PARTY CAUCUS-
FORMAL GATHERING OF ALL PARTY MEMBERS
GERRYMANDERING-
DRAWING DISTRICTS TO PRODUCE A PARTICULAR OUTCOME
RIDER-
AN ATTACHMENT TO A BILL THAT IS NOT RELEVANT TO THAT BILL
NON-PARTISAN-
POLICY OR MEMBER WITH NO PARTY AFFILIATION
PARTISAN-
POLICY OR MEMBER THAT IS AFFILIATED WITH A PARTY
POCKET VETO-
WHEN THE PRESIDENT TAKES NO ACTION ON A BILL FOR 10 DAYS
RULES COMMITTEE-
POWERFUL COMMITTEE THAT CONTROLS THE LENGTH OF DEBATE AND
WHETHER THE BILL CAN BE AMENDED
WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE-
TAX COMMITTEE
CASEWORK-
LEGISLATOR’S DAILY WORK FOR CONSTITUENTS
JOINT COMMITTEE-
INVESTIGATIVE COMMITTEE MADE UP OF BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS
STANDING COMMITTEE-
COMMITTEE TO WHICH PROPOSED BILLS ARE REFERRED
CONFERENCE COMMITTEE-
COMMITTEE TO RECONCILE BILLS PASSED BY HOUSE AND
SENATE
APPORTIONMENT-
ALLOTMENT OF CONGRESSIONAL SEATS BASED ON THE CENSUS
REDISTRICTING-
PROCESS OF REDRAWING CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS IN A STATE
MINORITY LEADER-
HEAD OF THE PARTY WITH THE 2ND MOST REPS IN HOUSE AND SENATE
WHIP-
PARTY LEADER WHO TAKES VOTE COUNTS ON KEY LEGISLATION
PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE-
SENIOR MOST MEMBER OF THE MAJORITY PARTY
DISCHARGE PETITION-
VOTE THAT GIVES HOUSE AUTHORITY TO BRING AN ISSUE TO THE
FLOOR IN THE FACE OF COMMITTEE INACTION
SENIORITY-
TIME OF CONTINUOUS SERVICE ON COMMITTEE
FILIBUSTER-
FORMAL WAY OF HALTING SENATE ACTION ON A BILL BY UNLIMITED DEBATE
MAJORITY LEADER-
HEAD OF PARTY CONTROLLING THE MOST SEATS IN HOUSE OR SENATE
SELECT COMMITTEE-
TEMPORARY COMMITTEE APPOINTED FOR SPECIFIC PURPOSE
SENATORIAL COURTESY-
WHEN PRESIDENT ASKS FOR HELP IN SELECTING DISTRICT JUDGES
BICAMERAL LEGISLATURE-GOVERNMENT COMPRISED OF TWO CHAMBERS IN THE LEGISLATURE
MARGINAL DISTRICT-
THE OUTCOME IS TOO CLOSE TO CALL BEFORE THE ELECTION
SAFE DISTRICT-
THE OUTCOME OF THIS DISTRICT IN NOT IN DOUBT
CLOTURE RULE-
MECHANISM REQUIRING SIXTY SENATORS TO VOTE TO CUT OFF DEBATE
VETO-
PRESIDENT’S ABILITY TO REJECT A BILL
PORK BARREL LEGISLATION- LEGISLATION THAT BENEFITS A REPRESENTATIVE’S DISTRICT IN THE
FORM OF MONEY OR JOBS
FRANKING PRIVILEGE-
FREE POSTAGE FOR AN INCUMBENT
DELEGATE-
ROLE PLAYED WHEN ELECTED OFFICIALS LISTEN TO OPINIONS OF
THEIR CONSTITUENTS
TRUSTEE-ROLE PLAYED WHEN ELECTED OFFICIALS VOTE BASED ON THEIR OWN JUDGEMENT
DIVIDED GOVERNMENT-
DIFFERENT PARTIES IN CONTROL OF THE BRANCHES
UNIFIED GOVERNMENT-
SAME PARTY CONTROLS ALL BRANCHES
GRIDLOCK-
GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN DUE TO PARTISAN POLITICS
APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE-
COMMITTEE THAT ALLOCATES MONEY FOR BILLS
CHRISTMAS TREE BILL-
BILL THAT IS LITTERED WITH RIDERS
CLOSED RULE-
BILL THAT CANNOT BE AMENDED
OPEN RULE-
BILL IN WHICH AMENDMENTS CAN BE ADDED
DOUBLE TRACKING-
WHEN CONGRESS WORKS ON TWO BILLS SIMULTANEOUSLY