Chapter 12 Vocabulary

Chapter 12 Vocabulary 1. Speaker of the House- presiding officer of the House and the acknowledged leader of its majority party 2. president of the Senate- presiding officer of the Senate, that is held by the VP 3. president pro tempore-serves as presiding officer whenever VP is absent 4. party caucus-a closed meeting of the members of each party in each house 5. floor leader-party officers, picked by their parties for their post by their party colleagues 6. whip-assistant floor leaders 7. committee chairman-members who head the standing committees in each chamber 8. seniority rule-an unwritten custom that selects floor leaders with the longest service records in Congress 9. standing committee-permanent panels 10. select committee-panels set up for some specific purpose and, for most often, a limited amount of time 11. joint committee-composed of members of both houses 12. conference committee-a temporary, joint body 13. bill-a proposed law presented to the House or Senate for consideration 14. joint resolution-similar to bill except have the force of law when passed

15. concurrent resolution-deal with matters in which the House and Senate must act jointly 16. resolution-deal with matters concerning either house alone and are taken up only by that house 17. rider-provision not likely to pass on its own merit that is attached to an important measure certain to pass 18. discharge petition-enables members to force a bill that has remained in committee 30 days onto the floor for consideration 19. subcommittee-divisions of existing committees formed to address specific issues 20. Committee of the Whole-old parliamentary device for speeding business on the floor 21. quorum-majority of the full membership must be present in order for the House to do business 22. engrossed-when a bill has been approved at second reading 23. filibuster-an attempt to “talk a bill to death” 24. cloture-limiting debate 25. veto-refuse to sign a bill 26. pocket veto-if congress adjourns its session within 10 days of submitting a bill to the President