
Definition
congress as an institution and its members performing their lawmaking duties effective
Term
forms of congressional action
Definition
1. bill proposal
2. clean bill
3. simple resolution
4. Concurrent Resolution
4. joint resolution
Term
bill proposal
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
Term
clean bill
Definition
a revised version of an original bill by a standing committee with jurisdiction over the bill
Term
Simple Resolution
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
Term
Joint Resolution
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
Term
Concurrent Resolution
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
Term
Most important committees
Definition
ways and means, taxes and trade
Term
joint committees
Definition
1. made up of both houses
2. have permanent jurisdiction
3. lack legislative authority
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